Not available at Maker Works, but popular in some fields such as architecture. $995 Windows, $495 Mac, proprietary (Robert McNeel & Associates) Has the ability to work with assemblies of parts. Objects are built up from features which can be modified at any time, and dimensions and other parameters can be specified in terms of user-defined values (which can also be modified).
(See Fusion 360 for parametric 3D CAD you can install on your own computer.) Proprietary (Dassault Systems)Īvailable at Maker Works on a workstation in the common room. Geomagic Design includes the ability to work with assemblies of parts. Cubify Invent can only read/write with Cubify Invent (and export STL) Cubify Design is an older version of Geomagic Design with limits. Very powerful 3D parametric CAD–objects are built up from features which can be modified at any time, and dimensions and other parameters can be specified in terms of user-defined values (which can also be modified).
(Note that we now teach Fusion 360 CAD as our parametric 3D CAD, but will keep the software available as long as possible.) Geomagic Design (formerly and again now available as Alibre)Īvailable on most Maker Works workstations. Comes with powerful 2D/3D CAM, which can target the ShopBot CNC router, Tormach CNC mill, or CNC plasma cutter.Ī “cloud” based parametric CAD program (freeform organic modeling also available), designs are stored on servers.
We now teach this as our parametric 3D CAD.
Create color, gray-scale, or black/white bitmap graphics (JPG, BMP, PDF, TIFF, etc.) that can be converted to vector art using Inkscape, Corel Draw, etc.įree for educational, non-commercial, start-ups, and many others (free year with Maker Works membership, see desk for details), $300/year otherwise, proprietary (Autodesk) This flatbed scanner accepts up to 8-½” by 11-½”, and creates images with up to 3200 by 6400 dots-per-inch (dpi) in up to 48-bit color. Software produces a 3D model in STL format.ĭiscontinued (current comparable is $170), proprietary (Epson)įind at Maker Works by the workstations in the common room. This hand-held scanner can capture 3D objects as small as 8” x 8” x 8” up to nearly 10’ x 10’ x 10’, with accuracy of about 1mm. Specifications are taken from manufacturer information when possible, but in some cases information about software may be incomplete if the software is not something we have first hand experience with. Prices, versions, and capabilities change, so this is just a snapshot.
Please let us know of any improvements we can make at each item, the glossary offers a name, category, URL for manufacturer information, an estimated cost, whether the hardware or software is open-source or proprietary/closed, an idea of how challenging the item is to learn and use, whether it is available at Maker Works, and a description. The Maker Works CNC Toolchain poster shows how the various CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software work together to create files you can use on various Maker Works machines.īelow is a glossary of programs, file formats, and machines from the poster.