I bought mine to print out a replacement plastic basket slider for the deep freezer built in the 1980s with a 4 digit Kenmore model number.
But learning how to use the modelling software to make the shape to actually get that done is taking longer than I thought in my spare time. It became a lower priority than other things.
Modelling really is the difficult part. I’m an engineer and CAD is a large part of my day job so I use printing almost exclusively as a way to refine my modelling skills, but it’s taken me years to get good enough at it to be quick. Then on top of that, most “good” software is gated behind insane subscription costs that no normal user can afford. So you get stuck with stuff like FreeCAD, which admittedly is OK but very very clunky for anything other than simple geometric shapes, and it makes it much harder than it needs to be.
Fusion free has a ton of limitations though, namely on model exports and drawing creation and commercial use (so e.g in my case, I can’t use it to make contract models to print and recoup my costs from buying the printer, and I also like to make drawings for everything I model esp. if it requires machining). And I’m extremely not fond of the “cloud” model stuff it depends on.
It admittedly is one of the most affordable subscriptions out there, but it is still a subscription. I use it if I have to, but Autodesk is liable to pull the plug on the free part at any time.
Mine has just been gathering dust because I can’t be fucked to calibrate my new Sprite hotend.
I bought mine to print out a replacement plastic basket slider for the deep freezer built in the 1980s with a 4 digit Kenmore model number.
But learning how to use the modelling software to make the shape to actually get that done is taking longer than I thought in my spare time. It became a lower priority than other things.
Modelling really is the difficult part. I’m an engineer and CAD is a large part of my day job so I use printing almost exclusively as a way to refine my modelling skills, but it’s taken me years to get good enough at it to be quick. Then on top of that, most “good” software is gated behind insane subscription costs that no normal user can afford. So you get stuck with stuff like FreeCAD, which admittedly is OK but very very clunky for anything other than simple geometric shapes, and it makes it much harder than it needs to be.
Auto Desk Fusion is free for personal use, and it’s pretty easy once you get familiar with it. I started with Sketchup, though.
Fusion free has a ton of limitations though, namely on model exports and drawing creation and commercial use (so e.g in my case, I can’t use it to make contract models to print and recoup my costs from buying the printer, and I also like to make drawings for everything I model esp. if it requires machining). And I’m extremely not fond of the “cloud” model stuff it depends on.
It admittedly is one of the most affordable subscriptions out there, but it is still a subscription. I use it if I have to, but Autodesk is liable to pull the plug on the free part at any time.