STL files for 3D designers and makers, share free and paid guaranteed 3D printable models. Download high-quality 3D print files for tabletop gaming, toys, gadgets and more for your 3D printers. Readying your models for printing. Posing your models for printing can be problematic, especially when you consider the limitations of desktop 3D printing. You can use support material (extra material that act as scaffolding under your print) to support the arms, weapons, and other bits sticking out from your model. CATIA provides a 3D design environment that enables online people and stakeholders to share product designs and collaborate on product modeling. – Professional Level – Starting price around $10,000 9. OpenSCAD is a free, open-source CAD software aimed at making solid 3D models. It is suitable for experienced users seeking a.
Whenever we talk about 3D CAD software, the only term that clouds our minds is AutoCAD. CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design. It’s a program that helps you frame designs with the help of a computer. If you want to know more then let’s dive into this topic and learn about it.
What is CAD Software?
CAD is a useful way to create mechanical or industrial plans and blueprints. It assists you with designing 3D objects and preparing a blueprint in an orderly fashion.
CAD software is used in different industries including aerospace, architecture, 3D modeling, mechanical designs, automobile industry and many more spaces.
Several tools help you render various functions like creating, contouring, applying textures and many more. If you want to enhance your 3D design skills.
In this guide, we have compiled some of the best CAD software for 3D printing and modeling for both beginners and advanced users.
What is the Best 3D CAD Software For Beginners & Professionals?
1. Nano Cad
If you are looking for CAD tools that come with the complete “.dwg” support, then Nano CAD is what you are looking for.
You can enjoy the premium features including SNAP, ONSAP, precision tools along with Command Line Tool. Whether you are new to 3D CAD software or are a professional architect, you would find NanoCAD extremely useful.
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The free version comes with several features and provides a good base for the new users thereby making it an excellent 3D CAD software for beginners. But if you are a professional then you need to pay to unlock the professional features.
Nano CAD supports Windows.
2. 3D Crafter
3D Crafter is a real animation and 3D modeling tool that allows you to plan out your 3D models on the computer. The easy to use drag and drop option is something that makes it a must-have tool.
It comes with built-in 3D shape crafting tools and primitive utilities that help you create complex designs and models easily.
This software also allows you to apply animation and effects on the models and shapes. You just need to place the object at each point thereby, making sure that the animations are smooth.
3D Crafter is compatible with Windows.
3. Adobe Dimension CC
Adobe Dimension CC is a part of the Creative Cloud Suite that brings new dimensions into your project and design.
The features such as lighting and high-quality models allow you to build and craft some engaging 3D models easily within seconds. The navigation options along with the drag and drop features make this app, one of the best CAD software for 3D printing.
You can easily craft superfine 3D prints using an image or vector graphics onto a model. Adobe Dimension CC delivers unbeatable performance by helping you create realistic three-dimensional images with perfect texture, contour and lighting effects.
Adobe Dimension CC is fully compatible with macOS and Windows 10.
4. Daz Studio
Daz Studio is a free-to-use 3D CAD software that is full of features and is geared more towards professionals.
Besides these features such as morphing, animation after-effects and posing, the software also enables you to enhance your skills with a list of in-app interactive tutorials and learning modules.
Daz Studio runs seamlessly well on Windows and Mac OS X platforms.
5. KiCAD
If you are looking for ways to design your next Printed Circuit Board (PCB) then KiCAD will do the job. It is one of the best free CAD software systems that is loved by engineers and electricians around the world.
It is an open-source PCB design software that comes with a built-in project manager and four powerful utilities including a printed circuit board editor, schematic editor, footprint selecting tool and the GERBER file viewer/editor.
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There are a few additional features that include:
Two library component editors that allow you to create and edit the schematic components.
A 3D viewer and editor to render your PCB in 3D space.
KiCAD performs smoothly on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Ubuntu.
6. Autodesk 3ds Max
It is a function rendering and modeling program that offers tons and tons of 3D modeling options and tools. You can create, design and animate 3D characters and models for HD games.
This is one of the best 3D CAD software that comes with some features that help you in:
Modeling hard surfaces.
Applying contour.
Creating animations for 3D effects.
Applying after effects.
Texturing to create superfine designs.
This software comes with many learning modules you can use if you want to learn the basics of 3D modeling.
Auto Desk 3ds Max supports Windows, Linux, and iOS.
7. Solid Works
Solid Works is a 3D CAD software that comes with tons and tons of powerful features making it one of the best 3D modeling software.
It is a program that is developed by Dassault Systemes and runs on Windows. If you are new to three-dimensional modeling and design crafting, this software is not for you. A huge collection of tools and tons of features makes it a perfect choice for professional artists and architects.
This program is easy to use if you know the depths of designing and modeling. The PDF guides and essential options help you modify the quality of your designs and models.
Best Software To Design 3d Printing Models Modeling
Solid Works runs smoothly on Windows.
8. Blender
Blender is a free-to-use open-source CAD software that assists you with 3D designing, shaping and modeling and rendering functions, thus making it a versatile program.
Apple air software. You can do much more than just handling projects, animations, applying after-effects, three-dimensional printing and whatnot. This is undoubtedly an excellent CAD software for 3D printing.
You can also install certain add-ons to unlock several functions, options and features depending on your assignment.
Blender is highly Windows macOS and Linux.
9. FreeCAD
FreeCad is a 3D CAD program that allows you to design real objects of any size in 3D space. It is a dynamic parametric modeling program and you can easily change the dimensions and parameters of your models or designs using its model history menu.
You can use this software to create:
Fantastic 3D characters, locations and areas for game projects.
Architectural models and designs.
Animations and after-effects.
Industrial designs.
There are some primitive options and features that make FreeCAD one of the best CAD software tools for professionals:
Sphere
Cone
Box
Cylinder
Torus
It is a multiplatform performer and can process multiple file-formats including DAE, STEP, IFC, OBJ, DXF, STL and many more.
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10. Mesh Mixer
MeshMixer is a top-notch 3D CAD program that you can use for shaping and modeling excellent 3D designs. It is geared more towards handling professional models in 3D space, thereby making it a good choice for artists and architects.
You can also use it to build, edit and modify models from scratch as the program provides all the necessary tools.
If your assignment is all about 3D modeling, crafting and printing then this program will assist you in your projects. All this makes Mesh Mixer one of the best CAD software for 3D printing.
These are some features it offers:
Tools for brushing.
Tools for measuring thickness and stability.
Mesh smoothing tools.
MeshMixer works well on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
So these are some best 3D CAD software systems to get if you are a civil engineer, architect, graphic designer or a 3D artist.
Bonus 3D CAD Software
Based on the recommendations and user ratings from our study we are also revealing an excellent CAD software for 3D printing.
3DReshaper
3DReshaper is a wonderful 3D CAD program that helps you in processing the models. If you are a professional artist with years of experience in modeling, after-effects and three-dimensional printing then this is the program you are looking for.
It is a flexible app that caters to several industries including shipbuilding, automobile, civil engineering, arts, gaming and many more sectors. It packs a punch of features and supports several scripts for hassle-free modeling.
If you are interested in getting an app that can save your time and assist you in your complex projects, then this is one of the best CAD software for 3D printing
This is a unique program that easily processes 3D point clouds from various sources including:
Digital devices.
Laser scanning.
3D scanners.
Other sources such as UAVs.
Since point-cloud processing is the most difficult step to manage and handle, the software offers powerful tools and functions such as Automatic Segmentation to manage and process point clouds and Fusion to simplify your tasks.
3DReshaper works perfectly fine on Windows 10.
Conclusion
This brings an end to our guide and concludes the list of best CAD software. It is difficult to answer which CAD software is the best as each of the above-mentioned programs comes with its own set of advantages and useful features.
It is worth suggesting that running animation and 3D effects on your computer require powerful hardware. Most of the apps discussed in this guide are free and are undoubtedly the best CAD software tools for professionals that will assist you in your assignments and projects. We hope that you select the program that suits your needs and works the best for you.
Top 10 3D Sculpting Programs – The Best Software for Creating Digital Sculptures for 3D Printing
3D sculpting is a fascinating way to bring characters, monsters, and all kinds of organic shapes to life. While many 3D modeling programs focus on precision, 3D sculpting apps are all about turning a piece of visual clay into a stunning 3D print. This article will show you the 10 best 3D sculpting programs to get the job done!
In the first part of this blog post, we will focus on sculpting programs. Here, sculpting is the sole purpose of the software and not just a bonus feature. Later on, we will also mention traditional 3D modeling programs that offer basic sculpting modules.
Sculpting Programs
1. ZBrush
Without any doubt, ZBrush is the most popular and most powerful digital sculpting program out there. It offers the world’s most advanced tools for everyone from art enthusiasts to major film and games studios.
Launched in 1999 as 2.5D modeling software, it is now the go-to solution for 3D sculptors and painters. Jody Garrett, who printed the goat skull that you can see below with ZBrush, calls the software a “hands-down tour-de-force of digital tools.”
Heads up though: ZBrush comes with a rather steep learning curve and a price of 795 USD. To get a feel for the software without taking any risks you can start ZBrush’s 45-day-trial version here. You should also check out our tutorial about how to prepare your ZBrush models for 3D printing here.
By: Pixologic
Price: 795USD
Jody Garrett’s goat skull was designed with ZBrush
2. Mudbox
ZBrush’s biggest competitor is Mudbox, which was developed in 2007 and acquired by Autodesk. Mudbox digital painting and sculpting software provides 3D artists with an intuitive and tactile toolset for creating and modifying 3D geometry and textures.
By: Autodesk
Price: 10USD/month or 80USD/year
It’s hard to say which of these two programs (ZBrush or Mudbox) is really better, but here are some points to consider:
Mudbox’s sculpting style differs somewhat to that of ZBrush and can be considered as more beginner-friendly.
The main difference between both programs is that ZBrush is much better at generating a base geometry to start modeling with than Mudbox. With Mudbox, you need to use integrations with Maya or 3ds Max to generate a base geometry more easily.
Overall, ZBrush and Mudbox feature similar sets of tools and brushes. However, ZBrush beats Mudbox in terms of functionality.
ZBrush is often considered to be superior to Mudbox when it comes to painting the model.
Mudbox costs 10 USD/month, whereas ZBrush costs 795 USD for a single user license.
Since both ZBrush and Mudbox come as free trial versions, you might want to check them both out first and then choose the program you like most.
3. Meshmixer
If you don’t want to jump into the cold water right away, you might want to get started with some free sculpting apps first. Meshmixer is one of the free 3D-sculpting-based CAD programs created by Autodesk – and it is also one of their simpler, more beginner-friendly programs. Meshmixer can be used to intuitively sculpt designs, hollow them out, cut them apart, and combine parts together without wrecking your mesh’s internal or external geometry. It’s a very cool tool to prepare your design for 3D printing as well.
You can mash, mix, sculpt, stamp or paint your own 3D designs from scratch, or start from over 10,000 models in the 123D Gallery. Our very own mascot (the Piguin; see below), was created in this great program. If you also want to give it a try, be sure to take a look at our extensive Meshmixer beginner’s guide.
By: Autodesk
Price: Free
These 3D printed Piguins by Bert de Niel were created in Meshmixer
4. 3D Coat
3D Coat is another interesting digital sculpting program. Its main advantages are its super powerful texturing, UV mapping, and painting tools.
The general 3D modeling part of working with this software is pretty unconventional and differs from the other programs listed here. However, if your number one concern is ‘coating’ your sculpt with a great texture, then 3D Coat is your best friend.
This software comes at a price that ranges between 99 and 379 USD depending on which license suits your needs. The 3D printing community of this software is rather small, and so finding good 3D printing tutorials for it is a little more difficult than for the other programs mentioned in this list. To try it, you can simply start with their free 30 days trial version.
By: Pilgway
Price: from 99USD (amateurs) to 379USD (professionals)
The Forrest Critter SC by Lazyad was created with 3D Coat.
5. Sculptris
Sculptris is a free digital sculpting tool, created by Pixologic, the company behind ZBrush. If you’re new to the world of digital sculpting, Sculptris is the ideal ground on which to get started. It shows you the very basics of what ZBrush is able to do.
Sculptris provides an excellent gateway into the world of 3D sculpting. Its features are easy to learn, even for people with little or no experience in digital art, yet robust enough for creating detailed base models. Sculptris also lets you import 3D meshes (.obj) for further detailing and modifying.
The only downside of Sculptris is its limited functionality. When you’re ready to take your Sculptris creations to the next level for detailing, having a look at ZBrush definitely makes sense.
By: Pixologic
Price: Free
The 3D printed Serpents Buckle by Michael Mueller was created in Sculptris
Further 3D Modeling Programs with Sculpting Capabilities
The programs that we looked at so far are nearly exclusively about sculpting an object. However, several traditional 3D modeling programs also offer sculpting features. So if you already have experience with one of the following programs, you might want to check out their sculpting modules first. Keep in mind that the sculpting functionality of these programs are inferior to those of Mudbox and ZBrush, but it’s enough to get a basic job done.
6. Blender
Blender is a very powerful 3D modeling program and a popular choice within the 3D printing community. It has been equipped with a sculpting tool set since 2007, and its workflow is pretty similar to that of ZBrush and Mudbox. Additional bonuses are the sheer number of tutorials and plugins out there as well as the fact that Blender is completely free! However, users continuously complain about the interface and the very steep learning curve!
By: Blender Foundation
Price: Free and Open Source
This monster was sculpted in Blender by BlenderMania
7. Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D received a sculpting module back in 2012. It features multi-resolution sculpting, advanced symmetry options and a big range of brushes, stencils and stamps. However, if you are not already an owner of this software, it comes with a price of roughly 3,500 USD (42 days free trial here).
By: Maxon
Price: 3,500USD
8. MODO
Best Software To Design 3d Printing Models For Free
MODO has an integrated sculpting mode since 2007. The so called “Painting and Sculpting” function is designed to be simple to use while providing users with a powerful and intuitive toolset that empowers artists to realize their vision with the least amount of strain. MODO comes at around 1,799 USD (30 days free trial here)
By: Foundry
Price: from 599USD/year to 1,799USD perpetual license
9. Maya
Maya also extended its 3D sculpting capabilities and added a new set of brushes in 2016. While it does a decent job, many users complain that the workflow is still too buggy and sluggish. Also, Maya comes at 185 USD/month – so unless you already own a Maya license you might want to consider other programs first or try their 30 days free trial.
By: Autodesk
Price: 242USD/month or 1,936USD/year
Online 3D Sculpting App
10. SculptGL
Last but not least we have an honorable mention that certainly deserves a spot on this list: SculptGL. This app is free, doesn’t need a download/installation and doesn’t require you to sign up. It runs directly in your browser and allows you to start sculpting your first model in seconds. It’s a great app to start messing around and find out if this way of modeling is right for you. Of course it won’t lead to the most stunning designs, but it is a nice sandbox! You might want to check out our tutorial to get a better understanding of this free app.
By: Stephane Ginier
Price: Free
Japanese artist Motogashi designed this using Sculpt GL
3d Printing Design Software Pc
Are you ready to get going? 3D sculptors love printing their designs in multicolor! Take a look at 10 stunning (sculpted) multicolor 3D prints here to see what other 3D artist have created. If your design is ready to be printed, upload it here and see the price of your HD 3D print instantly.