What are the best programs for modeling exclusively for 3D Printing...Color also!!

[HawkPoint3D]

I want to weed out the programs that are really good at making the .stl and .ZPR format files. I have intricate site topography that I will need to prepare and don't want to spend alot of my time fixing the mesh because the program does a poor job of exporting. I certainly want to reduce the Printing company's time filling holes..etc. That gets $$$!

List your software of choice and it's strengths please!

Thanks!

Dave

[rmccoy]

I would suggest Rhino 3d for 3d printing.

 

http://www.rhino3d.com/

[d_mccreadie]

Hi Dave,

 

When we asked the same question to the 3D printing company we use, they told us that most 3d programs are fine it was just SketchUp that we should avoid.

[BVI]

I think most apps can export to stl?

[notamondayfan]

Rhino or another app (possible autocad?) should work fine.

 

Most apps can export as stl files, but not all stl files will be good enough. the stl file needs to be constructed of vectors (nurbs), not points / faces.

 

Its all about infinate detail, so no matter how far you "zoom in", the model will always look smooth and not facated.

[alrawli]

Polygon stl files work will with rapid prototyping they dont need to be parasolid/nurbs to be able to work.

[notamondayfan]

yea it may be acceptable for prototyping, but I wouldnt do it for the final product, especially when there are alternatives.

[alrawli]

For industrial design maybe, my partner is a designer who gets a lot of work prototyped to very high tolerances using solid modelling packages. For prototypes for architectural models solid modelling is complete overkill ( why model something twice ) we’ve done a lot of these and notice no discernable difference over poly models as long as you put the detail in in the first place. No need to re-invent the wheel when standard modelling packages will work in the first place.

[batfink82]

when getting a 3D model produced the geometery has to be correct. Alot of modelling programmes will let you create surfaces which aren't physically possible.

 

I would always use a parametric modelling programme such as Pro-Engineer or Solidworks. Both of these will only allow you to build models which physically possible, it will flag up any problems such as open faces etc etc.

 

These models can be easily translated into Max etc later as IGES or STL.

[abmitalia]

I do prototyping with max for 5 axis machines and do export my files in .3ds format. The vantage is, that if you need smooth curves and surfaces you can throw on your model 2 or 3 tubosmooth levels. Most prototype machines work with Rhino which reads perfectly the 3ds format. They only have to choose ' search curves ' and their work is done. Never try to transform your max works in IGES or STL which will subdivide your polys in even more subsurfaces and you can get out a file sice 10 times higher than the original one, a real beast. My experience.RK

[HawkPoint3D]

Thanks for the info Ralf and others!! I never thought of takin Max out to Rhino! Great idea!!