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Would love to try a few other CAD types but experience with Inventor a few years ago has put me right off. Think I'm institutionalised.
Based on my experience with Solidworks both Fusion and Onshape are ok for single parts but try too hard to be different when it comes to assemblies. I do use Fusion to create G-code, but the designs are done in Solidworks. My son used NX at university and hated it (he learnt basic SW on my laptop when he was about 12 so knew what he was doing).
I'm retired now but you can use Solidworks at home for something like £50 a year which is well worth it.
Maybe I'm just too old to get the hang of the newer options!
Well I have just found out how perishable Fusion 360 skills are!
Going to go back to square one on some tutorials, hopefully it will come back to me.
A few things I picked up recently on Fusion 360 that I'll share
- Use component design within one model, and assemblies are much easier. I was doing a clunky way of importing models into an assembly, I must have been taught that back in the day. The component system puts all parts in one file (also helpful with 10 model limit) and is much easier.
- Set up to 3d print. Again, old habits of export STL, then import. Instead, from the file settings click 3d print. Point this to your slicer and then you just click the part and it opens in your slicer. Simple. Saved me hours!
Possibly both obvious, but weren't to me! Hope that helps.
try too hard to be different when it comes to assemblies
Same with Inventor - it had some nice part features but the assembly system is just bull**** - there's 2 different types of "mates" FFS! Different for different sakes. The amount of "why don't you just do what Solidworks do?" posts on the user forum is ridiculous. The answers from long time users and "staff" usually being some form of gaslighting.
Would like to try out Catia at some point.
An update. I've had a Flashforge for a few years and its been great. Printed pretty flawlessly, a few glitches here and there but generally turn it on and print. I've got a project coning up that need fancier materials so I thought I'd take the opportunity to get something newer and a bit bigger. Bought the Elegoo Centauri Carbon from 123-3D for £239. Ordered Monday night arrived Wednesday morning. Printed a benchy within an hour.
So far very impressed. It feels quality. Glass, metal, nice touchscreen. Much better than the Flashforge (not knocking it, just a comparison). First print without adjusting anything is pretty much perfect. As good as commercial models I've bought before. Super fast, if anything it feels like its moving too fast. Quite a lot of vibration, but it doesn't impact on the print. Also quite noisy, I have read this before and it is definitely true. Overall very happy and for the money it seems ridiculously good.
Time will tell but it will almost pay for itself with the first project so not much to lose.
I've been working on some 3-D printed keyrings for my daughter to give out as christmas presents to her football team mates.
This thread has highlighted just how old my CR10-Mini is and using it does seem a bit clunky. The separate control box with control wheel definitely feels a bit antiquated.
But, I am so used to using it that the workflow is pretty good & the only real issue I can think of that would make me want to upgrade is the print speed is pretty slow.
I am sure the accuracy/quality is better on the newer machines, but for virtually all of the things I print the quality I get is more than good enough.
I like the idea of multi-colour prints but get put off when I see how much waste they generate and would be unlikely to use that functionality very often.
I think I would miss the versatility of the rectangular build-plate too.
I almost need something in this printer to go 'pop' to justify a fancier new one.
I like the idea of multi-colour prints but get put off when I see how much waste they generate and would be unlikely to use that functionality very often.
this problem has been solved some years ago but the ££££ is not easy to justify for most hobbyists! Actually Bondtech have recently announced their latest (and slightly cheaper) solution, but if you haven't ordered one already you're not getting one any time soon 😃
There are many practical uses for multi-colour and particularly multi-material prints, but they definitely make "fun" prints a lot more, well, fun!!
Speed.
My Bambu's are 12x faster than my Ender 3. That alone was the justification I needed. An all day print takes an hour. Iteration is quicker. Game changer.
My Daughter has just bought herself a Bambu A1 mini (Bambu apparently being b@stards from a quick skim of the thread above). I'm quite excited to have a play with it though, I've got 2 questions:
1. Any good suggestions of off the shelf designs to print?
I'm thinking the hope open source brake tools
these cool mounts for storing fidlock bottles
2. What's a good way to get into designing my/our own stuff? any recommendations on tutorials/software to start with? I'd quite into dabbling with python and raspberry pi - this one is more general dicking about - I figured it would be a good way of exposing my daughter to a load of different tech skills. I'm thinking as a starter it would be quite rewarding to make little custom hooks for hanging/wall mounting bits and bobs.
Re designing stuff - i use onshape cos it’s free and web based, so i can pick up from where i left off from home to work etc.
I’d just have a play about, with a few YouTube videos. Learn the basics i.e design a cube, then ‘remove’ some of the centre, then you now have a tray!
My first few designs were quite ‘square and boxy’, but now i can use other tools in Onshape to make smooth curved transitions etc.
RE off the shelf - jsut go to printable.com and find all sorts of dragons and tatt! My daughter loves that!
Also - this week i sold my first 3d print!!!! A centre console organiser for a polestar 2!
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4455464750/center-console-organizer-for-polestar-2
Not quite time to give up the day job!!
DrP