TLDR = what’s a good next step after kid-friendly 3d creation tools?
Solved = Fusion360 is voted as winner, we even got a nice tutorial playlist.
Hi all - I’m still very much a new user. Highly skilled in IT but just getting my feet wet in 3D printing, since a month or so. I love the possibilities! I can physically create anything I can image, it’s amazing.
So far, I’ve used mostly TinkerCad and done lots with it. The learning curve is practically non-existent, and it has sufficient features to do a lot.
But of course it’s not perfect. Obvious example: can’t do fillets, except in roundabout ways using negative blocks.
I’ve tried OnShape, OpenScad, Fusion 360, but found them quite a steep hill to climb.
Are these good choices, or is there something in-between that would make it easier for me to advance?
You must log in or register to comment.
All parametric modeling or CAD software is going to have a pretty steep learning curve, I think. For all the things I design I exclusively use FreeCAD. I just can’t get behind being locked in to proprietary and non-free software with predatory licensing schemes for this sort of thing, so I never touch anything from AutoDesk or Adobe… even if it is “free.”
All parametric modeling or CAD software is going to have a pretty steep learning curve
I disagree a little bit. I feel like I learnt maybe 10% of fusion 360 several years back and it’s been enough for me to design everything I’ve needed, whilst learning about other features gradually as necessary.
Op should just bite the bullet and get onto some parametric cad software.
Having spent a little time with Fusion now, I agree with you and I am now also trying to wrap my head around FreeCad. I find that parametric modeling is hard compared to TinkerCad’s stacking toddler blocks together 🙃
FreeCAD might fit your bill. You can do many things but it’s definitely not a fully blown professional CAD yet. On the downside, it’s not always super well documented.
Fusion 360 is the middle ground. Beyond that you’re looking at solidworks.
It is just a steep learning curve. Keep grinding. The thing about steep learning curves is that it’s more rewarding when you make progress.
Fusion360 is great.
The two things I dislike about it though is the lack of linux support and the fact that you have to store your projects in their cloud. Personally I would prefer local only projects which I can easily include in a git repository without having to manually export my model every time I make a change to it.
So far FreeCad seems like the best option for me in regards to those points but it is definitely less intuitive than Fusion360
I only use freecad and it sucks. But it’s not infested with corporate bullshit like cloud saves, so it’s automatically better than fusion 360.
in the cloud
From what I read, the free tier only allows to save 10 models, total, ever, then I’d need a paid version. Is that accurate?
No you can only have 10 read/write models at the same time but as far as I found you can store as many read-only models as you want and you can toggle them back and forth. Also, you also can store the files locally, or at least export them to a local fusion file.
You’ve already accepted Fusion 360 as the answer, but I thought I’d provide my experience, too.
I picked up Fusion 360 pretty quickly because I’d dealt with 3d modelling programs in the past, such as Blender.
Openscad calls to me pretty strongly, but it’s kind of a weird mindset and almost more like a puzzle game than a productivity product. Freecad just has too many problems still, especially when dealing with the timeline.
And so I still use Fusion 360 any time I need to bash out something for around the house. For basic usage, I find it really easy to use. I’m sure I’ll get into more complex things later, but the ease with which Clough42 on youtube uses it to design nice things makes me think that it won’t be that hard to get more into it.
