When I first started playing with 3D printing 10 years ago, I had a head start. That’s because I was already using CAD, or Computer Aided Design, to create my metal sculptures.
CAD is one of the “dirty little secrets” about 3D printing. Lots of people buy a 3D printer only to find out that, to make anything original, they need to know CAD, which creates a three-dimensional file.
If you’ve never played with CAD, it’s, uh, exciting. Frustrating. Hair-pulling. Crazy making. May induce suicidal thoughts or actions.
I originally taught myself using an architectural CAD program called PunchPro because we were considering remodeling our house. I found out pretty quickly that I wanted a CAD program that could create something other than buildings.
My next stop was a very early free version of Alibre Design. I’ve used other CAD programs, too, including Rhino and also K3DSurf, a math-based CAD program. I taught myself how to use them, so it’s been a pretty steep learning curve, but I apparently have a lot of patience (just ask my wife of 32 years).
Since those first days with PunchPro I’ve learned a lot. My designs have gotten more intricate and innovative as I’ve learned what all – well, almost all – the buttons do. I’ve learned how to be much more precise with my designs, and my original Wabi-sabi sculptures like Ice Queen (right) offer a startling approach to 3D printing that gives my artwork an organic look and feel despite their technological roots.
All of it started with CAD, my overactive imagination, and my tinkering pursuit of “What if…”.
If you want to learn CAD, there are free programs like TinkerCad and SketchUp Free that will help you get started. There’s something intoxicating about creating a three-dimensional object that you can see all sides of, then print in the filament-based flesh.
Just set aside a lot of time, patience and maybe a libation or two. Then let your imagination run wild, like mine has.