Software programs for 3d files

[Mike 1017]

Is the software that is used to make 3D files specific to the manufacture's printer?

Mike

[stitchdup]

no and neither are the slicers used to prep the files for printing. its the format they are saved as that matters

[MeatMan]

23 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

Is the software that is used to make 3D files specific to the manufacture's printer?

Mike

Les is correct, but when you say "make 3d files", what exactly are you referring to? Just curious.

[Mike 1017]

22 minutes ago, MeatMan said:

Les is correct, but when you say "make 3d files", what exactly are you referring to? Just curious.

The info that is downloaded into the file so that the printer knows what to print

[Mike 1017]

23 hours ago, stitchdup said:

no and neither are the slicers used to prep the files for printing. its the format they are saved as that matters

Thank you Les.

[Texas_3D_Customs]

3 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

The info that is downloaded into the file so that the printer knows what to print

You have to slice it for your printer

[gui_tarzan]

There are several popular programs like Blender, Autodesk Fusion, Tinkercad and many others. Some are free, some aren't. Each has its own learning curve. Some people like Tinkercad that is a browser-based CAD program is very simple to learn. It's what I do most of my work in which is really basic for now. I also have 123D CAD, Fusion 360, FreeCAD and a handful of others to find one that works for me. They all do pretty much the same thing and as others have said, aren't printer-specific. 

The worst part of learning them for me is the mindset it takes to use them. Most of them are not intuitive to my learning style and what I expect them to do in certain situations, they just don't do it that way. I'm getting there but it's a different world. Then there is the "slicer", that creates the file your printer uses to make the part and that has printer-specific information as far as the settings go. Exposure time, layer info, etc. It's basically a huge list of coordinates that tells the light and plate (or filament printer components) what to do when. It's quite fascinating actually.