Software

Are you looking for a 3D modelling program that feels very natural to use? If so we have found Sculptris to be great tool. It is very easy to pick up and get started with as the initial learning curve is very small compared to many others. The idea behind how Sculptris works is that it is designed to feel like you are working with clay. You are given tools that allow you to manipulate and sculpt the clay as well as add and remove it. This free program is a great way jump into artistic 3D modelling that has almost no constraints on your creativity. If you are looking for a way to create precise or mechanical parts this may not be the program for you, but if you want to create organic shapes this is a great choice. Sculpteo has created a great tutorial that covers the whole … Read more

Blender is a very powerful piece of software. It is capable of creating everything from 3D models, to creating games and movies with the characters you rig in Blender. It is opensource software with no cost so it is a great tool to try out. Blender is considered to be a fairly complex piece of software but once people learn it, it is often a good fit for almost anything they want to create. Blender has a large community using it and supporting it. You can find Blenders recommended Tutorials here. They provide several different tutorials from different providers, lots of them are free though some of the content also requires subscriptions to access it. Once you have the basics down there is great documentation called the Blender Reference Manual that helps you learn how to better use the software. These manuals are free to access and serve as a … Read more

If you are trying to decide on a program to begin 3D modelling with, Tinkercad can be a great choice. It is capable of most of your modelling needs with many users creating both mechanical parts and artistic creations. Tinkercad has an assortment of tutorials, starting with built-in ones that guide you through creating your first 3D model. They then have short advanced tutorials that focus on specific features and how they are used. This combination makes it both easy to start but also enables you to learn the complex features on an as needed basis. The Tinkercad tutorials page has everything you need know to get started modelling as well as the links to the more advanced content.

OpenSCAD is a free piece of software for creating 3D models and is available on most operating systems. It is a programming language based CAD program that you manipulate the files purely using text. It does have a built in compiler which will render the 3D model in a screen beside where you are working to see how your changes are affecting the model. This means it lacks many of the features that make for a good artistic modelling program. By using the text interface for creating the model, it makes it very useful for creating parametric 3D models for mechanical parts. It is very easy to adjust the size of 1 specific part  of your 3D model as well as adjusting a whole portion. This software is a good fit for someone who already has programming experience as it will feel very natural to use. On the other hand … Read more

Autodesk’s 123D Design is a great entry-level CAD program. It has most of the tools you need to create your 3D models, while still being easy to use. The other big benefit of using 123D Design is that it is well supported and documented. This means that no matter what you are trying to do you can find some tutorials or guides to help you out. If you are a beginner Autodesk has created a set of quick start tutorials that run you through the basic functions of the program. These tutorials teach you what you need to know to get started on your project quickly. You can find these quick start tutorials here. If you have already used 123D design before and maybe it has been a while or you just can’t quite remember how some of the tools work, there are tutorials for that too. Adafruit has done … Read more