3D Printing Design Software - SolidWorks

[GTSLOW]

Anyone using SolidWorks to design stuff for 3D printing? I'm looking for advice and beginners tips!

BTW. Veterans and active duty can get SolidWorks for $20. That's savings of $3,975.99. :lmao:

 

[Joshs4x4toyz]

I use SW, but if it came out my own pocket, I would use Fusion 360. That is what I used for years and I am sure it has only gotten better. Very powerful for free CAD software. It doesnt get much better unless you really want to purchase something like Inventor or SW. That said, 360 should accomplish anything you want to make. Some things like 3d modeling tube work just need a different approach in my experience, but can be done.

 

[Gula]

I use SW, but if it came out my own pocket, I would use Fusion 360. That is what I used for years and I am sure it has only gotten better. Very powerful for free CAD software. It doesnt get much better unless you really want to purchase something like Inventor or SW. That said, 360 should accomplish anything you want to make. Some things like 3d modeling tube work just need a different approach in my experience, but can be done.

I agree that fusion360 is a much superior software than SW. Get that or try onshape, really good too!
Youtube tutorials for F360, or onshape to learn stuff
Or take a college class for them, what I did.

 

[svt923]

I agree that fusion360 is a much superior software than SW. Get that or try onshape, really good too!

Onshape is what I mostly use, it feels easier to move objects and set dimensions so things go quicker than when I use Fusion. The fact that Onshape is browser based makes it way easier to run on my crappy old computer as well.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Damn. $20 for SolidWorks is a steal! I use SolidWorks for my 3D printing and I've also used it professionally for years. I'm lucky in that I can "take it home" and use SolidWorks for my hobbies as part of their license that my work pays for.

I think SolidWorks is much more intuitive and easier to learn the Fusion360. I've used Pro Engineer, SolidWorks and Inventor and they were all very similar. I learned on Pro E in college and taught myself the others. Fusion 360 IMO is very difficult to learn. It is counterintuitive compared to the others I have mentioned. That may just be because I'm so used to the workflow of SolidWorks. Fusion 360 is a great, free alternative, but I'd easily pay $20 for SolidWorks.

The SolidWorks forum is great for help and also there are tons and tons of tutorials online. YouTube also has lots of good tutorial videos for SolidWorks and Fusion 360.

 

[GTSLOW]

Does Fusion360 have any kind of paywalls or pay traps? I've read mixed reviews. So far I've had good luck on the five minute SW how to videos.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Almighty Malach]

Does Fusion360 have any kind of paywalls or pay traps? I've read mixed reviews. So far I've had good luck on the five minute SW how to videos.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Not if you are just doing stuff by yourself. Trying to add friends to projects just got severely limited unless you pay $495 per year.

Fusion is still incredibly powerful for modeling and 3d printing and machining.

 

[GTSLOW]

Not if you are just doing stuff by yourself. Trying to add friends to projects just got severely limited unless you pay $495 per year.

Fusion is still incredibly powerful for modeling and 3d printing and machining.

So far I'm still learning with SW. I farted around the Fusion 360 page and found it for $60 a month or $1,495 for three years. Where is the free version?

 

[GA Dawg]

So far I'm still learning with SW. I farted around the Fusion 360 page and found it for $60 a month or $1,495 for three years. Where is the free version?

https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Does Fusion360 have any kind of paywalls or pay traps? I've read mixed reviews. So far I've had good luck on the five minute SW how to videos.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

No, but their cloud scares me. That's where you save the files by default. Just make sure you save copies to your PC in case they ever get a hair up their ass and try to hijack your files.

 

[GTSLOW]

https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists

Thank you. I'm gonna check it out tonight.

No, but their cloud scares me. That's where you save the files by default. Just make sure you save copies to your PC in case they ever get a hair up their ass and try to hijack your files.

That's crazy! Is it a web based app?

 

[JatoTheRipper]

That's crazy! Is it a web based app?

No, it's physical software that gets installed on your PC, but it is always connected to the internet.

 

[nymtber]

I use Fusion 360 with a hobbyist license for my needs.

It does what I need it to, but some things are not so easy to figure out. YouTube is good for that!

 

[Timmahh]

Had Architectural and Mechanical Drafting in HS. that was in the 80s when we did it analog. lol

I'm pretty proficient with learning and using software that is/can be complex. I got and learned how to use Senora which is professional audio tracking software, and built a mobile 64channle recording studio. Was quite intricate software for tracking, mixing, recording audio.
So I am confident I can learn how to use CAD Software. Have downloaded F360 and checked it out earlier today. Looked at a few others over the last few months or so. One I found and have been able to get a little ways into is FreeCAD?

Hear it's pretty similar to SW, but haven't looked at SW. So its been a long time since I did drafing, but can do general stuff, just never took the time to learn the detailed options that is included in a good CAD Software.
So anyone have any Experience with FreeCAD? F360 seems to be a bit weird layout and a bit tricky to navigate so far, but again, I just dl'd it today and barely looked at it.

What's you folks opinion on FreeCAD in comparison.
Not looking to design a space ship, but maybe lol Just looking to make things for my RC shit, maybe design other things.
Thanks for any replies and info on FCAD. so far, for me anyways, it seems to be pretty straight forward to learn. good y/t tutorials on it as well.
Just wondering if any of you have tried/used it and what you thought.