3D print hardware and software

[wolftimj]

After years of wanting a printer I finally got one on a Black Friday deal. Full disclosure I have very little real NEED for it, just think it’s cool and I like tinkering with tech stuff. Anyway, got a Bambu X1 Carbon with AMS.

I’d like to hear what people have been using successfully to model/slice/scan. I have used FreeCAD, Bambu Studio, TinkerCAD in a limited way, I have college level training with AutoCAD but it’s been a long time. To me FreeCAD might be a bit much, but Tinker is not enough, too limited. I’d like to be able to scan objects, would love to use the sensors on my iPhone or iPad and the right software, but not opposed to getting something else if it’s significantly better.

What do you guys use and why?

 

[scottyboy436]

I use the hobbyist version of fusion 360 , I have no limitations with it yet for myself , as for the slicer I use the prusa slicer since I have a mk3s and XL

As for photogrammetry I haven't tried it yet . But I did look at hobby grade scanners around the £400 or $600 dollar mark but none were really that impressive

 

[BartHarleyJarvis]

I have the same printer - I use Fusion 360 for creating models from scratch (which you can use for free as a hobbiest) and Bambu Studio for slicing and control of the machine. Bambu Handy on the phone/ipad is great for monitoring.

I’ve been toying with getting a 3d scanner for objects but I also have this thing called a shaper trace that I might try first - doing outlines of tools with a pen and turning that into a vector graphic: https://www.shapertools.com/en-us/trace

 

[Lollo050968]

I am lucky to have a lab at my workspace with a Ultimaker S7 and a CreatBot D600 Pro2. I use Autodesk Inventor or Autodesk Fusion. Sure no private stuff, but we are allowed to use private.

 

[MileHigh]

I use TinkerCAD, and can’t seem to get away from it. It’s done everything I’ve wanted, but I realize its limitations.

I have Prusa printers, Mini, Mk3s, Mk4, and and XL5. The XL5 is most like your printer with the AMS unit. Multimaterials and colors are pretty cool.

Check out Printables, there are a few Grenadier things there. Favorite is the center console tray.

 

[parb]

My brother makes cad and prints for me. He uses Autodesk exclusively, profe5 version that they are allowed to use for personal purposes. Because he does so much design work I have completely outsourced all of that to him.

I think they have a raise3D printer. They do rapid prototyping for engineering prototypes on a 3D printer and test builds before they send out the designs to metal shops for manufacturing.

It's amazing how much 3D printers have cut down engineering design time.

 

[PDX_Keith]

I am a new print user. Picked up a Bambu during BF. I have been using Bambu Studio, Orca Slicer, FreeCad, Tinker Cad and Fusion 360. Fusion is the most useful but I'm ramping up with the rest. 3D modeling is a full time learning endeavor! I just grabbed a Creality Otter based on reviews of doing dark items without markers so I can try some reverse engineering.... From what I gather, these are the most common free tools most people use.

 

[Squizz]

I've wanted a 3D printer since they first came out. I just didn't want to spend all my time faffing with it like some DIY project, spending endless hours troubleshooting instead of actually printing. When I saw the Bambu X1 Carbon and read the reviews, I just had to get one. It seems more like a household appliance than a 3D printer.

The printer sat in the box for the first two weeks I had it. It took me that long to figure out how to draw something using the personal (free) version of Fusion. Once I figured that out it was as easy as exporting to STL file and then just loading it in Bambu Studio and print. I used Fusion because the personal version is free. The Bambu Studio is also free.