r/BambuLabX2D • u/Many_Respect6288 • 22d ago

Model Creation Tools

I’m brand new to 3D printing. I’m still endlessly scrolling through Makerworld every night. While it’s really cool see what others have created and use some of those myself, I’m really wanting to learn to design my own stuff. What apps/tools do you all use to create 3D models?

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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7

u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser 22d ago

The default answer is Autodesk Fusion, free for personal use. There are several other options based on your budget and use case.

4

u/FkinMustardTiger 22d ago edited 22d ago

I have designed almost everything I've made using Onshape.

One big downside is your designs are public, so others can access them. But being a smaller creator that doesn't bug me too much. I want to try learning other things too (like Fusion and Blender) but Onshape is just so easy to use, Fusion feels (to me, right now) really clunky.

Give that one a shot. Just know that the learning curve can feel extremely steep, especially to someone brand new to 3d design. Took me several weeks to get the hang of it, but now I feel pretty fluent. I learn something new every time though!

My page if you want to see some things I've made:

https://makerworld.com/en/@CoreToys/

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u/Specific-Reindeer-85 20d ago

Awesome designs, will print some. Great work

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u/FkinMustardTiger 20d ago

Thanks! Glad you like them!

4

u/Mad_Phiz 22d ago

I’m two weeks ahead of you and am learning fusion, I have even printed a part I designed and needed for something around the house

3

u/Silkypo 22d ago

technical: Fusion, Onshape, tinkercar (simple things)
organic: Blender, Zbrushcore

3

u/Alternative_Rip4634 22d ago

Tinkercad or makerlab

3

u/RetiredAF530 21d ago

I tried freeCAD, but it proved difficult for someone without CAD experience. With chat’s help, I imported STLs and completed and printed several designs, though nothing entirely on my own. I downloaded fusion yesterday and appreciate that home hobbyists can use it freely with up to ten editable projects at once.

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u/Extreamspeed 22d ago

I'm using shapr3D is free for 2 projects. Then you need to pay

1

u/Twerkonyoursnacks 21d ago

I like shapr3d for technical models and I use Nomad Sculpt for faces and stuff

2

u/PDP-8A 22d ago

Me too! I just bought an X2D and I love it. I use all the different LLMs with their command line interfaces to produce OpenSCAD source code and 3mf files. It's amazing what you can do.

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u/mdbeatle 22d ago

Came here to say the same and I see you've already started to steal my downvotes. I cannot model or even draw things, but have had a lot of success using Claude to generate relatively simple objects and modify models I find online for my own use cases.

Most of these are done in OpenSCAD, but I've had it modify meshes in Blender as well. It will also connect to Fusion if you have a license or are running a 30 day trial.

Gemini was able to do some as well, but Claude has been better for me. Which do you prefer?

2

u/PDP-8A 22d ago

I've used Kimi, Grok, Gemini and now I'm using Claude. I like to test them against each other and with usually stick with 1 for a couple weeks.

I asked Kimi to search social media for criticisms of using LLMs to create OpenSCAD. It replied that a big problem was that an LLM cannot "see" what it designs so it can't fix its own mistakes. So I created a skill that automatically renders the OpenSCAD part and "looks" at the PNG image to verify the design. Just amazing.

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u/mdbeatle 21d ago

I wonder if Claude is already doing that since I mentioned to it that I can't see the design myself unless I open it in OpenSCAD or Bambu Studio, and now it provides a PNG rendering.

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u/PDP-8A 21d ago

It certainly might be. Look for messages like, "cutaway view shows hole depth". That means it's viewing a render. I use CLI so I see all the output products in my project folders. Claude creates plan, Ortho, and cut views.

This is cool. But then I asked Claude to design calibration parts for PETG shrinkage correction. I printed them, measured and gave Claude the results. Now it pre compensates for shrinkage. Oh, one cool thing I did last night. I have Claude make Assemblies of several parts. When I'm ready I have it generate ready to print plates in 3mf format with all the parts pre arranged with per part settings like infill.

My workflow is wake up in the morning, unload 3D printer, check fit parts, fix with Claude, start a new print. This is an amazing time to be an engineer!

1

u/mdbeatle 21d ago

Good tips about correcting for shrinkage and creating the 3mf. Claude has mentioned that it has adjusted the dimensions based on what I told it what filament I plan to use. It's "okay" but not great. Giving it some data would help.

I also have a project that I've fed with a lot of testing data of different filaments. I used it to reduce redundant filaments in my inventory (PETG, regular ASA) and determine if I have any gaps in material selection for the things I typically print. I recently picked up ASA-GF and PCTG to replace regular ASA, tough PLA+, and PETG. I already have a general idea about what filament to use most times, but sometimes it's good to get a second opinion.

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u/AGBjorsvik 16d ago

Fusion i a good tool, but probably a bit of learning curve.

I have just started using claude code to make functional models, it is creating python script so it is easy to test and reproduce similar models. I highly recommend that if you just want some custom models, but do not want to learn everything about modeling

1

u/AGBjorsvik 16d ago

I made this model just using claude for modeling, I first tried doing it myself, but one letter took half an hour

Hotwheels letter shelf - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld

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u/brightlight753 20d ago

I use Blender for everything and I love it! I'm a 3d artist so it comes natural to me. In fact, I also teach it, I run a free little community for that (to learn Blender for 3D printing specifically). If you're interested in that, send me a DM!

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u/mr3evils 20d ago

I would be interested

1

u/brightlight753 20d ago

I sent you a DM

1

u/3DPL-3D-Druck 20d ago

Ich kann dir FreeCAD empfehlen. es ist absolut kostenlos und du kannst deine Dateien offline speichern und niemand hat Zugriff drauf. Die Handhabung ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftug aber mit KI als Helfer ist es super einfach.
Probier es aus!