I've never been an artist but I love 3d printing. So 5 years ago I went through the struggle of learning to use Blender. Best choice I ever made. I still struggle to understand even the most basic CAD app.
I probably spend more time for some projects in blender than I would in a proper cad environment, but it's a toolset I understand somewhat deeply now.
So far, Blender is one of the most successful open source projects I've ever worked with in the last 30 years. Even with major changes, every change has mostly been for the better. The introduction of geometry nodes completely changed my workflow a few years ago. So much room for activities after that.
Unlike any other modern software package, I have no regrets or doubt when I upgrade to the latest Blender release.
If you're on the fence about picking up Blender I highly recommend taking the deep dive.
disqard•41m ago
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Would you mind sharing a bit more about your workflow? Do you export to obj/stl? What slicer do you use?
Five years is a decent amount of Time, and I'm sure you have much hard-won knowledge (and gotchas) to share.
(Personally, I'm stuck on the mental block of "I know I should just get and learn Fusion360" but I cannot bring myself to knowingly tie myself to a subscription-based piece of rentware.)
Thanks in advance!
Edit to add: my motivation is 100% to use this for 3d printing.
geuis•14m ago
Yah.
My workflow is hard to describe.
Over the years I updated my base project files when new Blender versions require rebuilding my geometry node graph when old stuff gets outdated. That being mentioned, the updates are worth it. It's a hobby so time is free and a learning opportunity.
It's something I accept as cost of learning, which so far has resulted in better end results.
I was totally in the same mental space with Fusion. Here's what I did.
I don't like hard to understand UI.
I don't like a product whose company constantly changes the rules.
I don't like not being in specific control of mission important software I use.
I also tried open source alternatives to CAD. There are non that are anything approachable from a user perspective. Until the FreeCAD project gets some help from Blender, I'll stand by that.
I don't maybe have any specific modeling scenarios to recommend. Not a professional, just a hobbyist.
I tune my printer. Use the 3d toolbox plugin for Blender. Make sure your model is manifold. Get to learn how to spend dozens of hours editing 3rd part "printable" models into something that's actually printable. Ain't manifold, ain't printable. If you "borrow" models from games to print, you'll spend a lot of time making them printable. They aren't yours even at that point. Don't try to sell them or give them away for free. Not yours. Respect the artists.
Geometry nodes have SOOOOO many options. I'm not kidding, it's awesome the team keeps adding nodes that address old and new issues. But figure out a basic workflow wherever you're at. Only update if there is some required or otherwise very specific advantage
Klaus23•26m ago
Blender is great, but it still can't replace a CAD program.
I tried using it for simple CAD tasks (before geometry nodes were released), but the experience was so poor that I quickly switched to FreeCAD. It was worth it, even though it took some time to learn how to use the new program.
FreeCAD is pretty buggy, confusing, and sometimes limited, but its workflow can't really be replicated with Blender. Once you have worked with a CAD program for a while, you realise that certain things that are almost impossible or annoyingly difficult in Blender can actually be pretty easy.
It would be great if the two programs could be merged. Blender could benefit from better CAD functions, and FreeCAD could benefit from everything else Blender provides.
Jnr•25m ago
As someone who has modeled in 3DSMax and Blender using the mesh modeling approach and in Fusion360 and FreeCAD using the CAD modeling approach, for 3D printing I really recommend learning CAD modeling in FreeCAD.
The ability to make models precise, constrained and and parameterised more easily allows going back to previous steps to make adjustments.
For 3D printing it is very helpful to be able to change a defined variable and have the whole model recalculated. I often use variables for clearance, screw hole diameters, etc.
Recently FreeCAD has become very good and I have switched to it. And there are a lot of great FreeCAD tutorials on Youtube.
geuis•1h ago
I probably spend more time for some projects in blender than I would in a proper cad environment, but it's a toolset I understand somewhat deeply now.
So far, Blender is one of the most successful open source projects I've ever worked with in the last 30 years. Even with major changes, every change has mostly been for the better. The introduction of geometry nodes completely changed my workflow a few years ago. So much room for activities after that.
Unlike any other modern software package, I have no regrets or doubt when I upgrade to the latest Blender release.
If you're on the fence about picking up Blender I highly recommend taking the deep dive.
disqard•41m ago
Would you mind sharing a bit more about your workflow? Do you export to obj/stl? What slicer do you use?
Five years is a decent amount of Time, and I'm sure you have much hard-won knowledge (and gotchas) to share.
(Personally, I'm stuck on the mental block of "I know I should just get and learn Fusion360" but I cannot bring myself to knowingly tie myself to a subscription-based piece of rentware.)
Thanks in advance!
Edit to add: my motivation is 100% to use this for 3d printing.
geuis•14m ago
My workflow is hard to describe.
Over the years I updated my base project files when new Blender versions require rebuilding my geometry node graph when old stuff gets outdated. That being mentioned, the updates are worth it. It's a hobby so time is free and a learning opportunity.
It's something I accept as cost of learning, which so far has resulted in better end results.
I was totally in the same mental space with Fusion. Here's what I did.
I don't like hard to understand UI.
I don't like a product whose company constantly changes the rules.
I don't like not being in specific control of mission important software I use.
I also tried open source alternatives to CAD. There are non that are anything approachable from a user perspective. Until the FreeCAD project gets some help from Blender, I'll stand by that.
I don't maybe have any specific modeling scenarios to recommend. Not a professional, just a hobbyist.
I tune my printer. Use the 3d toolbox plugin for Blender. Make sure your model is manifold. Get to learn how to spend dozens of hours editing 3rd part "printable" models into something that's actually printable. Ain't manifold, ain't printable. If you "borrow" models from games to print, you'll spend a lot of time making them printable. They aren't yours even at that point. Don't try to sell them or give them away for free. Not yours. Respect the artists.
Geometry nodes have SOOOOO many options. I'm not kidding, it's awesome the team keeps adding nodes that address old and new issues. But figure out a basic workflow wherever you're at. Only update if there is some required or otherwise very specific advantage
Klaus23•26m ago
FreeCAD is pretty buggy, confusing, and sometimes limited, but its workflow can't really be replicated with Blender. Once you have worked with a CAD program for a while, you realise that certain things that are almost impossible or annoyingly difficult in Blender can actually be pretty easy.
It would be great if the two programs could be merged. Blender could benefit from better CAD functions, and FreeCAD could benefit from everything else Blender provides.
Jnr•25m ago
The ability to make models precise, constrained and and parameterised more easily allows going back to previous steps to make adjustments.
For 3D printing it is very helpful to be able to change a defined variable and have the whole model recalculated. I often use variables for clearance, screw hole diameters, etc.
Recently FreeCAD has become very good and I have switched to it. And there are a lot of great FreeCAD tutorials on Youtube.