Continuing the discussion from Membership & Induction:
Thanks for the info. I have a pretty basic requirement, I want to make a case which houses the pi (of which there are loads on thingiverse already) but also has space for a keypad, of which I have the dimension in a datasheet. I’ll download Freecad and Cura and play around with a downloaded model.
Does anyone else have a suggestion for good 3d modelling/printing software (free/open source preferred).
Thanks,
Keith
Ive used freecad a number of times for just that.
Taking an existing stl and chopping bits off and adding other bits.
You can import the stl and in the part workbench turn it into a mesh and then a solid.
You can then use freecad to add and subtract from that.
As in the name it is free and opensource.
For slicing/printing a file for the ultimaker. Id stick with cura as it is free and supplied with the ultimaker. You can use others but they would need to be set up to work with the ultimaker.
But cura has a simple wizard to set it up for the ultimaker.
Gordon
I’ve tried a few different programs for 3D modelling. Currently I’m enjoying www.tinkercad.com for basic models, quick and easy to produce something simple.
I’ve tried 123D Design (I think) and it was a little tricky to use. Also SketchUp but that’s a bit fiddly.
For Slicing I use Slic3r. However I did download Cura to use the Ultimaker on my Linux laptop, it was so easy, so recommend using that! (I just have all my settings on Slic3r for my 3D printer all perfect already)
I used Blender 3D to import a model from the internet. I then exported it to load into the Replicator software. The only downside to using Blender are the crazy key assignments.
Ended up printing a face mask, which turned out to be to small for me.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve downloaded all the programs mentioned and don’t have the faintest idea what I should be doing. Time to go through some tutorials!
You are now where i was less than a year ago when i decided i wanted to have a go at 3d printing.
Try modifying a few simple examples in the cad program or finding simple things on thingiverse you want to try and modify and have a go.
The first item i designed was simply a few cylinders added together with a couple more subtracted from the middle. But once printed they were hinges for a cd cabinet.
Think of breaking what you want down to boxes, cylinders and other simple geometric solids that are either joined together or taken away to make the shape you want.
once youve got something in the cad program export it as an .stl file and its ready to be loaded into a slicer like cura and printed.
