3D Printing

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What CAD software are you all using? (hexbear.net)

submitted 4 days ago by chgxvjh@hexbear.net to c/3dprinting@lemmy.ml

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I usually use FreeCAD but lately the constraints solver just feels kinda buggy, crapping out on even fairly simple geometries.

FreeCAD is honestly quite well suited to the 3D modeling I do. Geometrically constructed shapes. Rather utilitarian designs. But it just doesn't work very well.

What else is there?

Do I need to learn OpenSCAD?

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[–] klangcola@reddthat.com 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

FreeCAD 100% here. I find the sketcher solver mostly works fine, but it helps if you can give the solver unambiguous constraints. It's often easy to give constraints that happen to have to 2 symmetrically opposite valid solutions. Have you seen these tips on giving Sketcher constraints that make the solver's job easier? https://wiki.freecad.org/Basic_Sketcher_Tutorial#Additional_information

FreeCAD also encourages a workflow using multiple simple sketches rather than a few complicated sketches, which would also make the solver's job easier.

[–] klangcola@reddthat.com 1 points 4 days ago

What's else is there?

There is also 2 new alternatives, https://dune3d.org/ , and Blender with the CAD-Addon should be good enough for 3D printing.

I haven't tried them myself though, since I'm very happy with FreeCAD, and FreeCADs rate of development has accelerated enormously in recent years so I'm excited for it's future.