Author: November 22, 2017

Choosing the Right 3D Printing Software for Your Needs

You can increase your productivity and scope of operations with 3D printing like a lot of other companies are starting to do. Creating a digital file that is then sent to a printer to create a tangible object is 3D printing. If you are thinking about using 3D printing for your business, then the first step is deciding on the right software. You can’t choose a good software before you decide what you will be creating, how much time you have to create it, and how easy you want it to be to create it. These are big considerations when you are running a business. Choosing the right software doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are some things to consider before choosing.

There are 2 different categories that 3D geometry fits into. If you are an engineer or an architect, then you will most likely use the parametric approach. These software focus on specific dimensions, relationships, and design history. This is ideal for people who are making parts that need to fit together in a larger whole. Artists and industrial designers typically use explicit modeling. This is a much more flexible form of design because it allows for changes to be made quickly. When the pieces don’t need to fit together perfectly, then this is possible. You might want this kind of software if you are working with customers or vendors that might change their mind about what they want.

Understanding what your purpose is and what you are going to be using the software for is the most important thing when deciding which software to buy. Knowing if you would work better with parametric or explicit software will go a long way in narrowing down your choices. Most 3D printers use the same kind of file, but you always want to make sure they are compatible before designing.
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Once you have narrowed down what kind of software that you need to reach you goals, you need to decide what your budget is for the software. Anyone can find something that fits their budget because packages range from free to $5,000. You may want to go with a free version if you aren’t sure if you want to do 3D printing for everything. They are usually easy to use and have tutorials to get you started. They are usually limited in what they can do, so if you decide to do it more often, you will probably want something different.
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Another thing you need to think about is your own experience in design and the time you have to devote to learning something new. If you have a lot of experience or a lot of time to learn skills, then you have a wider range of software to choose from. Focusing on easy to use software is going to be more important if you don’t have much time to learn it and limited experience. No matter what your situation is, you can find a software that can help you reach your goals.