What's the best free CAD program for 3D printing?

HankCowdog · September 17, 2020, 11:27pm

SketchUp has “components” which can be included by reference, so you could create a rod component and use it multiple times. Changing the component would change all the uses of the component. This isn’t as flexible as parametric design because you can’t make negative components ( like the M5 vs M3 holes in your example), nor can you use the same parameter in different components like a slot and a tab sharing the same parameter.

I don’t believe TinkerCAD supports components or parameters, but I’ve not tried to do so.

The Prusa Printer is a great example of parametric design; the whole printer spec is controlled through OpenSCAD files. If you wanted to swap out a heavier (and bigger) stepper or change the bed size, there are parameters controlling those specs, and the changes would flow through the various plastic parts as well.

tmc4242 · September 17, 2020, 11:40pm

FreeCAD is parametric. It supports assemblies and separate parts.

I believe it also can import and directly work with OpenSCAD objects. There’s a workbench for it, but I haven’t needed it yet.

Not yet sure how it’s CAM works. I intend to find out.

Kentamanos · September 17, 2020, 11:46pm

Yeah, I like FreeCAD, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea etc. I’ll be using it more often again, but here’s a situation where the iterative nature of parametric CAD paid off for instance:

I played around with it again last night to try out the a2plus module and assemblies.

Kentamanos · September 17, 2020, 11:55pm

I really like the concept of OpenSCAD a lot, but some of it makes me yearn for a more powerful programming language. People have created the Javascript equivalent in OpenJSCAD (https://openjscad.org/), but it’s not really taking off AFAICT. I REALLY wish they were both using a more powerful engine behind them than OpenCSG, but I’ve played with Open CASCADE before and I can understand the turn off .

I also like the concept behind something called CADQuery (https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery). It uses an Python API and he kinda based the queries in it for selecting geometries off of jQuery. This has apparently been added as a “workbench” within FreeCAD. I REALLY like the concept of generating parts with a programming language in general.

tmc4242 · September 18, 2020, 12:22am

I don’t know how far I’ll be able to get with it, but my plan is to try to do the CAD and CAM for the domino in FreeCAD. If it works, it’ll be a good start.

malcolmputer · September 18, 2020, 1:35am

I’m serious about being available to help run the machine when you try. It’s important to have free options that can’t be taken away.

tmc4242 · September 18, 2020, 1:46am

I figured you were. It’ll be a bit before I’m anywhere close to having something to try on the machine, but I will certainly get with you when I get to that point.

If you want to be in on the precursor stuff too, we can meet up at the space sometime.

Sorry to go off on this tangent on OP’s 3D printer thread. There are two similar threads running and I accidentally crossed the streams…

Hanna_Kessler · September 18, 2020, 3:15am

I have liked OnShape. It is free for personal use and browser based which is nice since your files are accessible anywhere. You can import and modify Solidworks files with it too, which is great.

HankCowdog · September 18, 2020, 4:16am

AutoCAD includes LISP as a programming language for automating part generation. I did LISP programming back in the 80’s - I would not look forward to using it again.

bpamplin · September 18, 2020, 4:19pm

No apology needed. All comments here are at least as close to the original as on most other topics.

Kentamanos · September 18, 2020, 5:07pm

I’m not sure why, but this Russian to English dictionary site has the most comprehensive list?
https://www.multitran.com/m.exe?s=Lisp&l1=1&l2=4

dougemes · September 18, 2020, 7:02pm

Yeah I had a semester of Scheme, which was a derivative of Lisp. Lambdas, car, cdr, etc.

HankCowdog · September 18, 2020, 7:03pm

“the car of the car of the cdr”

* * twitch * *

budman · September 18, 2020, 7:45pm

Angus on Maker’s Muse just did a great video on different CAD packages. He has a great 3D printing channel if you are not already subscribed.

bpamplin · September 18, 2020, 8:47pm

That’s a great video, as usual, from Angus. Looks like he got 796 comments in 8 hours! FreeCAD seems to be mentioned as often as anything as an alternative.

I use Fuson 360 only for generating 3D printer files. I think the only impact to me is the limit of 10 documents which I can work around fairly easily.

I was concerned that extensions were going away. I scanned comments and one person expressed concern. Here is the reply from Angus:
“Not to defend them but they’re referring to manufacturing extensions not scripts/add-ins according to the faq”

Looks like I will continue to use Fusion 360 but spend time coming up to speed on FreeCAD before Autodesk adds more limits or do not let me renew.

Thanks for all the useful info from so many folks! Keep it coming!

Llenclyen · October 22, 2020, 4:50pm

Have not really messed with it so please forgive the bone headed question but how as a member would I access solidworks?

hon1nbo · October 22, 2020, 5:03pm

To use the Premium copy (permitted for commercial work) it’s located on the Jump Server, for which you can use RDP:

You can find all information on using the Jump server via our wiki: https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/JumpServerFAQ

For the Home copy, which is limited to non-commercial work, you have to request your license:

Follow the instructions in this thread to get a free Solidworks license as a benefit of the membership:

On another topic

To obtain a code send @David_A_Tucker your full name and email address and agree to these application terms:

I (meaning, you, the requester) represent and warrant to DMS that I am now a member in good standing of DMS.

I ask that David Tucker or another authorized DMS person fill out the online application form on my behalf as my agent in order to obtain a download code that will be emailed directly to me at the address I will provide.

I directly agree to these additional terms that are contained in the Solidworks application form:

“Community Access,” “Student Access” or “Student Access product” refers to Student Standard (formerly known as the Student Design Kit/SDK), Student Premium (formerly known as the Student Engineering Kit/SEK), or the 60-Day Trial version of SOLIDWORKS® software.

SOLIDWORKS Community Access licenses available at this website are provided only to Students and Educators at academic institutions that have been authorized by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation (“DS SolidWorks”) to offer SOLIDWORKS Community Access; and
Students and Educators who have received Student Access for trial purposes. SOLIDWORKS Community Access also includes makers, hobbyists, military, and sponsored organizations

I acknowledge that this agreement supplements and is governed by the Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation License Agreement (the “License Agreement”), which you have received with your download of SOLIDWORKS and which permits you to use SOLIDWORKS Community Access only for your own personal and academic purposes.

I confirm that DMS has notified me of my eligibility to receive the appropriate SOLIDWORKS Community Access product (either Student Standard formerly SDK or Student Premium formerly SEK). Any download and use of a SOLIDWORKS Community Access product by a person who is not eligible for such product shall constitute a violation of the License Agreement and applicable laws.

Please note that the SOLIDWORKS Community Access product obtained through DMS differs from other versions of SOLIDWORKS software in that the license for such product will expire in accordance with the terms of my download card or the DMS’s particular agreement with DS SolidWorks. Files created with SOLIDWORKS Community Access contain an ‘academic-use only’ watermark.

Just say, “I agree to the Standard Solidworks DMS Application Form Terms and undertakings posted in David Tucker’s reply to the Talk message SOLIDWORKS 2020 Licenses for Dallas Makerspace” in a private message to me, and give me your full name and email address. I’ll then fill out the online form for you, using our super-secret special master code. The email with the 16-or-so-digit individual code should come straight to your in-box. Incidentally, Solidworks doesn’t work on a MAC Operating System. If you use Parallels, though, you can get it to work indirectly.

Then follow these instructions to download and install the program:

robologan87 · January 14, 2021, 2:46am

@David_A_Tucker this looks awesome, is this still a thing? I tried PMing you about solidworks but it looks like my talk permissions haven’t been updated yet.

David_A_Tucker · January 14, 2021, 6:01am

I responded through Talk, but I don’t know if you can receive messages with out-of-date talk permissions. You can reach me by personal email, which is listed here:

jast · January 14, 2021, 2:51pm

Simple fix. In order to initiate PMs, Trust Level (TL) 1 (BASIC) must be acquired. We need to spend enough time on the site to hit the necessary targets. We can track our badges on our profile to see what “trust level” we have attained:

As mentioned on the “read first” thread READ FIRST: Welcome to the Dallas Makerspace
the quickest way to to achieve TL1 or better is to interact with DISCOBOT; look for the “Welcome” PM from Discobot, and play along to learn about Discord and how to interact with it. TL can be increased through regular use as well, but that shortcuts the process in a fun, educational way.

Yes, TL0 can respond to PMs, simply cannot initiate, as enumerated in the pinned “Read First” thread READ FIRST: Welcome to the Dallas Makerspace