Which is the best CAD software for 3D printing? Whether you are a beginner or expert 3D printing professional, there is something for you.
Using the right CAD software will make your 3D printing project easier. The right software to use will depend on what you are trying to print.
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3D Design Software
There are two main categories of 3D design software: CAD software and 3D modeling software.
Generally, CAD (Computer Aided Design) software is used when creating industrial objects, such as mechanical objects.
On the other hand, 3D modeling software is used in video games and films to make organic animations. However, the software can also be used to create 3D print models.
Using CAD Software for 3D Printing
CAD software are highly technical tools that are used in industrial design, architecture, aerospace engineering, mechanical design, and other fronts.
Typically, a CAD model contains data such as tolerance, dimensions, material properties, specific information about the manufacturing process. Some CAD applications also have advanced animation and rendering capabilities, which make it easier to visualize the final product.
When making 3D printable models with CAD software, you can save the prints in stereolithography file format (STL). This is the default CAD file format for additive manufacturing (AM).
However, there are also other file formats that are used for additive manufacturing.
Which CAD Software Should You Use?
When I started using CAD software with my first 3D printer, I had no previous experience of 3D modeling. If you are a beginner, you shouldn't really be scared of using CAD software. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube on how to use specific CAD software.
Over the years, I've become more experienced in 3D printing and have tested various CAD software programs. Here is an overview of the best CAD software for 3D printing, for both beginners and experts.
Best CAD Software for 3D Printing (For Both Beginners & Experts)
1. Blender
The first program I downloaded and familiarized myself with was Blender– a full-featured modeling program with a physics engine and animation capabilities. The software has hundreds of settings and menus, which you will not need as a beginner.
With Blender, as is the case with most CAD 3D software, you will need a powerful machine to run it. Getting started with the software is easy, thanks to the many tutorials on YouTube. Free online computer aided design.
After days of watching tutorials, I was more than pleased with what I managed to accomplish in Blender.
This is an awesome program with many capabilities. However, the program requires some computer power and may not be the ultimate beginner program.
Watch Blender Tutorials
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
2. TinkerCad
TinkerCad is a bit of a straight opposite of Blender: it's incredibly simple, educational and runs directly in your browser.
On the software, there's a menu full of basic shapes that you can puzzle together as if it were Lego. However, it is impossible to round off the corners of the shapes you create with the program.
TinkerCad makes it very easy to import vector graphics and make them three-dimensional and ready for printing.
However, the software is relatively limited. There is not a lot you can do with your 3D object with TinkerCad.
Watch TinkerCad Tutorials
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
3. FreeCAD
FreeCAD is an open-source 3D modeling tool that allows you to design real-life objects of any size. The free software has parametric component, which makes editing easier. For instance, when you are creating your model, you can go to its history and change the parameters (color, dimensions, etc.) to get a different model.
I wouldn't recommend FreeCAD for professional 3D printing artists since it has just basic options. However, it is a good CAD software for beginners.
Watch FreeCAD Tutorials
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
4. BlocksCAD
BlocksCAD is specifically designed for educational purposes. When you have mastered the software, you will be able to use OpenSCAD, a more advanced CAD program. With BlocksCAD, the commands for developing and transforming objects are represented by color blocks.
The software's code is compatible with OpenSCAD's code. Therefore, after developing your models on BlocksCAD, you can polish them up on OpenSCAD. You can export your models as either STL or OpenSCAD.
Check BlocksCAD YouTube channel to learn how to use the software.
Watch BlocksCAD Tutorials
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
5. Creo
One of the market leaders in product design is Creo CAD software. This program has many functionalities, such as direct modeling, freestyle surface generation, motion generation, parametric generation, structural generation, thermal generation, among others.
With this complete additive manufacturing software, you can perform all your dimensioning calculations while modeling your final idea.
The software comes with a 30-day fully-functioning trial.
Watch Creo 3D Tutorials
Level: Intermediate
Cost: $2,310 for each license
6. Autodesk Fusion 360
Autodesk Fusion 360 is a popular CAD program designed forproduct design. On the software, there is a button that you can press to send your finished item directly to any 3D printer or slicer.
Autodesk Fusion 360 is quite an advanced CAD software. I did not really know how to use any of the features until I got a crash course in SolidWorks, a commercial program with similar features.
There are two modes to work in Fusion 360: a CAD mode with logic, and a modeling mode, where you can easily turn your stylish symmetrical model into organic models.
Fusion 360 offers a mix of features found in both Blender and TinkerCad. As a result, it is the software I prefer and use the most.
Watch Fusion 360 Tutorials
Level: Intermediate
Cost: $60 per month or free for students, educators & academic institutions
7. Solidworks
Solidworks is one of the best CAD software for professional 3D designers. This parametric feature-based software has various features, including design validation tools. The software is practical and detailed, which makes it an excellent choice for designing industrial objects.
Most CAD software mimics curves by gently inclining flat structures. However, Solidworks uses a system of NURBS, which allows it to create detailed curvatures. Moreover, the software using dimensional sketching rather than polygonal modeling. Dimensional sketching makes resizing less of a hassle.
However, Solidworks has limited support for importing .STL files. If you want to download and edit .STL files, you will need a different program.
Watch Solidworks Tutorials
Best external hard drive for a macbook. Level: Professional
Cost: $3,995 for each license
8. AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a professional 3D modeling software that is mainly used in industrial and architectural design. The software is great at 2D drafting but not really much at 3D modeling. As a result, it is not as widely used in the 3D printing community as some of the software I've presented above. Moreover, the software has a steep learning curve when you want to make complex models.
AutoCAD is primarily designed for professionals with experience in programming models algorithmically. The software's models can be converted into STLL files for 3D printing.
Watch AutoCAD Tutorials
Level: Professional
Cost:From $185/month or $1,470/year
-Free and fully-functional version to download for students and faculties.
9. CATIA
CATIA CAD is not just a CAD software but a multi-platform software suite for CAD, CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) and more. CATIA enabled advanced product design and development through different stages. This makes it an excellent program for systems architects, mechanical engineers, and creative designers.
CATIA also has a 3D design environment through which different parties can collaborate on product modeling and share designs.
Watch CATIA Tutorials
Level: Professional
Cost: From $10,000
10. OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is an open-source software for making solid 3D models. This free software is aimed at experienced users looking to use advanced features. Programmers and coders love the software's Extrusion of 2D outlines and Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG).
You can use OpenSCAD to create simple shapes that are already parametrically defined.
However, since the software is completely based on description language, it may not be suitable for everyone.
Watch OpenSCAD Tutorials
3d Cad Software Free
Level: Professional
Cost: Free
11. Rhino3D
Rhino3D is a commercial 3D computer graphics and CAD program that is known for versatility. The software used NURB, a precise mathematical model that enables manipulation of solids, surfaces, meshes, curves and points in different ways.
Rhino3D comes with various design features and can create complex 3D models. However, it has quite a learning curve.
Watch Rhino3D Tutorials
Level: Professional
Cost: Includes different bundles; Rhino 6.0 starts at 995€ for Windows and Rhino 5.0 at 695€ for Mac
Sooner or later, you will find the best CAD software for 3D printing for you. However, if you are a beginner, I would recommend TinkerCad.
Want help finding the right 3D printer? Then read our guide to buying 3D printers!
Here is ten useful free alternative 2D/3D CAD software for AutoCAD that help you in 3D CAD designing, drafting, modeling, architectural drawing, and engineering work.
Best Free AutoCAD Alternatives
1 DoubleCAD XT – Free alternative to AutoCAD
DoubleCAD XT is a free 2D CAD drafting and drawing software with advanced features for creating excellent drafting and detailing. – DoubleCAD XT
2 DraftSight – Autocad alternative
DraftSight is a free professional grade 2D CAD software that allows professional CAD users, students, and educators to create easily, edit, and view DWG and DXFbbbg files.
it's a perfect free alternative software for Autodesk AutoCAD. – DraftSight
3 BRL-CAD – Autocad alternative software
BRL-CAD is a free and Open source CAD software for modeling and manipulating 2D and 3D layouts.
Though BRL CAD uses for a wide range of engineering and graphics purposes, the package's primary purpose continues to be the help of ballistic and electromagnetic analyses.
Features:-
- Free and Open Source
- Cross-Platform
- Multiple Module
- Achieve the preferred 3D layout with this comprehensive CAD utility
- Help users create, edit and manipulate 3D layouts
4 FreeCAD – Alternative software for Autocad
FreeCAD is a common purpose parametric 3D modeler for CAD, MCAD, CAx, CAE, and PLM.
It mainly uses for mechanical engineering and product design but also fits a broader range of uses in engineering, similar to architecture or other engineering works.
It is 100% Open Source and intensely modular, giving a very advanced extension and customization.
FreeCAD relies on OpenCasCade, a robust geometry kernel that highlights an Open Inventor compliant 3D scene representation model proposed by the Coin 3D library and a broad Python API.
The interface develops with Qt Framework. FreeCAD runs the same method on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms. – FreeCAD
5 LibreCAD – Free Autocad alternative
LibreCAD is a 2D CAD software written in C++11 using the Qt framework. It might probably read DXF and DWG files and can write DXF, PDF, and SVG files.
The user interface is extremely customizable and has dozens of translations.
LibreCAD is a community version of QCAD that uses the cross platform framework Qt, which means it works with most operating systems. – LibreCAD
6 Openscad – 3D alternative for AutoCAD
OpenSCAD is a free CAD software for creating solid 3D CAD models. Unlike most free software for creating 3D models, it doesn't focus on the creative parts of 3D modeling but instead on the CAD aspects.
Free 3d Cad Software Online
The software is not an interactive modeler. Instead, it is something like a 3D Compiler that uses a script file to build the object and renders the 3D model from that script file.
That gives you full control over the modeling process and lets you allow to change any step within the modeling process or make designs which might be defined by configurable parameters. Igt casino software.
There are two different modeling methods offer by OpenSCAD. Apple editing software. First, there may be constructive solid geometry, and second, there is an extrusion of 2D outlines.
You can use Autocad DXF files as a data exchange format for 2D Outlines. Along with 2D paths for extrusion, which have the potential to read design parameters from DXF files.
Apart from DXF files, OpenSCAD can also read and create 3D models within the STL and OFF file formats.
7 3DVIA Shape – 3D Alternative for AutoCAD
3DVIA Shape is a free online 3D modeling and publishing tool that allows anyone to share their ideas in 3D easily.
It helps you to create 3D models, add textures, after which you can publish them directly to our free online forums found at the 3DVIA Website.
A perfect 3D software program for the newbie but highly effective enough for the professional person. – 3DVIA Shape
8 gCAD3D – Free AutoCAD Alternatives
gCAD3D is a 3D CAD/CAM software for Windows and Linux.
it's a freeware GTK+ based 3D CAD-CAM software that added 3D OpenGL viewer and gives support for both importing and exporting Iges, DXF, and VRML files.
Features:-
- import and export programs such as Step, Iges, VRML, DXF, SVG, etc.
- combined 3D OpenGL viewer
- program interpreter for geometry and NC commands in 3D
- combined NC processor
- Plugins for user programs
- Plugins for remote control
9 Medusa4 – 2D/3D Alternative CAD software for AutoCAD
The free MEDUSA4 Personal CAD software is a part of the MEDUSA4 family of CAD solutions.
3d Cad Software For Personal Use Online
It's well design performance, similar to the most excellent business package deal, add basic 3D, parametric, color image integration, and sheet metal design.
MEDUSA4 Personal has been used worldwide for many years to create 2D drawings for home projects quickly, and by hobbyists to provide 3D models prepared for 3D printing.
Because of its versatile CAD performance and its ability to edit DWG and DXF files, the software has additionally developed to installed in many small firms.
10 pCon.planner
pCon.planner is a free 3D design software specially designed for the interior design industry.
It allows you to create detailed, 3D floor plans quickly. No matter whether you're starting from scratch or using a current project, easily and instantly edit and share with others.
Add CAD models in several formats into your plans, or download suitable models from allied supplier catalogs.
You don't have to be an expert to create impressive renderings with pCon.planner. Even novices can produce top-quality images immediately.
Give your clients a complete summary of your plan. From true-to-scale drawings to title blocks and logos, your clients get all the data they want, all in one layout.
Great designs need to analyze from each angle. So you can use your 3D models and 360° panoramas in your presentations, on websites, and your blogs.
Simply import plans from your architect in IFC format, and proceed to use the same building model all through your design. – pCon.planner
Features:-
- Free
- Powerful
- Open existing CAD models and get started today.
- Instantly create detailed, 3-dimensional floor plans.
- Add CAD models in different formats (DWG, SKP, 3DS, etc.) into your plans.
- Be Creative
- generate stunning images
- From true-to-scale drawings to title blocks and logos, your customers get all the information they need, all in one layout.
- Easy to share your ideas
- Building Information Modeling – Import plans from your architect in IFC format and continue using the same building model throughout your design.
