So what Software do I need to start from scratch?  

RE: So what Software do I need to start from scratch?

Posted by: @prusaprinters-profile

Hi
So my Printer is maybe in production and I want to start with a Case for my "Industrial" Camera. I mention that before. The are "just" a PCB with a ~1cm x ~1cm Camera Lens. Infront of that some IR Filter should be screwed on. I need to Print a Case who the Module sits in and on the Back of the PCB a fat Headsink get stuck on. I ordert different one it will be maybe this one: https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32965876621.html

The are nice and give the camera a good stability if I have to grab the Case. So can I print some Nose Clips to clip in the Headsink in place?

What Software do I need for that to start with?

Thanks

You need a CAD software to design your parts and a slicer to generate the gcode.
Common, mostly free CAD systems are e.g. Fusion360, Blender or FreeCAD...
For slicing you can use the Open Source Slicer from Prusa.

CAD software: Freie CAD Software

Slicer: Craftware, Cura, S3D, Slic3r, PrusaSlicer... https://all3dp.com/de/1/3d-slicer-software-3d-drucker/

RE: So what Software do I need to start from scratch?

I use and recommend FreeCad for general 3d print drafting.  It does almost all I need and it runs equally well on both Windows and Linux (and Mac).

I've tried Blender and OpenSCAD.  OpenSCAD is extremely flexible, but more tedious for many jobs.

RE: So what Software do I need to start from scratch?

@karl-herbert

Thanks I will try to use blender I have a lot of time until the printer will arrive. I guess the are still get printed. 🤣 

RE: So what Software do I need to start from scratch?

In regards to jsw's recommendations, I would add that if you want to do engineering type stuff go with FreeCad.  If you want to do organic types of models, flowers or game pieces for instance, go with Blender.

An additional comment regarding Blender is that some folks have used it for engineering models but have had dimension problem when loading the model into the slicer - that part is too big or too small.  I don't use Blender so don't know if the problem is operator error or a systemic problem with Blender.

Have fund modeloing.

RE: So what Software do I need to start from scratch?

@jwvaughn

Blender user here.  The size 'issue' is because people using blender have not set it up correctly for real world measurements.  This was harder in the older 2.7x versions and earlier but is now extremely easy to do in the 2.8x onwards versions.

Blender by default is unit -less, it used something called Blender units. Now you just select the real world units you want for size, weight, time etc from the world tab.  For modelling for 3d print I find selecting units Metric and then selecting 0.001 for unit scale and selecting Length = millimetres.  This then makes everything display in mm size so if you create a cube that is 20x20x20mm and then export it, it is actually 20mm on each side.

Blender is also getting better suited for hard surface modelling all the time and given that its probably got the largest development base of any of the various software out there its getting better faster too.  Its has a 3d print tool that can be turned on built in which is VERY handy for fixing random stl files downloaded from the usual sites, or at least pointing out where the issues are if it cant automatically fix them.  Its free, yours for life and cross platform.  Even my not so great work pc runs it.