Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
also has a number of plugins that allow importing and editing .STL files. Sketchup
is closed source, and the free ($) version, which is available for use only for home,
personal, or educational purposes, is missing some of the better features that are
included in the non-free version.
Shapesmith.
A free and open source software package, Shapesmith could be a re-
placement for Tinkercad and Sketchup in the future. Similar to Tinkercad, Shape-
smith is web-based software. Currently, the web version of the software allows you
to create basic geometric shapes and join and subtract with those shapes. You can
also export .STL files. If Shapesmith had a way to import .STL files, it would have
been the software highlighted in this chapter to use for beginners. It is very close to
being ready for widespread use.
After you've spent some time on the beginner software, you will likely start to notice
that you are unable to create more complex designs because of constraints imposed by the
software features. Once your skill level has reached beyond the scope of the beginner-
level software, it is time to move on to more advanced software.
FreeCAD.
Following the format of traditional CAD software, FreeCAD is a fast-
developing free source CAD software package. Although still in the early develop-
ment stage, FreeCAD is more than capable of creating quality designs. The soft-
ware allows you to quickly create designs using geometric shapes and 2D line
sketches. If you enjoyed using Tinkercad or Sketchup, you will find FreeCAD sim-
ilar in workflow but with many more tools and features.
Other Choices.
There are many other 3D modeling and CAD software packages
out there. I highly recommend that you give Blender and FreeCAD a try, but if you
already know another software package, feel free to use it. If the software can ex-
port .STL files, then you can use it for 3D printing. For a list of software packages,
see reprap.org/wiki/Useful_Software_Packages.
Next Steps
You now have (or soon will have) access to a 3D printer, have sifted through the thousands
of available designs, and maybe have made a few designs yourself. The broad question
some may have at this point is, “What do I do now?” The answer to this question will differ
depending on your interests.
For some, the activity of 3D printing becomes the central interest. You may enjoy
printing parts and trying new ways to print designs. If that is your interest, make sure to
see the previously mentioned
www.makexyz.com
. You can create a free account to offer
your 3D printing services. By offering 3D printing services, you can either fund other pro-
jects or build a 3D printing service of your own.
