Ever wanted to design your 3D object? 3D printers are available that can print those designs in real life. Starting your 3d printing with the best software is a must if you want to make good prints and get the most out of it. But with so many options and software, it can be overwhelming to learn how to get the best. This article is aimed at people who are new to 3D printers and want to get started quickly without learning many things.

10 Best Easy To Use 3d Printing Software for Beginners

  1. TinkerCAD– Best for creating 3D digital designs
  2. RepRapPro – Best for Generating Prototypes with a Short Turnaround
  3. BlocksCAD – Best for Building and Designing Simple 3D Models
  4. Blender – 3D Modeler & Renderer For Beginners
  5. SketchUp – 3D Modeller & Designer Software for Beginners
  6. 3Ds Max – Best 3D Modeling and Animation Software For Beginners
  7. Cura – Best 3D Printing Software for Beginners
  8. Solidworks – Popular 3D CAD design software
  9. FreeCAD – Open source 3D printing design software
  10. Fusion 360 – Cloud-based 3D CAD and CAM software

1. Tinkercad: Best for creating 3D digital designs

PRICING: Free

TinkerCAD is a software with prebuilt objects that you can easily manipulate and rebuild into your designs. It has a simple and intuitive interface.

Key features:

  • Intuitive interface 
  • Free download
  • Licensing option
  • Prebuilt library 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Easy to learn and use.
  • Free downloaded
  • Can be a substitute for AutoCAD
  • Has community and support area

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Cannot be used to design mechanical parts and assemblies
  • A disadvantage for advanced designers.
  • Requires internet

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2. RepRapPro: Best for Generating Prototypes with a Short Turnaround

PRICING: $29.95 per month

RepRapPro is a free, open-source 3D printer that allows users to create their 3D printable objects. This program has been designed to make it very simple to get started in 3D printing.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Simple to use interface
  • Automatic Slicing
  • Support structure
  • Materials Library
  • Print multiple models at once
  • Supports STL and OBJ files

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Very simple to use
  • Includes many features
  • Great value for money
  • Supports STL and OBJ files
  • Easy to install
  • It can be downloaded for free

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Requires an internet connection
  • No support
  • Requires experience
  • Limited file types supported

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3. BlocksCAD: Best for Building and Designing Simple 3D Models

PRICING: Free 

BlocksCAD is a free, open-source block-based 3D modeling software developed by Michael Steiner. It is a web-based 3D animation program for creating stunning 3D designs for websites, presentations, webinars, social media marketing, and more.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Supports STL,OBJ,PLY and.XML formats
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Collaboration
  • BIM Modeling
  • 3D Modeling
  • Content creation
  • Simulation

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Very simple user interface
  • Has a large library of prebuilt objects 
  • Parts are available in the software.
  • Allows users to share their work via social media
  • Allows users to save their designs

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Additional licensing fees may apply.
  • There are no tutorials included.
  • An advanced feature is difficult to use
  • No support.

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4. Blender: 3D Modeler & Renderer for Beginners

PRICING: Free

Blender was initially created by students at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 2001. It is a free open source cross-platform 3D modeling and rendering software.

KEY FEATURES:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Supports.STL, OBJ, PLY, and.XAML files
  • Supports multi-materials, textures, shaders, lights, cameras, etc
  • Multiple platform support
  • 3D modelling and animation.
  • Tutorials available online 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • A very powerful tool for creating 3D models.
  • Has a large community of developers and artists.
  • Has a large number of plugins available for use.
  • Has many useful tools and functions.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not all plugins are compatible across different operating systems.
  • Requires a license fee
  • 5. Does not have an option to export as SVG file format.

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5. SketchUp: 3D Modeller & Designer Software for Beginners

PRICING: starts at $119 per user per year 

SketchUp is a free 3D modeling and design program developed by Google. It is one of the most popular CAD programs available today as it is simple to learn, yet it is also quite powerful and capable.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Importing and exporting
  • Has many plugins
  • Tutorials 
  • Unlimited users 
  • Built-in templates

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Great features 
  • Easy to use
  • Simple interface 
  • Exportable 
  • Free version

Reasons to avoid:

  • Limited customization
  • Poor integration  

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6. 3DS Max: Best 3D Modeling and Animation Software for Beginners

PRICING: $225 per month

3ds max is an advanced 3D modeling and animation software. It is one of the best 3D modeling software for beginners. It represents objects on the computer utilizing a collection of three-dimensional points.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Used to create both 2D and 3D graphics.
  • Built-in library of thousands of ready-to-use 3D models.
  • Built-in video editor
  • Built-in particle system.
  • Built-in audio editor
  • Built inspector for 3D geometry

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free trial version
  • Has many tutorials available online
  • It Can be downloaded for free
  • Has more than 20 years of history
  • Has many features

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Poor integration 
  • Quite expensive 

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7. Cura: Best 3D Printing Software for Beginners

PRICING: Free

Cura allows you to print models from scratch or import them from other applications. The software comes with many features, making it one of the best software for beginners.

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Adaptive layers
  • Wire printing 
  • Spiral mode
  • Rapid update cycle
  • Open source

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Tutorials
  • Good user interface
  • Lot of plugins
  • Faster speed than other similar programs.
  • Easy to use 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No trial period
  • No multi-user mode
  • No real-time collaboration

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8. Solidworks: Popular 3D CAD design software

PRICING: $1295 per year

SolidWorks is a powerful CAD software that offers advanced functionality, including parametric modeling, sheet metal fabrication, assembly simulation, etc. this software is used for designing of mechanical and electrical system.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Supports 2D and 3D drawings
  • Parametric modeling
  • Sheet metal fabrication
  • Assembly simulation
  • Imports and exports DWG files

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Good support
  • Good performance
  • Compatible with Windows and Mac OS.
  • Highly customizable
  • It is reliable
  • Free versions

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Limited templates
  • No tutorials
  • Poor documentation

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9. FreeCAD: Open source 3D printing design software

PRICING: Free

FreeCAD is another great choice for those who want to learn how to design using CAD software. FreeCAD is one of the best free CAD software for beginners. It is an open-source, good for engineering as well as product design.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Pre-defined shapes
  • UI/UX designs
  • Fast loading time
  • User-friendly interface
  • Simpler workflow
  • Customization

REASON TO BUY:

  • Free
  • Simple to use
  • Lot faster and more stable than other CAD software
  • Active community
  • Can be downloaded from multiple sources
  • It is available for Linux, MAC, and Windows
  • Online tutorials

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No free account 
  • Poor API

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10. Fusion 360: Cloud-based 3D CAD and CAM software

PRICING: $40 per user per month 

Fusion 360 is a complete package of 3D design software which allows users to create models, animations, and renderings and publish them.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Integration 
  • Works seamlessly across devices
  • 3D modelling
  • Supports both mobile and desktop apps
  • Interactive tutorials
  • Simulation
  • Sculpting
  • Professional training courses
  • License available 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Reasonable pricing
  • User-friendly interface
  • Offers a lot more than just 3D modeling
  • Affordable license 
  • Online tutorials
  • Free trials

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Poor technical support 
  • It does not support all the latest versions of Windows.
  • Poor customization

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

It would be best if you first learned how to draw basic shapes like circles, rectangles, triangles, squares, lines, arcs, ellipses, polygons, etc. Then, it would help if you learned how to make them look realistic. After that, you will need to know how to apply textures, materials, lights, shadows, and other effects to your models. Finally, you need to understand how to animate your models.

How do I 3D print my models?

First, you need to design a model that can be printed. Second, you need to slice the model into layers. Third, you need to create supports for overhanging portions of your model. Fourth, you need to send the sliced and printable files to a 3D printing company, upload them online, or send them via email.

What are the various categories of 3d printing software?

There are various categories of 3D printing software, including design, modeling, rendering, and simulation. These classes are covered in more detail below:

  • Design Software: Most 3D printing software designs can be exported as a DXF file (Design EXtentum file) or STL file (Stereolithography or Stereo Lithography).
  • Modeling Software: Modelers use various software programs to model 3D objects. These include 3DS Max, Maya, and Cinema 4D. 
  • Simulation Software: Simulation software is used for simulation and visualizations of objects, designs, and models. All simulation software can also be used to print 3D models. 
  • Rendering Software: Rendering software is used to create photorealistic images. 

How do I find the best 3D printing software for me?

First, you should decide what type of work you want to do. If your work involves creating products, you may want to use CAD software. On the other hand, if your work involves creating 3D models of architectural designs, you may want to use 3D modeling software.

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Resources

https://techjury.net/best/3d-printing-software/#gref

18 Best 3D Printing Software for Beginners in 2023 (Free & Paid)

https://www.3dnatives.com/en/3d-software-beginners100420174/

https://www.trustradius.com/