Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi I am looking to make some bits for 3D printing on shapeways. I was wondering what the program of choice is for rendering 3d images. Feel free to post suggestions and the reasons for your preferred program.
Thanks!

3D Studio Max?

'Best' application is a wide definition. Personally I prefer 3D Studio Max, simply it's because what I've used professionally for over 10 years.
But I've seen a lot of good stuff happen with things like Sketchup and Blender.

Just beware that the learning curve of any 3D modeling program is very steep and you'll need to invest a lot of time.

Especially because modeling for 3D printing is a whole other sub niche of 3D modeling. Your mesh needs to be 100% 'water tight' etc etc..

But have at it! Once mastered, 3D modeling is a very rewarding skill to have.

Hi mate.... i have to agree with Meph it is a totally individual choice.

I use a variety of 3D programmes profesionally also so here are a couple of ideas...

3d S Max is a great programme but as Meph explains.. it requires a lot of time and input... and if i remember correctly is quite expensive..... if your looking to purchase it.

Sketchup is a more simplistic and free software that for the process and design towards 3d printing would be pretty good. I think unless you are in it professionally... Sketchup would be the way to go.... Although Blender is free also... and a bit more intricate towards 3D Max. #There are plenty of free tutorials online for each of these also....


I am actually looking to do the same thing and have a couple of pieces printed on Shapeways so i will follow this thread and see how you get on!
The "watertight" Mesh issue is definetly one to look out for with your pieces. And again i echo what Meph says and say, make sure and understand how the piece will be printed and how the mesh should be exported in each format etc....

Sorry to waffle on....
Good luck and hope you let us know how you get on...

I think Sketchup is the quickest way to get into it. I once used 3DS Max, about 10 years ago and wanted to get back to 3D modelling ever since and thought I'd do it with Blender. But it really is time consuming and I don't have that much time anymore

I've been out of the loop for alot longer than I thought! What file format do you need to provide for this. STL? I use Solidworks and regularly convert models over for SLA samples/assemblies... Is this similar?

I like playing with different 3D programs. I picked up a program earlier in the year called Hexagon which I would recommend. It only cost about $20, but it has loads of really powerful extrusion tools. Really neat little program for modeling.

I use Solidworks.(Examples.) If you're looking for bits like guns, helmets, shoulder pads, or other "manufactured" inorganic items, Solidworks (or another 3d CAD program- like Pro E, SoildEdge, and AutoCAD are others) is probably your best bet. If you want more freeform models (unhelmeted heads, full on figures, etc) You'll probably want something more like Zbrush, Claytools, or MudBox. Though, most of these are spendy. Blender is free, as is Sketchup. Sketchup is easy to learn, but once you start wanting to deal with more complex shapes and curved surfaces, you'll have a lot trouble getting good results.

 NethDhaosPhak wrote:
I've been out of the loop for alot longer than I thought! What file format do you need to provide for this. STL? I use Solidworks and regularly convert models over for SLA samples/assemblies... Is this similar?

Yep. STL is more-or-less the standard file type for 3D printing.

Thanks Lord Derp. Nice work on those models. I'm thinking of several Ork bits that I may do this way, but the jaggedness is probably going to be a challenge.

I found their website too and noted some of the min wall thicknesses they specify. How do they typically perform down in that range (think it was around 0.4mm?). I was wondering about sharp edges too, which I see you have on some of those examples you linked. Have you seen much clean-up necessary from the supports? They claim to do the clean-up but on small parts like this I wonder. The swept blade-type thing coming off the back of that helmet is the type of thing I'm wondering about, unless that is considerably larger than the model scale we are talking about.

I've done some Ork stuff for a customer (can't show it until he debuts his army at Adepticon) and it's not too tricksy. The irregular nature means you have a bit more work to make it suitably Orky; no building half the model then mirroring it. Spikes are pretty simple using Centerline Lofts and Projected Curves. I'd also recommend getting familiar with Pattern Along Curve for rivets.

Thanks. Patterns are one thing I haven't used too extensively in SW aside from basic stuff. Unigraphics used to be good for patterns... Just not much else.

If you can wrap your head around it, look at OpenSCAD. It's script-based, so you "tell" the program what you want and it renders based on that. I've gotten some basic designs together that work out all right, including a Punisher turret that mounts to the older-style Russ kits and some autocannon arms for dreads.



Both of those were done with OpenSCAD. One of the minor advantages is that it's parametric, which means with the Punisher turret I can have arbitrary barrel lengths on the part. The Russ turret has been printed on a home 3d printer, so I know it will print with Shapeways' stuff, same with the autocannon arms.

I also know that Art of Illusion is mentioned a few times in the RepRap community (3d printers), but I haven't worked with it much myself.

My wife liked using zBrush for art (not solid modeling), and Blender is *very* arcane.

I recommend blender 3d. It is a fantastic program and there is a wealth of free tutorials on the internet. Plus it is free!

I ran across TinkerCAD a while back and found it super fun to use. I've also tried to learn 3DMax, Blender and a few others, but this program is way more intuitive and great for 3D printer tinkering. You'll probably not do much precision work, but it has a scripting language so you can do just about anything if you really want to. Here's the stuff I was playing with:
https://tinkercad.com/users/6gU04G8JgtX-metagamer?
It's tricky to get things to 3D print also: it definitely takes some practice to DIY.

 BadMoonMek wrote:
I ran across TinkerCAD a while back and found it super fun to use. I've also tried to learn 3DMax, Blender and a few others, but this program is way more intuitive and great for 3D printer tinkering. You'll probably not do much precision work, but it has a scripting language so you can do just about anything if you really want to. Here's the stuff I was playing with:
https://tinkercad.com/users/6gU04G8JgtX-metagamer?
It's tricky to get things to 3D print also: it definitely takes some practice to DIY.

I suspect that TinkerCAD is actually a sweet GUI wrapped around OpenSCAD, or something that could easily just have been OpenSCAD.

I'm using Gmax (same as old versions 3ds Max) for technical objects and Sculptris for humans/monsters.
Tried Blender, Maya and Zbrush but didn't understeand how use them.

Currently I am using 123D Autodesk free, but I am finding it a bit clumsy. I am more interested in making guns and mech bits rather than organic models. I managed to make some bits for converting tankbustas from boys but I am looking to make parts for tanks and I find 123D lacking.

I always wanted to get some 3d prints. I want to get some cool axes made for my zerkers

psnmario wrote:
I always wanted to get some 3d prints. I want to get some cool axes made for my zerkers

I know a guy.