https://openscad.org/

It’s software cad. You write code that makes the 3d model. And then you print the 3d model.

The last “official release” was 2 years ago. But development (and community) is active. You gotta get the nightly builds.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Absolutely. Blender is so fucked up. Designed for the artsy types, but if you need something at exactly these coordinates, you are fucked.

    With openscad you have precision, repeatability, and you can even write scad source code from some data points you have, and just use it.

    • philpo@feddit.org
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      2 days ago

      Tbf, comparing blender and openscad is more like comparing a hammer with a knife.

      FreeCAD would be the more obvious comparison here - and while Openscad has some benefits for more complicated projects it is less than optimal - and sadly FreeCAD still sucks compared to most commercial products,even though it has improved recently due to the ONSEL influence.

      • Spacehooks@reddthat.com
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        20 hours ago

        I never heard of opencad before today so its interesting to here something new to me. 3 min tutorials makes it Seems like requires some “coding” which seems like a much higher barrier of entry. I’m curious how you would get complex details in it. My models have Ornate details after the base shape. I have all kinds of blender tricks to make it happen.

    • Spacehooks@reddthat.com
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      1 day ago

      I dk what you are talking about it. I use blender daily for 3d models. Just grab the point, line or face, and tell it xyz coordinate or grab a bunch and line them up.
      I never used the python code function but supposedly that works. Blender is way easier than any other cad I’ve used because its made for artsy types. So that anyone could do it after watching a few YouTube videos.

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Three times I have tried to get a grip on Blender, and have given up. You have to dig deep to put something on precise coordinates, and if you click something wrong, everything is fucked up with the UI without a way back. Documentation is random YT videos that all seem to assume that you already have a blender diploma.

        With openscad, it took me half a day from installing the software, doing tutorials to finished design.

        • rainrain@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          23 hours ago

          Same here. Never found a 3d tool that went right. But openscad is straightforward. Zero to printable thing in an hour.

          Code is a little weird but I’m getting a feel for it. That would be an interesting project, to make a better openscad code.

        • Spacehooks@reddthat.com
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          21 hours ago

          It is at the corner.

          As far as UI everyone needs is different. My partner setup is way more complex than mine but SO is coming from Maya. However that’s the same for every program I used. I edited and remove buttons and rearrange as I get used to program. Even outlook and word.

          What you are describing sounds like is fusion360 or possibly z brush tutorials. For Blender 3.4+ I watched one tutorial video and then yt shorts for anything specfic. Plus you can render and animate once you are done modeling for print.

          • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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            10 hours ago

            So you found the one working tutorial. I didn’t. Keep in mind that I tried to get a grip on Blender three times over the years. Those yt tutorials did not really work for me.

            • Spacehooks@reddthat.com
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              3 hours ago

              At least you found something good you and now I know of another program to offer people getting into the hobby.