Oh yeah? Well I’m never buying one in the first place because these problems were obvious.
Let’s add CAD.
I’ve been screaming to everyone I know… Use freeCAD or other opensource CAD systems or free form modelers like Blender.org.
People who don’t know about Auto desk and PTC don’t know how evil those companies are. They’re dinosaurs and need to go. Let’s opensource the future.
Unfortunately the open source options for CAD have to come a very long way before I could even consider using them. Onshape is the only “free” option I’ve found that is bearable to use compared to the likes of SolidWorks and Creo.
God, I long for the day we get a decent open source CAD program but we just arent there yet. Script-based cad like OPENSCAD is just awful, especially for anything complex and extra-especially for assemblies, and while freecad has improved massively it’s still a very similar UX to Sketchup circa 2009 :(
CAD/CAM is one of the biggest underrepresented areas for opensource software, unfortunately largely because it’s so damn hard. There’s a reason basically every open-source polymodeling system pulls from Blender, and that’s because it’s the only robust opensource option out there that’s usable (though blender UI/UX is notoriously terrible for good reason, even after 2.8 and 3.2).
And unfortunately blender isn’t CAD software. Fun for noodly 3D printed parts and technically you can design functional components in it… but it’s deeply miserable to do.
IDK I’m just screaming into the void. grrgh.
Agree. Using freecad coming from Pro-E/Creo /Fusion 360/on shape/Solidworks is brutal.
and while freecad has improved massively it’s still a very similar UX to Sketchup circa 2009 :(
I started using OpenDark theme, which I found to look more modern. Also, I believe FreeCAD has some very specific UI-work currently funded (details here), so you should definitely keep your eyes open for progress on this front going forward :)
ETA: Oh, and Blender does have some CAD-plugins - I never tried them myself, but they are supposed to make designing functional components less dreadful in Blender
Ha, thank you. The themeing is not at all my complaint with these tools, but I appreciate the tip! I look forward to seeing what freecad produces, it has a lot of potential but alas, not a lot of funding to make sure the devs can afford to eat.
Last I played around with them the blender cad plugins all use poly modeling, which puts them out of the running for anything more complex than FDM parts. Primarily they exist to either support 3D printing or for simulation/animation of simplified parts. They’re… better than nothing, for sure, but unless you need something specifically given by blender you’d be much better served by just using freecad.
Have you used Blender/FreeCAD as extensively as other proprietary paid software? You might just be used to other software being different. I think the Blender UI is pretty good and FreeCAD is just as capable as any other CAD program. I know someone who models the stuff from tootalltoby CAD Tournaments for fun in FreeCAD and he is about half as fast, but I think that’s fine for being an amateur.
Even in the context of having only experienced certain other CAD software a little bit (e.g. SolidEdge for one class in college, SketchUp for making maybe a handful of models, total), FreeCAD really is worse to use. It’s not just the UI, (although it is partly that and it is genuinely worse, not just neutrally different), it’s that stuff just starts breaking whenever you try to do anything even slightly complex (even after the “topological naming fix”), and that the workflow is just annoyingly internally inconsistent.
For example, you can make a sketch and then apply constraints to it and it’s all well and good, but then you extrude it and suddenly you have to declare the height by setting the properties of the extrude instead of using a constraint or dimension. I assume there’s some kind of workaround involving declaring variables in the data table thing I can’t remember the name of or how to access right now, but it shouldn’t have to be that way. You ought to be able to do things like create a cube by declaring an X edge to be the same length as a Y edge to be the same length as a Z edge using the same tool to set both relationships.
And this is coming from somebody who refuses to use proprietary CAD as a matter of principle at this point, and therefore really, really wants to like FreeCAD.
Lol. While I appreciate the insight, “lack of familiarity” is the “skill issue” of open source projects. I’ve got plenty of experience with both, and I’ve regularly used blender for well over a decade now (which is why I dislike it so very much).
Toby models are fun and speed modeling is a useful way to train, but performance in speed modeling does not equate to usefulness as a design tool. We used to do speed modeling challenges in scad, and while a diverting way to build skills, it has absolutely no bearing on that suite’s usefulness when considering things like: complex assemblies, top-down/bottom-up design, rapid iteration, iterative design tools, surface modeling, parametric design… etc.
I know many people who speedmodel in Rhino, and while I respect the hell out of
the masochismtheir skill, it will never be my first choice for designing a functional part when I have other solidbody modeling tools to choose from. Similarly, I’d never use Alibre or Fusion for cosmetics or complex surface modeling of a part. They’re just not the right tool for the job.
I’m very lucky that I never used the commercial programs like fusion360, freecad feels like I’m a fumbling moron simply because I am, not because I need to get used to new software.
I like “I Like To Make Stuff” on Youtube, but it annoys the Hell out of me that he plugs Autodesk Fusion 360 all the time (to the point that he even sells his own course teaching how to use it). On the bright side, at least he uses Prusa instead of Bambu, but still, the Autodesk shilling is almost enough to make me quit watching his channel.
This goes beyond buying a printer. Most people buy a printer and then use it for years. I believe it’s necessary to get away from Bambu entirely.
That means no maker world. That means aggressively discourage others from buying bambu or using maker world. That means calling out online creators who promote Bambu or any of their products.
I believe it is necessary to send a very strong message that Bambu that does not and will not own the 3D printing community.
The thing is that they’ve dropped the ball. There are quite a few companies putting out printers that are objectively as convenient as a Bambu, for a third of the price, and others, like prusa and Snapmaker that have upstaged them with tool changers, which are way better than MMU machines, with negligible material waste, and orders of magnitude faster for multicolor. The maker scene is also alive and well- Vorons, VZbots, etc. allow you to make impressive machines, if you have some skills.
Can you recommend me a 3d printer or a few different ones to look into?
My applications will predominately be structural things, ie:
- Xbox controller attachments mount for my phone
- decorative guitar hooks
- custom shelving units
- gears for some electronic devices
- custom electronic cases
- figurines
- 3d toys (like mock guns, or just general odd things)
Snapmaker u1
Prusa core one
The whole Bambu Lab situation isn’t really a surprise. Always stay away from companies that want to be the “Apple” of their niche.
Start “open-ish”, gain traction, start abusing market position, start closing things off, become hostile to your customers…
Yep. It’s a shame. The overall product is great. But the violation and abuse of the AGPL is unacceptable.
Violation of *GPL is bread and butter for most of 3D printer companies, locking out users out of features they paid for and used is terrible though.
shrugs in PRUSA
If only a Prusa XL didn’t cost more than my car…
Use your XL to print a new car. Problem solved.
In fact I would download a car.
The MK4S costs more than my car.
That’s not an argument against PRUSA.
Not trying to be argumentative, genuinely wanting to learn. What other violations have there been (or are there currently)?
Here’s just one sample that came up when I searched for “3d printer GPL violation”
Violation of *GPL is bread and butter for most of CHINESE 3D printer companies
Very true
Have to admit I’m out of the loop. If I do have a Bambu printer, can I still use it in LAN mode with OrcaSlicer? Can I still use current firmware or do I need to downgrade?
This video from Louis Rossmann will get you caught up with the topic quickly: Bambu Lab: I’m reposting your code & I dare you to sue me. / Louis Rossmann / YouTube.com
is he often buying 3d printers?
I suspect how many printers he buys matters a lot less than the reach he has with his youtube channel for bambu’s financial reports.
Yeah, Jeff is one of the handful of seemingly decent, upright tech reviewers. He’s pretty trustworthy, so if he says something is crap, a lot of people are going to take it as gospel.
Shame on you for buying it in the first place. Writing was on the wall already.
Smelled funny from very early on. I wonder if now all those creators on the bambu payrole will pretend like nothing happened. Channels like CNC kitchen or Tom Sanladerer come to mind. But also 99% of all other channels, bambu seems to be sponsoring a shitton of channels. At least Jeff spoke out immediately. I suspect most will keep quiet.
