Cad for printing...?? Moving On? I've been using Fusion 360, Autodesk have already upset me with a major change to the interface I'm new and was just getting use to the old desktop and now they are changing the licensing as well. I'm familiar with FreeCad, OpenScad (not for me...) and the names of a few others, I've put some time into Fusion and it seems I may loose out as Autodesk may look for too many $ from me or reduce the functionality of the product. I don't want to go to the effort of learning a package only to loose it for whatever reason. I don't need a Blender type modelling program at the moment. FreeCad looks like the best supported and most complete alternative, but is it my best choice? Thanks All. AAmcle https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860575#msg-860575 Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:39:04 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864522#msg-864522 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864522#msg-864522
[www.freecadweb.org]]]> WesBrooks General Mon, 23 Dec 2019 04:49:45 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864521#msg-864521 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864521#msg-864521 David J General Mon, 23 Dec 2019 03:43:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864472#msg-864472 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864472#msg-864472 David J General Sun, 22 Dec 2019 03:57:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864448#msg-864448 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864448#msg-864448 I've been using a front-end application for Openscad called Graphscad. It's free and uses 'nodes'. For example, put a cube node into the editor, adjust the sizes as needed, press the 'Openscad' button. It writes the OpenScad code so there's no coding, matching braces etc.You can chain nodes together with 'connection' lines and the Openscad generated code is correct. All 'nodes' are written in Python, and the Python source is provided. I've also created a number of new nodes. The downside, the application itself isn't open source and seems to be abandoned. Editing the Openscad generated code isn't for the faint of heart, but is rarely needed. It's much easier to edit the 'node' based code in Graphscad. Another great feature, if you have a complex model that doesn't look right, double clicking a node will generate the parts of the model up to the clicked node.]]> jmrobert48 General Sat, 21 Dec 2019 11:28:02 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864441#msg-864441 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864441#msg-864441
So if that's the problem you need to solve then there are a lot of options, but if you are doing anything else or more: consider OpenSCAD. For instance, I'm sure deep in the help this is possible with others but if you want to build for instance a parametric model with calculated part geometries, because you are doing kinematic force & path calculations, and you want to solve your free body matrix within the code, and update the colors of force vector arrows based on force magnitudes, and quickly iterate thru contact geometries: there are two options, drafting it in pen with a straight edge and a notebook's worth of hand calculations, or OpenSCAD. OpenSCAD can do everything, it just is not very specialized, like commercial CAD. David J noted it helps to be able to visualize where things will be translated & rotated in OpenSCAD: I think that's a great engineering skill, which the program enforces. Other CADs, that help you to 'automate' the visualization task away, OpenSCAD, which kind of has it both ways, and drafting, kind of form a spectrum, of how much you need to think about your device.

OpenSCAD can do a lot, for instance, in the model I'm working on now, I took lathe gcode and made it a polygon, with quick G2, G3 functions, then rotate_extrude. Now the physical part I'm testing is in the model, and the model can inform design, then it can CAM back to the lathe an improved part. There are a half-dozen packages for this, Solidworks to EdgeCAM or etc, just giving an example. Since OpenSCAD is just a language, it can do it too -- it is just unspecialized, it's not a CAM or slice button, it's a 10-line function you write (or borrow). Would not recommend trying this in more than 2 axes. But maybe you could minkowski a milling tool head over a spline path, and difference that from stock geometry. Hell!

I also like the language, but I never did much professional coding except Excel and hand gcode. It's just a bunch of sets and functions. You can do really elaborate stuff with ordered, nested lists, applied to functions. That's basically what math is, at the end of the day, just an assload of sets and functions. I'm glad for all our options.]]> golfwolf General Sat, 21 Dec 2019 05:46:32 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864428#msg-864428 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864428#msg-864428 witor General Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:24:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864422#msg-864422 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864422#msg-864422
First, a background in some form of programming is a major advantage to get the structure of the code correct. This includes stuff like matching parentheses, variable scope, etc. I have written some form of code all my working life, from LaTeX word processing, HTML, Pascal, C, C++, C# and so on, so it all comes naturally to me. Solving code problems would be very difficult without this background, as the IDE isn't overly helpful (it's good, but not that good).

Second, It pays to have the ability to visualise shapes in your head while you're coding. I seem to have a natural talent for this, being able to picture where elements will go while I write the code - not false modesty, it's something I have been able to do, even when filing metal, or turning in my lathe.

I have tried an early version of FreeCAD but gave it up after a while, as I found it difficult to change components created earlier in a design - I worked through a design, realise that some basic part was wrong and try to alter it, only to find that all subsequent components failed horribly. I have no idea if this has improved in later versions.]]> David J General Fri, 20 Dec 2019 16:59:20 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864376#msg-864376 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864376#msg-864376
Fusion360 is largely cloud based, too. You can still work on your stuff if your internet connection is down, but when it comes back up, Fusion360 is going to call home. That is the way almost everything is going. "Free" isn't really free.

You have to choose if you want the latest, best stuff or you can live with more difficult to use, or even buggy stuff with limited support. In the end, if you're going to do something on a computer, and the computer is on a network, someone's going to be able to get at your data and/or see what you're doing.

I can live with it in exchange for having good software to use. In most cases, data that's gathered is used to target advertising, and in most cases that can be blocked with appropriate software (uBlock Origin seems pretty good right now). But can you trust the ad blocking software people?

In the end, you have to give up control and hope that things won't get too bad. Or you can just stop using computers...]]> the_digital_dentist General Thu, 19 Dec 2019 12:51:30 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864373#msg-864373 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864373#msg-864373 MechaBits General Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:06:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864372#msg-864372 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864372#msg-864372
OnShape, if it still has a free option, might be a good choice if you want to avoid windows completely. It runs in your browser with most of the work done "in the cloud", so you can even do 3D CAD via your phone if you want or need to (it should be very popular with the octoprint crowd). Its UI is similar to Solidworks because it was written by ex Solidworks people.

Until things change, I'll stick with windows and Fusion360. I am not concerned about it one day "going away" or suddenly requiring an expensive subscription. If that day comes I'll switch to another program.]]> the_digital_dentist General Thu, 19 Dec 2019 10:51:49 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864371#msg-864371 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864371#msg-864371
@Dust are you on Linux, there's another i'll never get around to, & i'll never use a Mac again, but still will never have enough time to use/master all the new DCC tools & workflows, many of the old sw I used to use is becoming redundant, knowledge I thought might be worth passing on is also fading into Dust.

Though I really didnt want to go to Windows 10 but some stuff needs it.

Thought you had to be online to use 360, not that i'm ever offline]]> MechaBits General Thu, 19 Dec 2019 10:13:55 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864370#msg-864370 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864370#msg-864370
Its not that easy.. It requires windows!! So for some of us you had to install that windows crap first..]]> Dust General Thu, 19 Dec 2019 09:25:11 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864366#msg-864366 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864366#msg-864366 the_digital_dentist General Thu, 19 Dec 2019 08:38:28 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864332#msg-864332 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864332#msg-864332 MechaBits General Wed, 18 Dec 2019 23:38:57 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864303#msg-864303 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864303#msg-864303
Quote
the_digital_dentist
[knowledge.autodesk.com]

Nothing has changed in my experience.

Anyway
"Approval is required for renewal."

It is indeed a bit sketchy, we have no rights. But the software is good. And they have it at work so I can use it there anyway (educational).]]> Ohmarinus General Wed, 18 Dec 2019 09:37:17 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864302#msg-864302 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864302#msg-864302
All that said it is notably slow in some situations and not as easy to use as some commercial offerings.]]> WesBrooks General Wed, 18 Dec 2019 09:09:14 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864301#msg-864301 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864301#msg-864301 knowledge.autodesk.com]]]> the_digital_dentist General Wed, 18 Dec 2019 09:00:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864284#msg-864284 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864284#msg-864284 Ohmarinus General Wed, 18 Dec 2019 04:24:42 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864281#msg-864281 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,864281#msg-864281
[www.ironcad.com]]]> MechaBits General Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:25:41 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860962#msg-860962 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860962#msg-860962 MechaBits General Thu, 17 Oct 2019 08:24:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860789#msg-860789 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860789#msg-860789 Trakyan General Mon, 14 Oct 2019 03:53:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860786#msg-860786 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860786#msg-860786 etfrench General Mon, 14 Oct 2019 03:08:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860773#msg-860773 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860773#msg-860773 the_digital_dentist General Sun, 13 Oct 2019 17:05:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860763#msg-860763 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860763#msg-860763 it is also a command driven tool. the custom setups such as curves and chamfers and bevels need to be done manually. as coded in with for loops or shapes in boolean operations
fusion360 does have a lot of time saving features, however i worry that they will lock it down to the point where we all will eventually need to pay. for me they have reduced functionality on my free renewal,
i don't know what they took away yet however... adobe does seem to change what it does every few years,
but openscad always will be free. and it does not need the cloud.

https://www.openscad.org/]openscad web site openscad.org


i like that solid works is free for eaa members. thanks for that bit of info from comments above.]]> jamesdanielv General Sun, 13 Oct 2019 15:14:21 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860620#msg-860620 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860620#msg-860620 [www.ironcad.com]

[www.tecnetinc.com]]]> MechaBits General Fri, 11 Oct 2019 01:08:33 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860612#msg-860612 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860612#msg-860612 frankvdh General Thu, 10 Oct 2019 18:31:22 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860580#msg-860580 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860580#msg-860580

Thanks.]]> aamcle General Thu, 10 Oct 2019 08:20:45 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860579#msg-860579 Re: Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860579#msg-860579 You can get a solidworks license for free if you join the EAA for $40 per year dues.
If you need easy to use but not as powerful as Fusion360, look at DesignSpark Mechanical.
Whatever you do, stay the hell away from SketchUp. It's good for a lot of things, but designing for 3D printing isn't one of them.]]> the_digital_dentist General Thu, 10 Oct 2019 08:14:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860575#msg-860575 Cad for printing...?? Moving On? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,860575,860575#msg-860575
I'm familiar with FreeCad, OpenScad (not for me...) and the names of a few others, I've put some time into Fusion and it seems I may loose out as Autodesk may look for too many $ from me or reduce the functionality of the product.

I don't want to go to the effort of learning a package only to loose it for whatever reason. I don't need a Blender type modelling program at the moment.

FreeCad looks like the best supported and most complete alternative, but is it my best choice?


Thanks All.


AAmcle]]> aamcle General Thu, 10 Oct 2019 07:28:01 -0400