Hey everyone! I need help choosing a 3D modeling program to get started with. I work as a UX designer and use Figma and Adobe Illustrator every day for about 10 years now. Just bought a Bambu Lab A1 printer and want to dive into 3D modeling to edit existing files and make my own designs.
I want something that’s not too hard to learn but also powerful enough that I won’t outgrow it quickly. Don’t want to have to switch programs later when I need more features.
What would you suggest? Here’s what I’ve looked into:
- Tinkercad: Used it already but it’s way too basic. Fine for tiny edits but can’t do much else.
- FreeCAD: Currently trying to learn this one. People say it’s missing some stuff and it’s pretty hard to figure out, but maybe I can get the hang of it.
- Onshape: Looks cool. Don’t care about files being public but worried the free version might go away. Premium costs too much for a hobby.
- Plasticity: Thinking about purchasing this. Even without updates after 12 months, I’d still own it forever. But is it worth the money and learning time?
- Fusion 360: Everyone seems to use it but I heard they keep taking away free features. Trying to avoid that situation. Am I right about this?
Please tell me if I got something wrong here since I’m still researching. Really want your thoughts on what’s worth learning.
Thanks!
what do you plan to print mostly - functional parts or artistic stuff? that’d help narrow things down. also, have you tried blender? i know it’s mainly for animation, but the modeling tools work great for 3D printing and it’s completely free. worth checking out since you’re already comfortable with complex software.
With your design background, I’d go with Fusion 360 despite the feature removal concerns. The personal license is still pretty generous, and you’ll pick it up faster since you already get design workflows. Commercial restrictions won’t matter for hobby printing, and parametric modeling clicks well if you’re used to vector thinking. FreeCAD’s gotten better lately, but the interface feels clunky after using polished Adobe tools. Plasticity’s great for organic stuff but probably overkill for functional prints. Since you’re comfortable with pro software, Fusion’s quirks are easier to deal with than learning clunkier alternatives. Plus the community support and tutorials make jumping from 2D to 3D way smoother.
fusion 360 gets way more hate than it deserves. sure, they cut some features, but it’s still solid for hobby projects. i’ve used it for 3 years without hitting any walls. plasticity looks great but costs too much when you’re starting out. try fusion first - you can always upgrade if you need more advanced stuff.