what to use to do 3D models for 3D printing ?

*Hi everyone!*

*I'm thinking about getting a 3D printer for me and my kids, but I'm worried about the 3D design part since I have no experience. Recently, at the Nantes Maker Campus, I met some people who showed me their site, Chat3D.ai, which creates 3D models from images or text. I've tryed their tryal plan and the 3d models seems of good quality. I saw they have a cheap plan that costs "only" 5€.*

*Does anyone have any experience with it?*

*These 3d model are made by that software, I did screenshot, it seems alright to me.*

... if this is no SEO-spam for the software - you can download premade 3D-models from some repositiories ... or make your own with different free ans OS sowtwares like freeCAD or Blender ... or 3D-scanning ... and many different methodes too ...

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Viktor
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Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - [reprap.org] -- Deutsche Facebook-Gruppe - [www.facebook.com]

Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - [reprap.org]

If you're new to 3D printing and 3D design, using an AI-based tool like Chat3D.ai could be a great way to get started. It seems like a convenient option, especially if you or your kids want to quickly generate models without learning complex CAD software. If the trial models worked well for you and the pricing seems reasonable, it might be worth trying the paid plan. However, if you're looking for free alternatives, you can explore Thingiverse, Printables, or Tinkercad—Tinkercad is especially beginner-friendly for learning basic 3D design.

Blender isn't CAD, and has a very steep learning curve. If you want easy and fast to learn, try DesignSpark Mechanical. It will do 99% of what anyone needs. If you want to learn a more useful product, get Fusion360 - there's a free version. There are hundreds, if not thousands of youtube videos that show how to use it.

By all means, avoid Sketchup. It is an architectural modeling tool, not CAD. It produces files that have to be repaired before you can print them.

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]

... if you look onto the results and integral meaning, then many softwares can be pointed out as "CAD" == "Computer Aided Design" ... even a simple text-editor

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Viktor
--------
Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - [reprap.org] -- Deutsche Facebook-Gruppe - [www.facebook.com]

Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - [reprap.org]

Quote
the_digital_dentist
Blender isn't CAD, and has a very steep learning curve. If you want easy and fast to learn, try DesignSpark Mechanical. It will do 99% of what anyone needs. If you want to learn a more useful product, get Fusion360 - there's a free version. There are hundreds, if not thousands of youtube videos that show how to use it.


By all means, avoid Sketchup. It is an architectural modeling tool, not CAD. It produces files that have to be repaired before you can print them.

What? I've been using Sketchup for 15 years for 3D CAD modeling - it is perfect for producing 3D Cad drawings. All my sketchup designs are put through Netfabb for testing (and tidying if necc) and then sliced for printing. If they "have to be repaired" as you say, then the drawing hasn't been done correctly in the first place.
BTW, Sketchup has its own 3D modeling template but "woodworking in mm" is just as good. It is definitely not just an "architectural modeling tool".

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Waitaki 3D Printer

Netfabb is the extra repair step that's necessary to print sketchup models.
If you have to repair the models before you can print, maybe there's a problem with the "CAD" software.
I guess it's a question of personal tolerance for extra steps in the process. I have a very low tolerance for such nonsense.

It's been many years since I abandoned sketchup, so I don't recall if it had the ability to do fillets and chamfers. Both are very commonly used operations.

If you like sketchup, try designspark mechanical. Similar UI, so very quick and easy to learn, but produces printable models that don't require repair before printing. It can do fillets and chamfers, very easily, too. I used DSM for several years before switching to Fusion360. I kept bumping into DSM's limitations (which are fewer than Sketchups limitations), but DSM will do 99% of what anyone will need to do for mechanical part design and printing.

Fusion360 is a bit more effort to learn, but can do so much more than Sketchup or DSM, that it's worth it once you get beyond modeling with basic shapes.

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]

Indeed, I've had DSM on my PC for years but still prefer Sketchup. As I said, if the Sketchup drawing is done correctly, then no repair should be needed.
I don't necessarily use Netfabb as a repair tool, it's just handy to check if a part is manifold, in particular for checking skp's downloaded online. I like it's cutting capability which is superb and it's scaling function among other things. Not sure why you had problems with fillets and chamfers on Sketchup?
Thumbs up for Fusion though despite its learning curve if more complicated models are needed.
Design Spark PCB is my go to for designing boards.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2025 11:51PM by waitaki.

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Waitaki 3D Printer

+1 for FreeCAD the only viable truly FOSS option. (hard to learn to use effectively though)