Software and Thingiverse

CAD software

In order to print a plastic part, we need to get to an STL file format.  I find these free solids modeling packages the most usefull PTC Creo, AutoDesk 123D, and FreeCAD. 

Alibre used to be free.  Now it's only a 30 day trial.  I speculate that they did this because they started to see a surge in the use of their software due to 3d printing.  They wanted a lot of money for a license, and they never even heard of a 3d printer.  It's funny, because I also speculate that that is the very reason that AutoDesk came out with 123D.  They want a big presense in the 3d printer world.  And PTC Creo.  This is the next generation of PTC's CAD software, Wildfire is officially old.

I have all these packages installed, and will be doing some serious modeling/printing.

Update:  OMG I just love PTC Creo.  I followed some tutorials, and am getting proficient very quickly.  I think that I can make any part regardless of complexity.  The save is a little weird in my opinion, but that's my only complaint so far.  I made a part, saved it, and then saved as STL.  Then loaded it right into Repetier Host, it asked me if I wanted to slic3r it, and I said yes.  In a few seconds there it was.

Files ready to print

This is perhaps one of the best sites that I have ever come across.  It has thousands, or 100's of thousands of parts, free for the printing.  And there's a nifty search box at Thingiverse.  So if you want a new widget, try here first.  If you make a cool widget, think about sharing it for others to print for themselves.

2 comments:

  1. Matthew HillNovember 17, 2012 at 12:49 AM

    Gday from Australia.

    We are building a Mendelmax 1.5 and wondering other than the software to create the stl template files, do we need any driver software for windows to allow the connection to the usb device, or will cad software be sufficient ?

    We have googled immensly and still cannot find a solution, so we really appreciate your input.

    Kind regards

    Matt and Craig

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kurt FileNovember 25, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Sorry for the long delay. I've connected the printer to both a Windows XP and Windows 7 computer. No additional drivers were required.

    To load the Arduino you will need to get their software (free) and some firmware (I highly recommend Marlin because it can do circles and arcs) to upload it so the Arduino will do 3D printing.

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