Not used 3D software in well over a decade. Went to use Sketchup and frankly, it's not keeping up with the detail I wish to go into (in terms of measurements). Any free tools out there than can? I'm needing something to go down to minute detail such as scree placements, tube creation, easy layering of objects etc.
Decent 3D software for computer case design
- Thread starter agnes
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Absolutely fine, this will be a hobby, don't expect to pick it up without a challenge. I've done some research and settled on Solidworks, thankfully I've a friend who will let me use their license.
About to embark upon a 7 hour basics course on Lynda.com, excited!
Soldato
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Haven't dabbled in 3D software since Gmax back I was heavily into MS combat flight sims and MSFS back in the day.
Sketchup becomes annoying when you start introducing multiple curves, it’s much better when you keep to straight edges.
Fusion 360 would be a logical step up and it’s free for hobbyists, blender would be a good alternative but it’s a different style of drawing.
Fusion 360 would be a logical step up and it’s free for hobbyists, blender would be a good alternative but it’s a different style of drawing.
i use Blender, does everything you want and it's free.
not looked much into creation/printing stuff, can printers do things as big as a case now for a sensible cost, and are the materials good enough for the task in regards to structural strength etc?
not looked much into creation/printing stuff, can printers do things as big as a case now for a sensible cost, and are the materials good enough for the task in regards to structural strength etc?
Ahhh I miss messing with 3D for fun. So many hours whizzed away!
I had a nose on some dev twitch streams not long ago. It's interesting seeing the different methods around now. Some seem to be like virtual clay sculpting rather than fiddling with primitives and extruding vertices and faces. I remember trying metaballs I think it was once but it was painfully slow back then. NURBS was a pretty new thing last time I played with 3D.
I had a nose on some dev twitch streams not long ago. It's interesting seeing the different methods around now. Some seem to be like virtual clay sculpting rather than fiddling with primitives and extruding vertices and faces. I remember trying metaballs I think it was once but it was painfully slow back then. NURBS was a pretty new thing last time I played with 3D.
Ahhh I miss messing with 3D for fun. So many hours whizzed away!
I had a nose on some dev twitch streams not long ago. It's interesting seeing the different methods around now. Some seem to be like virtual clay sculpting rather than fiddling with primitives and extruding vertices and faces. I remember trying metaballs I think it was once but it was painfully slow back then. NURBS was a pretty new thing last time I played with 3D.
Yep, zbrush is something along those lines
Soldato
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Quite the jump from sketchup to solidworks lol.
That said, solidworks if you can get it is one of the easiest cad packages i've used in terms of being able to get stuff done without training.
That said, solidworks if you can get it is one of the easiest cad packages i've used in terms of being able to get stuff done without training.
Due to the fact that fusion360 is almost as good as solidworks plus the fact that there are a million and 1 tutorials for it on YouTube, it really is the best option at the moment.
The only reason not to use it would be because you want to create sculpture / non dimensionally accurate models, in which case 3ds max, blender and zbrush are your friend.. not that you can’t use measurements but they’re just more of a PITA.
The only reason not to use it would be because you want to create sculpture / non dimensionally accurate models, in which case 3ds max, blender and zbrush are your friend.. not that you can’t use measurements but they’re just more of a PITA.