Thanks! Just downloaded it and checking it out...
Thanks! Just downloaded it and checking it out...
Not shure what.s the target age. Learned my 13 yr old daughter "design spark mechanical" (also free) yesterday. she could work with it fast. Just a question here and there....
Something in the range of 8 years to 16... although there might be some more veteran LAN-members (up to 40 +) having a go at it.
I've seen interesting examples, going to try that one as well, thank you!
One important question you should ask yourself is:
Do you want a 3D drawing software, or a CAD software?
Sketchup is cool, but it's not a CAD software. It's a 3D drawing program with which you can "construct" stuff with 0.1mm accuracy. But it's not an actual CAD program like Solidworks, Creo and the likes...
Nevertheless, I think Sketchup can be a good "introduction" into mechanical engineering. And of course there are other suitable programs as well
Not shure what.s the target age. Learned my 13 yr old daughter "design spark mechanical" (also free) yesterday. she could work with it fast. Just a question here and there....
I recommend this above Sketchup. It's a lot more powerful, and at the same time, a lot less can go wrong.
(Also note, my signature on printer! As well as the founders signatures)
One important question you should ask yourself is:
Do you want a 3D drawing software, or a CAD software?
Sketchup is cool, but it's not a CAD software. It's a 3D drawing program with which you can "construct" stuff with 0.1mm accuracy. But it's not an actual CAD program like Solidworks, Creo and the likes...
Nevertheless, I think Sketchup can be a good "introduction" into mechanical engineering. And of course there are other suitable programs as well
The only humble experience I have would be mainly Blender... and some tinkering here and there in a past education.
With 3D printing in mind, what would be the pro's and cons between those two in your opinion, CAD and a 3D drawing program?
The easy pull-and-push action in Google Sketchup is great, and I 'm just beginning to appreciate the possibilities of Design Spark Mechanical. Luckily some basics look similar between different 3D programs.
I recommend this above Sketchup. It's a lot more powerful, and at the same time, a lot less can go wrong.
Design Spark Mechanical seems to be a collaboration with SpaceClaim, which is kind of cool, on an introduction-event for the metallurgic industry SpaceClaim showed off there user-friendly interface...looked impressive (as was their price tag for just home-use, they did offer a free trial).
(Also note, my signature on printer! As well as the founders signatures)
...we are so not going to clean that side
Guess I'll have a look at DesignSpark myself
The beauty about 3D printing is, you can print "3D drawings" as well as "3D constructions", as long as you have an intact mesh without holes.
If you want to make artwork like sculptures, jewelry or toys, then a 3D drawing program would be your better choice.
For accurate mechanical parts, maybe even with parametric customization abilities, a CAD software will be the easier way to reach your goal.
3D drawing software usually has features like smoothing, polygon morphing and stuff like that, while CAD software rather has features that are important for part constructions, making mechanical drawings from your parts, simulating part strength or other physical properties and so on.
Note that I don't have much experience with either 3D drawing nor construction software. Of course there's much more to that, but imho these are the main differences.
You can make 3D constructions with 3D drawing software, and you can make sculptures with a CAD software. Depending on the toolsets you have available, it's just going to take you longer than necessary to reach your goal.
Talking about toolsets:
Sketchup doesn't have many. That's why it's so simple to learn. It's also why you will reach the limits of Sketchup sooner or later and need something better.
But I believe it's a good point to get started and printing in a very short time.
Something in the range of 8 years to 16... although there might be some more veteran LAN-members (up to 40 +) having a go at it.
I've seen interesting examples, going to try that one as well, thank you!
and there's the powerfull feature to use STEP files in DSM;
http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/topic/2772-spaceclaim/?p=53816
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jonnybischof 60
Imho the easiest 3D design software to learn and master is Google Sketchup. It takes no knowledge at all to get into it, it's about as difficult as MS Paint.
Sketchup 8 can export to ".dae (collada)" which you can load into Cura. There is also a plugin that can export STL files or DXF (polylines, for 2D or 2.5D machining, like lasercutting or CNC).
Best of all, Sketchup is free
I recommend Version 8, the newer ones are not really freeware.
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