sudomod

I'm looking into creating and modifying STL files. Mostly to make custom parts and eventually making fully functional devices.

Since I won't be able to afford solidworks or any professional software.

What are my free options?

What are my cheap paid options?

Your input is greatly appreciated! TIA

Hmm tough one.

I'm using Rhino but it's not free.

You could give blender a wirl, it's open source but maybe too advanced/complicated for ur use.

Sketchup could be an option or 123D Design from Autocad is a lightweight freeware app with very basic features.

To create simples stl parts, I'm using the online editor https://www.tinkercad.com/
To edit existing stl, I've already used sketchup with the stl plugin.

solder wrote:Hmm tough one.

I'm using Rhino but it's not free.

You could give blender a wirl, it's open source but maybe too advanced/complicated for ur use.

Sketchup could be an option or 123D Design from Autocad is a lightweight freeware app with very basic features.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll start off with the free/open source options and go from there. Hopefully these will integrate nicely with 3D printers.

johweb wrote:To create simples stl parts, I'm using the online editor https://www.tinkercad.com/
To edit existing stl, I've already used sketchup with the stl plugin.

Thanks! Just played a little bit with Tinkercad. The tutorials are great and UI is intuitive. Does Sketchup do a better job at editing STL's?

Of the ones mentioned so far 123Design would be my choice. Sketchup is pretty good, but not as good as producing watertight stl in my experience.

I also use openscad a lot. It is not for everyone as you describe your model in a C-esque language.

I use SelfCAD, though it's browser-based. It's easier to learn and use but still powerful. With SelfCAD you can sculpt, slice and print 3D models all in one program, hence you don't need to launch multiple programs in order to work on your models.
In addition, this software has a built in slicer, so you can prepare your model for 3D printing without needing any additional software which can be hard to handle if you are in a classroom or workshop.
SelfCAD is free of for the educators and students but for the general users, they have a trial period of one month and thereafter pay $4.99/m.

Check more details here: https://www.selfcad.com/
https://goo.gl/oyohwn

Google SketchUp is workable and last time I used it, was free. I'm not sure if it's still available, but Rhino's Mac version has been free for awhile while still in its experimental stages. Not sure if that has expired. Autodesk (great company, have met with them on a number of occasions) has Fusion 360 with a watermark-free, indefinite trial version, but the full version is relatively cheap and pretty potent. Of these I would rank Rhino at the top, n Fusion 360, then TinkerCAD and Sketchup if you have to..

Of course I prefer Solidworks for my professional industrial design use, but it's overkill for hobbyists and makers.

I have been using a combo of tinkercad and blender. I am still looking for more options.

Fusion 360 is free for students and hobbyists.