Blender 3D CAD, Freeware, Open Source Software

[der_fisherman]

Has anyone ever used this software? Can they let me know their opinion(s)?

If nobody has used it, could some of you "clever" Guys (I'm a Newbie to CNC/CAD) try it out quickly and give us your (initial) opinion(s).....?

I would be most grateful, as would some of the other Guys with no money for Adobe or Corel......

It has a lot of stuff that we don't need for CNC, but it is a 3D package!!

It also seems to be well documented, very well indeed for a free software in many languages....and the download is only 10MB..

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Goto:-

http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/

[ViperTX]

I believe is used to render..you know add texture, lights, etc.

Paul

[ger21]

You can model in Blender, but expect a rather steep learning curve. Especially if you're new to 3D modelling.

[der_fisherman]

I believe is used to render..you know add texture, lights, etc.

Paul

Of course it can do that and many, many things more. If you go to the following link, there is a table of comparisons with Blender against many other leading 3D CAD programs....most of the others cost big bucks...

http://wiki.cgsociety.org/index.php/...on_of_3d_tools

I hope this helps many of you further.......
Regards

[gankoji]

I might be wrong now, but last time I used Blender it didn't have too much in terms of CAD capability. Sure, it can 3D model but it's UI isn't built for designing. Anyhow, the big problem you'll probably run into is that I'm pretty sure it has no support for STP or IGES. I'm not even sure it supports 2D drawings, although that might just be me talking out of school. Either way, that would present a problem for you to take models into CAM.

[der_fisherman]

Did you look at the comparison list at all? did you check out the file types it can handle?

[gankoji]

I did, and I didn't see STEP or IGES anywhere on there, nor have I seen it on their website ;-). I took a second look and did find DXF support, however, so perhaps it has some capability to work with CAM through 2D interface.

[ger21]

I took a second look and did find DXF support, however, so perhaps it has some capability to work with CAM through 2D interface.

Most 3D modelling and animation apps output 3D mesh .dxf files, not 2D .dxf's.

[gankoji]

Most 3D modelling and animation apps output 3D mesh .dxf files, not 2D .dxf's.

0_o Ooops! I got all ADD and thought that I was talking about .DWG. Thanks for the correction Gerry.