3DPrinting

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3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

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Do I need to learn a 3D modeling software? (lemy.lol)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Krauerking@lemy.lol to c/3dprinting@lemmy.world

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So, I'm trying to print some older models from thingiverse and I have discovered that basically all the files I want to print have glaring flaws in them.

Internal free floating structures, connector pieces and holes that are the exact same size... So on and so forth...

Do I need to learn a software like CAD or Blender to fix these? I seem to be able to do some basic stuff in Orca Slicer but it honestly seems like as much of a pain to modify the parts there as it would be to use a real software.

Is there one that's easier? I think I messed around with SketchUp once upon a time.

I am worried this feels like opening a can of worms just so that I can make a thing that already exists in a dozen forms better.

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[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have trouble remembering what key pans and what key rotates view and the thought of actually figuring out how to manipulate the 3D file in FreeCAD felt like it was gonna melt my brain.

But thank you for the recommendation. TinkerCAD made me feel like I was playing with children's blocks but at least I understand them.

I also think I'm gonna try get started on learning something else after I brute force this stupid single print. And I think it will just be trying some of them out.

[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 4 points 1 week ago

Yeah Fusion is the way to go, especially if you are learning. Lots of hate for it around here, due to Autodesk endlessly changing their policies. But there's no point in learning the basics when you don't know if it's you... or the software.

But if your issue is just navigating the 3D space in FreeCAD, you can set it such that it's the same in TinkerCAD/Fusion 360. FreeCAD calls it Revit, and you can set it in the lower right corner. Hold you mouse over it to show tool tips.