Except for RapidBot, these 3D printers come with their own software and MakerBot is probably the best. There are free open source packages available that are just as good and some names to search for are
- Google Sketchup
- 3DCrafter
- 3DTin
- Art of Illusion
- Blender
- FreeCAD
- DrawPlus Starter Edition
Autodesk 123D Catch even offers an on-line tool where you upload images of an object taken at many different angles and it produces a 3D model that you can fiddle with. Once you are happy, you can download an STL file for your printer.
3D printing is still not quite ready for home use in a commercial way, but it is coming so if you have ideas now might be the time to get started, maybe form a club to share the cost!
I hear material for 3d printing cost lots. Is that true?
Yes, the price of a spool or cartridge of plastic is astonishing when you consider that ABS plastic is less than $3000 (£2000) per ton. This is £2 or $3 per kilo and they are charging $50 plus for a 1 Kg spool. Hopefully, this will change soon as the competition hots up because it can’t cost much to create a spool.
Then, 3D printing will be more viable as a hobby interest.