Less expensive software for 3d modeling?

[Aiph5u (Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))]

Hey stuckinohio,

@stuckinohio

I want the ability to do 3D modeling. As far as I can tell, I have to step-up to:
Carveco Maker+ $600 per year
Aspire $1995
AutoDesk Fusion $680 per year

Is there a more affordable option?

@Aiph5u

Why spend that much money for Vectric Aspire ($2K) if Blender (Blender homepage) is free and open?

[…]

Blender (Blender homepage) is excellent and very developed nowadays with many tools.

@Aiph5u

if you think of byuing Vectric Aspire in order to be able to use 3D model creation and editing tools, instead of Vectric VCarve Pro, which means you have a big price difference for this additional capability (USD $1,995 vs. $699), you should know that you can also use many other softwares to create your 3D models, e.g. the free and open Blender as mentioned here:

@Aiph5u

Vectric Aspire differs from Vectric Vcarve Pro just by the 3D creating and editing tools. But you could do that with another tool (and use VCarve or another CAM software like FreeCAD Workbench just for importing the 3D model and export it as a g-code toolpath). The free and open 3D editing software Blender (Blender homepage) is excellent and very developed nowadays with many tools.

c’t Magazin, 23/2019, S. 144ff: Blender-Workshop, Teil 2

More on other free and open tools here

Blender Beginner Tutorial - Part 1

@Aiph5u

A software that is also free and open and that is CAD, TechDraw, Vector Graphics and CAM software as well all in one is FreeCAD. It offers vast documentation and tutorials:

• FreeCAD Home
  • FreeCAD Documentation
    • FreeCAD Getting started
    • FreeCAD Frequently asked questions
    • **FreeCAD Tutorials**FreeCAD has a lot of different capabilities, they are called Workbenches:
  • Workbench List

One of the workbenches used for CAD is the Part Workbench, another is PartDesign Workbench, you may also start with 2D objects on the Draft Workbench, which you can use to create 3D objects later. Interesting also the TechDraw Workbench, with which you can make professional technical drawings of the desired part.

Path Workbench

So the CAM part of FreeCAD, that exports toolpaths suitable for being executed by a CNC machine, is called Path Workbench. This makes that FreeCAD is a complete CAD/CAM software package with which you can first create the model of the part you want to mill, and then export a toolpath and mill it on your CNC machine. And all for free.

Here is this

• 🢡 Path Walkthrough for the Impatient Tutorial so you can start to mill something quickly.

Further Reading

• Choosing your Vector graphics, 2D, 3D modeling CAD, and CAM software