LulzBot TAZ Workhorse - CAD and 3 D Modeling Software

1.3. CAD AND 3D MODELING SOFTWARE
1.3 CAD and 3D Modeling Software
LulzBot is not distributing a CAD or 3D modeling software package.
However, multiple Free/Libre Software packages are available. Other
common non-free CAD and 3D modeling software are also capable of
exporting the required .STL les.
On some CAD and 3D modeling software you will need to select
millimeters as the output unit. If possible it is best to build your 3D design
in metric units rather than imperial units. Cura requires .STL/.OBJ les
sized in millimeters. If an .STL/.OBJ with inches as units is loaded into
Cura, the model will be scaled much smaller than expected. You can scale
the model by 25.40 to compensate. The software listed below outputs
millimeters as the unit by default.
FreeCAD
Website: http://www.freecadweb.org/
Although still in development, contains a full GUI for building CAD
models. FreeCAD is capable of creating simple to complex designs. STL
les can also easily be exported for use with 3D printing. FreeCAD is
available for GNU/Linux, Windows, and OS X. The latest development
version is recommended.
OpenSCAD
Website: http://openscad.org
OpenSCAD is dierent than FreeCAD in that it is script based. Rather
than using a GUI to generate CAD designs, OpenSCAD CAD designs are
created using script based renderings. Users with programming experience
would nd this useful. Also, OpenSCAD uses a simple script language that
is easy for users with little or no programming experience to learn.
Blender
Website: http://blender.org
The most widely used Free/Libre Software 3D modeling software,
Blender is well documented with tutorials available on the Blender.org
website as well as found online.
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