I am creating plans for model kits and need full size drawings that show how to assemble the kit. This is why I am getting started with FreeCAD. Why Use FreeCAD For 3D Printingĭespite being successful with Blender, I have a few requirements that really call for a 2D parametric CAD tool. I can’t imagine doing this in FreeCAD although to be fair I’m just getting started.

This has a lot of curving shapes some of which needed final modifications to the mesh. This is a screenshot of a “Harp Switch Stand” I modeled in Blender. Blender allows me to “carve” realistic wood grain into a 3D board. I also like how you can switch between modeling geometric shapes and modeling the underlying mesh. I find I can create complex geometric shapes by combining basic shapes in Blender easily (after a long learning curve). This includes lots of features not needed (shading, textures, animation) if all you want to do is 3D print.įor my purposes (designing model railroad components to be 3D printed) I have been using Blender. Blenderīlender – this CAD package is inherently 3D and intended primarily for creating 3D animations (think Disney animated movies). Professional diagrams like this can be created with very little effort. This is a 2D mechanical drawing generated by FreeCAD. FreeCAD also has the advantage of being entirely scriptable using Python. They are two different types of CAD packages: FreeCADįreeCAD – this is a “parametric” CAD package primarily intended for creating mechanical drawings in both 2D and 3D. Well, it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

Using freecad for 3d printing