[smcleod]

I long for the day that there is modern, easy to use Open Source CAD application for designing / modelling for 3D printing. FreeCAD exists and while I'm sure it's powerful - it's very clunky to use as the learning curve is quite high for someone that occasionally wants to adjust a model. It it certainly seems like KiCAD is filling that spot for the 2D / electronics side of things. Blender is probably fantastic for modelling - but it's not well setup for engineering / printing.

[phkahler]

>> I long for the day that there is modern, easy to use Open Source CAD application for designing / modelling for 3D printing.

Solvespace is your friend: https://solvespace.com/index.pl

When you learn that completely and then outgrow it, you're probably going back to FreeCAD, or maybe blender with the CAD-sketcher addon.

[smcleod]

Looks interesting I'll try both of those out, thank you!

[cybrjoe]

As a programmer there's something that really clicks in OpenSCAD for me. I've made a few designs that are super easy to adjust/repurpose based on variables. When Thingiverse's customizer worked well (well enough), it was a great tool.

https://openscad.org/

[mtreis86]

I've used blender for engineering/printing. It works fairly well, you just have to set the precision to a small enough number that things pull within tolerance. There are a couple decent tool path / CAM plugins too, so it can be used for the full stack and not just making the model, so long as the gcode it spits out is compatible.

[the__alchemist]

Unfortunately, this doesn't (yet?!) exist. Here's to the future.

Are you a student? Military? You may be able to get SolidWorks for cheap. Not what you asked for, but is the best option I've found.

[smcleod]

Nah I'm not - I think SolidWorks is also still Windows only but I could be wrong.