Best FREE CAD Programs for 3D PRINTING

[@sidewinder4702]

The way you explained the different programs was awesome! Just the right amount of information about each one. Being able to view the software while you were explaining it was a big plus!!

[@blankablueboy1501]

I'm confused why every 3d printer video has some nerdy zombie droning on for 5 min before telling you to subscribe and getting to the point.

[@electronron1]

DesignSpark is the easiest free 3D CAD program I've used to date. The latest version added a blend tool that allows the user to select two faces or surfaces and smoothly combine them, I used this feature to make an exhaust vent for my K40 laser going from a rectangular duct to 4" diameter connection for a dryer vent duct.

[@TheEtbetween]

I Agree great program and free

[@johnmessenger7292]

Absolutely the best and Free that is available, very complex parts with very small learning curve it is very very intuitive

[@d.h.9239]

I have been learning freecad and building a les paul style archtop guitar and creating the archtop has been such a pain in the ass. Its taken me as long to make the top as it has to make the rest of the entire guitar. Lofting custom shapes can be quite unpredictable. However, it has helped me a lot despite the challenges so definitely grateful to the freecad devs for making it.

[@eane7238]

I've used Inventor and Fusion360 and freecad is just absolutely killing me.

[@jeffharmed1616]

Terrific unbiased assessment thanks. Looking at the way IT is going, we have reached the point where everything you do is being monitored and your apps “updated” without your consent so I think I will keep one computer completely offline running the programs/apps I like.

[@luddefacefuc7459]

but who asked tho

[@jeffharmed1616]

@@luddefacefuc7459 but who asked tho

[@jeffharmed1616]

@@luddefacefuc7459 With a name like Luddite facefuc, do you honestly expect an intellectual reply?

[@davedennis6042]

Thanks for this video. It is very useful to find the CAD program that matches ones level of knowledge. I tried FreeCAD but was overwhelmed since I have little experience with CADs anyway.

[@chrisBruner]

Freecad is actually free, open source and fully parametric. Becoming very stable.

[@blendarious]

Check out Realthunders version of FreeCAD it's miles ahead of 0.19! And support his amazing work on Patreon (thunderreal)!

[@harmless6813]

Stable? It crashes all the effing time. :-/

[@blendarious]

@@harmless6813 Download RealThunders Version of FreeCAD from Github, be happy and don't forget to support him on patreon!

[@othernicksweretaken]

@@blendarious When I have a look at the realthunder FreeCAD github repo I only see a 0.18 master branch and it says that it is a fork from the FreeCAD repo. But neither see I a 0.19 feature branch, nor do they list any diffs that sets their fork of FreeCAD apart from the original. But I have to admit I only looked at the realthunder repo very superficially from my smartphone, and I will have to revisit it from my laptop.

[@blendarious]

@@othernicksweretaken Actually I don't know what official FreeCAD version his version is based on, but in the change logs of Daily 2020.11.26 you can find "Sync with upstream FreeCAD". . Anyways, RealThunders version is far more advanced. The main problem of the official FreeCAD is that the devs are slow and the focus is on non essential parts of FreeCAD instead of focusing on the really important parts to make them as good as proprietary Software.

[@r.3studios183]

this is a great video... I never thought I'd be creating things to 3d print in a day... thank you so much

[@ememeable]

💕 I have watched you grow and proud of you You are brilliant and extremely humble You are also very funny unknowingly I remember you once said " how can anybody expect PLA to conduct electricity,? This was when you tried to demonstrate printing ! metal with 3d printer I always wish you the best Ejike

[@yearls]

This is awesome, I wish I found this last year. Thank you, now I have Fusion 360 to play with. Yay! That was a genuine yay and not a sarcastic yay. It is fun learning new software.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

Why would anyone suspect it was sarcastic? Babbling idiot.

[@therealfay1779]

Ty so much im using this not for 3d printing but for 3d animation i wanted to find a software that work with my style and the first one that you reviewed was it ty so much dude! you earned a sub.

[@Shtkan]

How about DesignSpark Mechanical Software?

[@siyabulelankomo7504]

looking forward to learning from the rest of your videos. Subscribed!

[@webstertreehopper]

Great summary, thank you David.

[@3DCADHomeschool]

14:40 SelfCAD actually also has 3D sketching as well as an amazing freehand drawing option and all familiar CAD tools like revolve and loft etc.

[@mihailazar2487]

SelfCAD is literally useless because it's polygonal. It can't do NURBS At that point you're literally better off using Blender's and it's modifiers

[@3dmodeling101]

@@mihailazar2487 Well, if you scan KZbin 3D Modeling videos, you will see most people do not use NURBS for modeling and you will find that the tools people most often use are much easier to do in SelfCAD. Blender is certainly one of the best 3d modeling programs out there but not everyone is interested in spending a few years mastering a CAD program. You can learn SellfCAD in just a few days and for most people, that's what they are looking for.

[@mihailazar2487]

@@3dmodeling101 then go learn notecad Works in the browser over at www.notecad.xyz It's fast AF the keyboard shortcuts make it one of the fastest modelling programs ever, and you can learn it basically instantly, there's NO learning curve since each button is labeled and tells you exactly what you need to know, including the keyboard shortcut for it You can import STL meshes and concert them to NURBS, you can export models, there's just no reason to use SelfCAD or TinkerCAD

[@3dmodeling101]

​@@mihailazar2487 Do you seriously consider notecad.xyz as a CAD software? First, off it tasks forever to load secondly I couldn't get any function to work. You are also wrongly conflating SelfCAD with TinkerCAD. SelfCAD is fully functional and professional CAD software. You can take a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/en2pYZyPn6mtgqs and take a look at SelfCAD's KZbin channel to see what they design. Can you do any of these in TinkerCAD?

[@proterotype]

New sub. New maker. Thanks for being genuine and for the info

[@AmitPatel-ut5hp]

Amazing video man. Appreciate your suggestion :)

[@3DJapan]

Not free or CAD but I highly recommend 3D-Coat for sculpting, texturing, and retopo. It has features for printing and there's even a cheaper version aimed directly at 3D printing. A really nice CAD program that pretty cheap is Moment of Inspiration (AKA MoI 3D).

[@florin6892]

TNice tutorials one is really good, among all other basics videos

[@karlwarner]

First of all, fantastic video, second of all, your voice is awesome man

[@RahulMistry-hq9oh]

Really helpful brother 🙏

[@boucles271]

This video was very helpful, thank you

[@gyozopajter535]

Thank you very much, great presentation! You helped me a lot!

[@griind]

Nice video, however it really felt like you were rushing to record the software parts, this makes some people believe some programs aren't as good as other because you are rushing through them and not showing off really nice features that it may have, that you just haven't covered because you were rushing through it. Also, cmon. If this is a "Best FREE CAD programs" video, I'd expect to see Tinkercad removed, imo it's made for kids, both visually and how it works. In tinkercad there is really not a lot you can do other than intersecting premade shapes into eachother either making them one part or adding a hole. Even the cylinders there are not good because you can visibly see the lines of it both in the browser/editor and even when you print them. And when or even if you manage to create a part you're looking for, it's gonna look rough and feel rough exactly for the reason I stated above, you can VISUALLY see the lines that tinkercad created the cylinder of, and you can't use any sort of fillets or chamfers or anything to smooth it over or make it look nicer, really not a good choice at all if you wanna get working with a CAD program for real. Though, for ABSOLUTE beginners or for schools teaching students that know NOTHING or close to nothing about CAD, 3D Printing, etc, it's be a viable option, however I would NOT reccommend it for anyone actually wanting to design in CAD properly or needs a very specific/advanced shaped object, you can't get that level of advance in tinkercad.

[@TheEtbetween]

You missing spark design mechanics

[@zeuch1946]

Can you please do beginner's tutorial for soft soft mobile....please...

[@valariejones8062]

Your words did not fail, thanks!

[@firstthes2811]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@TimmiMontreal]

Are you certain that Fusion360 only saves in the cloud? I was under the impression that you can even use it without an internet connection, therefore, how would you access your parts in the cloud?

[@DarkArtGuitars]

It saves your designs also locally for working on them with unstable connections, but you can't access the files from outside your account and don't really have control over what is kept locally (it's more like local caching with your recent ones available, but not older designs). I'm sure it will also start complaining and ask you to log in again (online) if you haven't connected to the internet for more than a few days.

[@m3chanist]

@@DarkArtGuitars Mostly incorrect. Files can be saved locally wherever you like in a variety of formats that have nothing to do with your account. It can be taken offline for up to a month.

[@RobinhoodCoins]

Can you upload logos or designs to Fusion 360? Thanks for the video, first time watching your channel!

[@shofahabib3912]

Great Video! Im new on soft soft, and tNice tutorials tutorial really helped

[@PlanetHugger]

Thank you! Really helped me to ge int the topic!

[@Fpvfreaky]

Thanks mate, for this vid I found it very handy, in looking for a free 3D program I can use to make a person bust or head for 3D just using pictures or possibly video.? Any ideas in what’s good to use.? Thanks again 👍🏽

[@DarkArtGuitars]

it is possible, however, I don't have any experience with it. Go Google photogrammetry, that should help you out.

[@Fpvfreaky]

Datulab Tech ok thank you I shall 👍🏽😉

[@banjotramp1]

You are thinking of Blender

[@burtratti9003]

Very useful video. Thank you very much.

[@batman9592]

Would you ever use a CNC mill to make a Guitar body? What software would you use? I have a BC Rich Warlock with the Widow headstock too. Tuned to Drop B.

[@DarkArtGuitars]

If you have a CNC that's large enough, making a guitar body shouldn't be an issue. I would probably use Fusion 360, as it has CAM functionality built right in.

[@zorabixun]

Hi Datulab Tech .... i would like to ask I have started to learn Fusion360 , can i create a sketch, and later on i would like to print it on a normal printer to another work, as a paper example ?? Thanks for any info how to do it

[@truthmatterson9077]

Fusion 360 is from Autodesk, the makers of the industry standard, Autocad. Autocad is subscription based and with a subscription rate of $1690.00//yr it is quite expensive to use.

[@diye.28]

i've been wondering if there is any program out there for mac FREE of charge.

[@ahafeezs]

Can you point out which tutorials you went through to get the hinges movement like you shown in Fusion360 at 11:00

[@Victuncio]

I have Sketchup and have done nice models there, but when I put them in a slicer they are super tiny! I don't know what I did wrong

[@matpcc2553]

Dude... u give hope

[@RoRo-io2hl]

thank you sooo helpful!!!!!!

[@fredzeit3390]

I could not understand when he said the names of most of the programs!

[@thc61976]

It is possible make a file that is 53 x6x5 inch and slice it into sections that are printable and that you can put together like a puzzle?

[@stevenw4549]

I use freecad most of the time. 360 is overly complicated and hard to work with. I can get more accomplished with freecad. Have not looked at the last three yet.

[@ryanhenry21]

Would I be able to design a swimming pool with tinkercad?

[@JT-ei7jf]

We need an update of the video and kick fusion from the throne.

[@mycncxyz]

Thanks for this review, known a couple of new progs

[@381delirius]

Thought you said pog instead of prog.

[@duncangravy9939]

Is there any closed source CAD system that you can buy. Everything seems to be open source. Any ideas?

[@othernicksweretaken]

I think the emphasis on *Free* in the title is set a bit too narrow and can only relate to _these programs cost you no license fee (in the beginning)_ . But even this aspect may change any time. I rather go with the FLOSS notion that free is more than just _free as free beer_ . In that sense some of the mentioned software doesn't qualify. For instance Fusion 360. Haven't Autodesk recently crippled it for their _free_ users. OK, this video was cast more than a year ago, so its producer couldn't foresee Autodesk's latest twists, but one could have anticipated it.

[@sohan2510]

Eagerly waiting for the "diy cnc mill conversion part 2" 😃

[@yusufxanderortega5944]

it is nice that you want to elaborate but please next time make a script before hand

[@3dcad374]

Great Video Thank you

[@martinrandez7021]

Thanks for the video! Great summary:) Although I have a better idea of the options out there, I'm still unsure about a specific detail. Would love to have your feedback if possible. Basically, I'd like to build contemporary 3D table legs out of sheet metal. Off the bat, the program needs to be able convert 3D imagery into 2D plans. The aim is to design unconventional curvy/wavy legs assuming the metal can be bent/ cut in different sections, then convert those plans into 2D printable formats, laser cut the sheet metal , and then manually weld each section back together to recreate the original 3D effect. I love the ease and flexibility of Selfcad but it doesn't seem possible to convert (or unbend) 3D parts to 2D, nor does it seem able to generate 2D plans. Any thoughts on what may be available for the task (in a free version)? thanks :)

[@vasili1207]

Sketch up,, and the unwrap feature it will give you a pattern for your sheet metal 👍🏻

[@martinrandez7021]

@@vasili1207 thanks! I'll look into that :)

[@vasili1207]

I used it years ago, so I hope it's still available 🤞

[@brianburnssailorslife5383]

I found it very informative! Your presentation interests me in "fusion 360"? I have to ask for your forgiveness due to your European accent and wondered if you could help me with a link to there download site?

[@PraesidentderGalaxis]

Look for autodesk fusion 360

[@bokunatsu07]

Do i need a dj pad for soft soft

[@geoffreyreeks2422]

Thank you. Regards, Geoff. Reeks

[@tonyrichengod9280]

Thank you

[@banjotramp1]

Good overview

[@meditation7298]

put the softs on the play them back to myself lol..

[@lemonvolt]

These 15th century lords are looking more real than ever before.

[@swamihuman9395]

Great job. Thx.

[@MayankSingh-qg9ri]

creative comnt...........................Thank you!!!!!!

[@garrett.s7722]

why are you putting on shape and then while talking about it say it's super expensive.

[@alfhid1947]

Great video

[@LiteralSparkPlug]

I’ve heard that Fusion360 was nerfed a lot for the free version is it still one of the best free programs?

[@DarkArtGuitars]

pretty much, yea

[@gadget_hack]

omg! i love your hair!

[@rafaelbarkhordarian2163]

Um fusion 360 I can’t get it for free

[@Itsyaboy_Jeff]

same here

[@samfriedman2301]

Thanks for this review but I think that SelfCAD is much easier to use

[@pascrew4639]

LIFESTOMPERS BROTHER

[@ChiquitaSpeaks]

Think I’m just going to start with Blender

[@stathisgiakoumelos2292]

it ok if you mean that free is just 1 month or year

[@josearnaldopinheirodossant7712]

Good vídeo . . !!!

[@bobmirror7164]

The only free programs are OpenSCAD and FreeCAD. The others cost money or you have to Log in with an account, to get all of the features. Please refer to a dictionary for the definition of free.

[@sdevane75]

Hey. Again you don't include blender!!

[@immanuel_shadowhammonds2813]

What Program You can use for Pencil Ferrule Designs?

[@eddarby469]

What is a pencil ferrule? I bet you could do it in Tinkercad. But, is this a joke? Are you implying it's easier to just draw the thing by hand?

[@SebastianMaruntiel]

SOLVESPACE?

[@Markdoubts]

Hi and thank you for the great videos! I want to use CAD to design folding knives. I prefer it not be open source as my goal is to manufacture them. . Any recommendations? Thank you !!

[@DarkArtGuitars]

As long as you don't go with the free version of Onshape (not sure if that's still a thing) the software might be opensource, but your design is still your own and not opensource at all. Fusion 360 is my program of choice and they do also have a free startup license you can apply for in addition to the hobby license. Otherwise FreeCAD is also great, just a bit harder to learn.

[@Markdoubts]

@@DarkArtGuitars Thank you for the fast reply and helpful information. Kind Regards Mark

[@weirdwhitey]

I want to start by making 3D name tags what program can I use to create those please??

[@hmarshall9x19]

Hey Paul, if you just want a simple rectangle with raised letters to print flat, probably the fastest and easiest tool is going to be tinkercad. it has text shapes available (not may fonts but still), you just drag a text shape, write the name, drag a rectangle, size it the way you want, drag a rectangle hole to drop in the middle so you have a raised border, size the text and move it into the name tag and combine the shapes. what that will not give you of course is any way to attach the name tag, but that makes thing a bit more complicated.

[@EclecticBedlam]

@@hmarshall9x19 Does the program give you the option to add new fonts?

[@hmarshall9x19]

@@EclecticBedlam some selection is possible. its not like every font possible but some of the text shapes have multiple fonts available.

[@newill7732]

When is all of these programs going to effect the greedy bastards at autocad. Granted iv'e been drinking but still. Who can afford autocad?

[@flauschii]

He looks like he Printed his self in a 3D printer from the year 42069

[@sanjuandelurigancho9684]

Saeee hahahah, you just have to play with the daw and you gaing experience slowly

[@Queteimp]

This a very good video. Im not a bully or anything. But you talk like Missy (the caracter of big mouth show) as you were to have something on your teeth. Hey your model is very nice and sophisticated. I think you need to mention the artistic/structural and the parametrical/exact clasifications and how the Free sofware differ from the professional versions as autodesk or so. Also mention blender and some others (even if they don't suit you jus for people to choose). Outer that; a good video. Auch bist du Deutsch? Du hast einen akzent auf english

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

Hi bro, Cheers Nice videos, If you need some money ,can I contract you to do some design stuff for me?

[@blue_beepblue_beep6358]

Fusion 360,,, spent one hour trying to resize a straight line!!! UNINSTALLED...

[@Howdychirp]

cute you hair

[@MrLukealbanese]

Blender?

[@jplvnw8961]

Blender can be used, and can work really well for certain types prints, but for the most part, it's a good idea to stick to other software because it's easy to create objects that are impossible to print.

[@samfriedman2301]

SelfCAD?

[@chemieju6305]

Blender is at its core more about 3d modeling than true CAD. Depending on what you are trying to achieve that can be good or bad though.

[@leonardocorderonrg916]

haa

[@user-oc2fn1hx3k]

could u like to be our CAD's distributor in U.S？

[@MSee_React]

perfect speed 1.25

[@kamranashraf667]

I'm not, too late

[@sjonjones4009]

You missed the BEST free software for CAD, Blender 2.8x! I know everyone in the comments is saying right now, "But Sjon, Blender is not a CAD program." And you'd be right! Blender is so much more than a CAD program. Blender's only problem is that you have an entire unlocked 3D suite capable of 2 & 3D modeling, animations, simple physics simulations, particle systems, 3D printing, video compositing & editing, and so much more. The rest are good for just CAD but if you're wanting to do more with the thing you created (animate it in a mechanical system, make an advertisement, give it a texture, etc.) you'd want to use Blender.

[@deathguppie]

I've used blender for years, and although it is very, very good at what it's made for it is simply not a parametric modeler. Meaning you simply can't go back and make changes to a previous modification and then expect that to carry on back to where you are currently working. You would have to destroy every change you had made until you got back to where the mistake or modification needed to be made. Parametric modelers allow you to modify every change you made to the model at any time without having to redo any of the other work you have made.

[@sjonjones4009]

@@deathguppie Then you should tell this guy _you can't do CAD in Blender_ . kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHPLp5yZermYZs0 He didn't get that memo. With the right workflow and knowledge, Blender is just as capable as other walletware modeling distros. The big difference between all of them is the price range with Blender being *completely and forever free* .

[@laiebi_3639]

@@sjonjones4009 Its just not suitable for things that need dimensional accuracy and need to be flexible as the previous user said. For freeform sure but CAD not at all. Its like trimming a huge garden with a pair of scissors, sure it technically works but is very impractical

[@deathguppie]

@@sjonjones4009 Oh, I do realize that there are work arounds for doing CAD-like operations in Blender, but the workflow is no where near as fast, and all the changes are still destructive. In a parametric modeler you can go back and make a single change to a single measurement that you made anywhere in the timeline without having to recreate everything after that.

[@deathguppie]

@@through-it I originally got into Blender back in 2004 because there were no good open source 3d CAD programs. I spent years working with it and truly love Blender, but the operations are destructive, meaning you can't go back and make a single change to a measurement on something you did 12 steps ago without having to rebuild everything after that. In FreeCAD for instance you can go, oh, that length is wrong and find that modification and just change it, without having to rebuild anything.

[@kevinj9059]

Fusion 360 got a huge NERF recently. Free version is practically useless now.

[@woodrowmeeks5009]

Not all free!

[@holyciwa]

Turns out they aren't for . SO I hear literally notNice tutorialng inside soft...

[@Chanakya50BC]

Have a look at FREE Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express : www.ptc.com/en/products/creo/elements-direct/modeling-express This is a direct modeling software as against Parametric modelling.

[@cekuhnen]

U missed Blender ...

[@neolyngengan1415]

Jesus Loves you and you have a Greater purpose that is perfect for you.

[@kalani1963]

Not good at explaining what your'e talking about. Maybe have a cheatsheet & system of what you are going to talk about so that you actually sound more professional and confident of what you want ro convey to your audience. Just saying!!!🤷‍♂️

[@ricksanchez9669]

i thought code was irritating and overly complex. CAD software is literal shit.

[@inspiredme9050]

omg he has broke his teeth