Thanks for watching! Let me know if you liked the video, disagreed, agreed...? I love your comments.

OnShape is great, but it is important to know that if you want to own the rights to your creations, or use them commercially, then you have to bump up to at least the standard plan which was $1500 annually at last look. On their free plan all models are public and it specifies non-commercial use only. Definitely a great tool but those things can be deal breakers depending on your budget and project needs.

FYI, there is a 3D printing add-on for Blender that helps find and fix non-manifold geometry. I have really only just gotten started with blender, but it seems to work pretty well so far. I agree that it makes sense to learn blender along with a proper CAD program though. As you said, they're fundamentally different tools that serve different purposes.

My problem with Onshape is privacy. With blender or fusion360 you can keep the stuff you design private.

I'm actually not an 3D printing guy (at least for now), but I would say the Blender add-on mentioned is "CAD Sketcher" which really helped me to make correct house plan and keep it usable both for 2D and 3D view.

Just wanted to point out that there are non-destructive workflows for Blender. Chipp Walters is one of the guys that's worked on this. I think his Nitrox 3d workflow is meant to be used with vanilla blender. There are also plugins that help with this, like Meshmachine (though that plugin does a lot more than just non-destructive workgflows.) Blender is more of a 3d modeling, animation, and video toolbox than it is just a 3d animation software. You can use it to make models, animate models, composite video, edit video, do 2d animation with the grease pencil, sculpting (like with zbrush,) and even some parametric modeling with plugins like Cad Sketcher. While it's been a while since I've checked, it also had NURBS and metaballs which are not strictly mesh modeling features. NURBS are more akin to the models that parametric CAD software puts out. Metaballs were, as far as I can tell, a way to generate organic shapes that were then refined by sculpting. There's a lot to Blender, but at the end of the day, what software you use is up to your preferences and what you need out of it. Blender is a great option for making things that don't need a lot of precision or are more organic, even if you can use it to make precision mesh models. CAD, specifically parametric CAD, is great if you do need precision and the ability to iterate. Just my two cents.

I started using Blender years ago before I got into 3d printing. And for me personally, this is still the best program, with huge modeling capabilities. But there are few lessons for 3D printing. And at the level at which I use it, I did not find it at all. The biggest problem so far for me in modeling is rounding and chamfering, but mostly this is because I often model non-destructively. And I made the technical details. And unlike cad programs, I easily combine technical elements with artistic ones. It helps me a lot at work.

I started with Fusion and then jumped to FreeCAD. A lot of the Fusion workflow translated to FreeCAD (plus, I've had real mechanical engineering and design training so I already had a basic knowledge of the general workflow). Since I spend 3/4 of my computing life in Linux, using FreeCAD on my Linux platform without resorting to a VM was another plus. Aside from decorative minis just because, the bulk of my work is in the design and testing of engineered mechanical parts. FreeCAD gives me the power to handle even the most complex assembly that I need to create.

Blender and Onshape serve different purposes and excel in their respective domains. However, if you're seeking a middle ground, consider exploring Plasticity as an alternative option.

Open source software is always going to have the longevity factor and not come with licensing issues. Some software is going to have new features that make them stand out, but eventually the open source software will also implement those features and just be better.

Great video. I started using OnShape about a month ago and love the work flow. Still learning the advanced stuff like assemblies.

I agree with your observations between organic and parametric modelling. I prefer Freecad because it is NOT cloud based and my internet connection is not always reliable. I enjoy seeing different approaches to CAD modelling so welcome to the band of u-tube demonstrators.

I've been using FreeCAD, but Onshape seems cool. I might try it out. One thing I like about FreeCAD is that the parameters can be put into a spreadsheet and you can simply modify the spreadsheet to change the dimensions of things in the 3D model / sketch.

I tried onshape, and for a few simple objects it worked fine, but when faced with a more complex part in a project I encountered a few annoying bugs, so I went back to fusion. Mostly while trying to select things, or when I wanted to enter constraints and exact numerical values to multiple dimensions when placing simple geometric shapes in sketches.

Nice straightforward assessment. Blender is a visualization and animation application, whose modeling workflow is centrally geared towards creating meshes that deform well and play well with physically-based rendering. Those constraints simply do not apply to 3D printers, who, on the other hand, need more precision. Optimizing one application's architecture and UI for both is pretty much impossible. It's better to have two. 'Bye Bye Blender' is a bit harsh..😅.

I mostly knew that Blender was a mesh program and that Onshape was a parametric CAD program, but I am sure others who don't know will find this useful. I personally started using Fusion 360. I think a video about Marlin vs. Klipper would be interesting.

Finally! I was beginning to give up on looking for this video to post. Can't wait to dig in when I get home.

For those interested in Blender for 3DP, I recommend taking a look at CAD Sketcher add-on, which allows for a fully parametric, non-destructive workflow. MakerTales has some great videos about CAD Sketcher as well as precision mesh modeling in Blender.

If you ditch Blender or preferer Others to Blender it is up to you but just remember that Blender has been and will always be a game changer as far as content goes! Free and has all you need xx

Thanks for the inside look. Was struggling to chose a software for me because its such a diverse topic to get into. This will surely give me a better look at those 3D modeling softwares. Cheers!

I’d be really interested in seeing more tutorial or “learn with me” type videos on Onshape. I started 3D printing less than 1 month ago. From the start I had some very specific builds in mind for my kit car. I found Onshape in exactly the same way via the teaching tech videos, which are excellent. I’m already up and running designing parts that I imagined may take me many, many months, if not years, to learn how to do. It’s an excellent product with a reasonable learning curve, but there’s loads I’m still to learn.

For me OpenSCAD works great, I really like I can import any STL to re-mix and build off other components. I want to learn FreeCAD, and Blender for their different use strengths.

I'm ditching Blender because they didn't sponsor this video.

When a co-worker started 3Dprinting he started off with Onshape over a year ago, so when I recently got my MegaZero (and now Ender 3v2) I jumped right into Onshape since I've been watching/learning from my Co-Worker for the last year. So I've not tried anything else, but so far it has been working well for me

It's worth noting that there are a few ways (probably more) to turn non-manifold geometry into manifold geometry in Blender. There are a few modifiers that make this very easy. For example, if you have a model that your slicer is complaining about, you can apply the "Remesh" modifier in Blender and then adjust the voxel size to get the definition you want - this will work because the modifier is looking at volume, not necessarily if the geometry is really clean. Remesh will also work on just a collection of shapes - you only have to join them into one object before applying the Remesh modifier. Remesh won't add "thickness" to non-manifold geometry - so - add a "Solidify" modifier first, then the Remesh (or just rearrange them in the stack). If your model is getting kind of angular, add a Subdivision Surface higher in the stack, etc, etc. You can even have live booleans for holes and things like that (the live boolean allows you to move the hole or other feature around at will). Finally, you can add a Decimate modifier at the bottom of the stack if you need to export a lower-resolution model. When you export to STL, Blender will apply all of the modifiers before exporting - which allows you to keep your model "live" to make any adjustments you might need later on. Having said that, I still use Plasticity for models that require a bit more precision and more flexible surfacing. I guess at the end of the day, you just use the tool that works the best for you :)

I use parametric modeling in Blender all the time. I use modifiers to create my models, which is more or less how parametric CAD works. Also, in the newer versions, geometry nodes are even more powerfull and are fully parametric. When using booleans, the result usually is watertight unless you do some strange things.

Personal bookmarks shared : 1:29 choices 1:37 few weeks 2:10 organic 3:10 manifold 5:38 unusable constraint 7:40 online, smartphone 8:50 CADsketcher addon ++++ 9:45 manifold 10:30 organic 10:48 reference image

Definitely would be interested in more on shape videos!

Great video man! I could really relate to the confusion of picking the right software to invest my time into. For me things really kicked into gear when I swallowed my pride and just started using TinkerCad. Finally started designing instead of just learning. I plan to learn to use others as well, but for now TinkerCad is fast and easy for what I need. Was hoping that you would cover TinkerCad more in this video. Since this is the first video that actually answers the real questions I have about the differance between programs and why/when to use which.

I wish there was a free and open-source CAD application that didn't suck like FreeCAD. I love the interface of Fusion360, so that's what I use for parametric modelling. For organic shapes and other more artsy models, I prefer Blender. Cad Sketcher for Blender is also looking promising, but it needs a lot more time in the oven.

I worked with Onshape for several months before buying my first 3D printer. Since then I can count on one hand the number of models that I have directly printed from someone else's design. I've mostly designed all of my own prints, and only very occasionally modified someone else's design for my own particular purpose. If you haven't started already, I highly recommend learning one of these CAD packages. It's very rewarding seeing your design develop and progress to a final working printed part.

I think you nailed it. I can't tell you how many times I've wound up with non-manifold geometry through no fault of my own after using the Boolean modifier in Blender. It's especially painful if you're designing a part with a manifold inside another manifold (e.g. a hollow sphere).

Kind of amusing to hear FreeCAD being labeled "simple" alongside TinkerCAD... FreeCAD is super powerful, but the learning curve to unlock that power (knowing which workbench has the tool you need, and which tools are compatible and incompatible with which other tools) is quite steep. This learning curve can be quite off-putting to many people. MangoJelly here on KZfaq has quite a few really good tutorials if you want to get into FreeCAD. I chose to go FreeCAD for my parametric designs because of the offline aspect. I don't have to rely on someone else keeping their servers up to use FreeCAD, but I do recognize the cost of not having any collaboration tools beyond sharing files (and the headaches of version tracking) available.

@The Next Layer , I just went to checkout onshape and I now remember why I did never learn the free version and that is because all your files are "public" as it states its a public document so if you wanted to build something for a idea that you do not want public then you have to pay. This is why I learnt Fusion 360 and I just pay a month subscription when needed and then I can download my files.

Will be really interesting to have a sort of course to use the program great.

I'm new to self design for 3D printing, so looking to start learning a CAD program to use.

I would love to see real world idea to product design. Like if you see you need something around the house, start recording and go through the design process to final print.

Nice green screen work in this one. For me, I've been doing me personal designs in OpenSCAD, but I have been wondering if it might be faster in something a little more visual. I'm leaning towards FreeCAD I think

thank you i just started a costume headphone design and i need something structural and realized it was difficult to get everything in the correct dimensions for accurate printing. just subbed the channel

I’ve been using my printer a week and already I’m at that point where I search for something and it’s either paid for or not there, as much as I love supporting creators I only have so much money and I’d rather spend it on resin. So finding a software I can use to create things all the way down to hairs on a foot would be lovely

I'd love to hear your perspective of the privacy / ownership options in onshape. While you compare blender to onshape free tier (...they promise it will always be free...), I feel onshape has two very big "flaws" in the free tier: One point for me is that all models in the free tier are public to everyone. While I probably could live with that, there's also the "ownership" point: The pricing table lists "Document ownership: public" for the free tier, which to me sounds like I do not own my model, and thus cannot attach a license to it. Do you have an opinon on that? (Thomas Salanderer has an opionion about that here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iZ-YoMxi0cu5Yqc.html)

I’m a big fan on Onshape. I’m an engineer and I used Solidworks, NX, AutoCAD, and Creo. Onshape is just so easy to use. I do all of my DIY stuff in Onshape. If I ever start my own engineering company, Onshape would be my choice.

Advanced Solidworks user here. So CAD software = NURBS based (Non Uniform Rational B-Splines) , 3D graphics Software = Mesh based (triangles). If you're designing building parts via machines (CNC, 3DP), learn to CAD, if you're doing digital animation, video FX and the occasional 3D print, go with Mesh based software. Still waiting for the holy grail that does both :)

Fully agree. I had to learn both, FreeCAD and Blender to get what I wanted.

I use Onshape now, but before that I used FreeCAD. I still prefer FreeCAD for modding existing STL's since working with STL as input in Onshape is pita. In worst case, FreeCAD for import STL, convert to STEP and this STEP import to Onshape. In short, when you compare FreeCAD and Onshape (ridiculous, isn't it? :-) ), Onshape is not able to work with STL as input file. Not even close as FreeCAD can. Or, which is possible cause, I still didn't found how to do in Onshape process similar to FreeCAD: Part-> "Create shape from mesh" -> "Refine shape" -> "Convert to solid". Which is imho essential when you want to call CAD "it can work with STL as input".

I'm invested in Blender at this point. I think it's a safe bet because ultimately as I actually get good at using it there are endless possibilities and complete control over my models. I've found that Merge by Distance, Recalculate Normals, and then the 3D print plugin Check All > Make Manifold cleans up what I have been doing, at least so far. But as I use it I can tell that my workflow is inefficient and overly complicated. I am also remixing existing models most of the time. I come from an AutoCAD background and was surprised at how obscure doing simple things seems to be in Blender, however, and I bet OnShape is more akin to my workflow in AutoCAD so I will probably look into a parametric suite at some point.

As a Mechanical Engineer MCAD is life haha And gotta say Onshape is slowly becoming a world beater not only for it's modeling tools but also on the backend the integrated PDM/PLM tools are just incredible

I use onshape. It was easier for me to learn it, and the fact that it could be used thru different devices also is of great help. Other reasons also make it my favorite, but I will try blender since you mentioned that organic shapes may be easier to do on it.

I use Blender all the time. It's very versatile. The entrance to cad in blender is hard on the other hand. To use Blender efficiently to 3Dmodle for 3DPrinting, I think it's important to understand the behavior of many processes deeply. For example, the way that the boolean modifier merges or cuts meshes. Iterating and editing design's in Blender is insanely fast for me. If you commit on using blender for technical modeling. There is a massive barrier to overcome, after which you learned to use this tool to create any shape you can imagine, without thinking of a way to build this shape but create it with ease instead.

Great video. I’ve been using Fusion 360 off and on since 2016, but would love to learn Blender for more artistic projects

I don't use any plug ins but I've also used blender on and off since highschool. I usually export as an FBX or something everything can interpret. And sometimes for good measure I recalculate outside faces to ensure everything is pristine. Missing faces is a you problem though as booleans and most modifiers I've used never seem to cause that issue.

I use Blender for nearly everything, including as a parametric CAD tool. Modifiers allow non destructive modeling workflows typical of CAD software, and using keyframes allows creating some sort of "snapshot" of each shape before making changes to the geometry, even though that's not its intended purpose. The trick is to find the functions which do what you need, which is still a challenge in Blender, as it doesn't offer presets like "engineering", "cartoon", "interior design", etc. Same with materials, something as simple as selecting "glass" in Cinema 4D requires lots of manual tweaking in Blender unless using someone else's pre-made material library. If there would be one tool that does it all, I'd say it's Blender, but that means dealing with so many settings and options that it often requires finding tutorials to do simple tasks because it can be difficult to find or remember some procedures. Regardless of my personal preference, my advice would be to try as many programs as possible to find the best one for the job at hand.

I went the other way round. I used solidworks for years but then wanted a career change into more artistic areas and learned blender. CAD software will be much better for this sort of thing as its non destructive however you can still get modelling errors instead of non manifold issues. For example if you roll your tree back and edit a sketch the model is based off and remove lines that features are relying on for instance those features become errors. As long as you fix them it should be fine but if you build on top of such errors things can turn very ugly.

Fantastic video! I really liked how you objectively compared these two tools. It is really daunting for a newcomer to navigate the strengths and weaknesses of these different types of tools! I am involved with a free and open source project called build123d that is a type of CodeCAD (think OpenSCAD) but has elements of OnShape e.g. sketching/filleting/chamfering.

I like Designspark mechanical. A lot like solid edge, different in some ways to Fusion, easy to learn and stable. Can be parametric if you want that. Free, not sure about privacy of models. Thanks for the “heads up” on Blender, really appreciate that I don’t have to waste time learning it unless I really have to.

I've been enjoying learning Onshape; apart from a couple atempts at Sketchup a few years it's the only CAD software I've used. Maybe I'll put it to use in a professional setting someday, for now I just fiddle with making little display stands and one-off tools to print on my little resin printer.

I've been using OpenSCAD for years and have been very happy with it. But for organic shapes, I've been wanting to learn Blender. Just haven't got to it yet. Liked your video.

WOW, seriously? See how you are and thanks for showing me what you are really all about!

I'd still stick to Fusion 360 as it allows me to work on the go without an internet connection. And on top as a student, I get the full access for free. For me it was like a week to get used to it and since then I could further develop my skills

Hi, have anyone tried both plasticity and onshape? Would love to hear the objective comparison, the pros and cons between those two

OpenSCAD works well for me. It is simple, straightforward, and all on my computer. It’s usually overlooked because it’s different than all the others. I’ve had no manifold problems!!!

Does it bother you that if you use the free version of onshape that you do not own your design anymore?

I was surprised by how easy it is to learn parametric software. Started with Blender, now mostly using Fusion. Mainly because my focus shifted art like projects to more engineering style

lol I watched the same vid series by teaching tech and started using onshape. I love it. Best feature is autosaving changes to the cloud and being able to 3d cad anywhere I want export a stl/step to via my phone and load it up remotely to my 3d printer.

You should absolutely do a tutorial series for onshape!

I will take all the onshape tutorial content I can get!!! Teaching Tech is also why I chose it and his tutorials have saved my sanity lol. I've even considered taking an online course but I'd love more 3d printing related content.

I saw the same tutorial series as I was trying to figure out what cad software to use with my new 3d printer

Good video. I have to admit for the type of shapes I create, which are organic shapes primarily intended for 3d printing with SLS (no supports), Blender is fantastic. However, it tends to require special modeling care when creating hard surface objects to exact dimensions. There's definitely some forethought and modeling considerations which needs to be implemented to avoid non-manifold topology while also maintaining a perfectly accurate water-tight mesh. There are some plugins that can help accomplish this in Blender, but of course it would be much easier in a capable NURBS environment. I used to work with FormZ and Rhino, but Onshape looks interesting.

I have been using Onshape in a professional environment for 6 years now. I started with the free version and learned CAD as a hobbiest, I put around 500 hours into the program in the first 6 months. I guess that amount of usage flagged sales team and I was bombarded with VERY aggressive pressure to upgrade to a commercial license, they threatened to close my account so I would lose access to all of my files, it's felt very predatory and has left a bad taste in my mouth ever since. Fortunately I was able to retain my account after convincing my company that the professional subscription was worth it for us. Just be aware that the guys are ruthless and will hold your files hostage, my only saving grace was the fact that I had a company fit the bill, if you are a prolific hobbiest, maybe look elsewhere.

FreeCAD.

I recall Onshape having a issue years ago. I think it was a change to the TOS. Maybe that was when they reduced what you could do with the free level, or they increased their prices, I can't recall right now. I used Fusion 360 a few years ago, and then they went to a subscription model. It might be challenging, but learning to use Blender is probably worth it.

There's always a guy out there with a beanie telling us he's quitting something 😂

Fusion 360 because the models are mine and do not have to be shared with the world. That and offline capabilities. Although my kids have lower end laptops so I may show them Onshape.

Ahh yes. Ditch the free and go with the $1.5k annual cost. Big brain energy. Sometimes the YT recommendations are good, but sometimes are pure trash.

I have found having a few tools in the toolbox makes 3D modelling smoother but it is all subjective. I personally use blender as it has add-ons that allow for almost everything and the community is always looking at ways to improve the software. The best way is to experiment with different free programs and find one that works for you.

Does onshape do CAM? I've got a router and plasma cutter i have to make tool paths for and not just 3d printing.

Thanks you so much for this information and presentation! I have been resisting going with Shapr3D, but its licensing is not friendly by any means for Hobbyists/Makers. I have a very likely alternative and while I am still learning Blender and can do some things in it, ease of use and reducing the chances of problems with the miniatures/terrain enhancements is greatly desired. Thanks again!

One question. Oneshape is some hybrid of CAD and Blender? For mechanical and parametric stuff I am using Autocad, for design, quick modeling blender. Thank you.

onshape sends all your web based data to them too ? i.e. everything you design in it gets shared with them?

Hey would Onshape be good for making transformer toys? Because I am trying to see what software is good

dude, my 6-day struggle with precise design and exporting ended today in the matter of hours. Zero experience in CAD tools, nearly zero experience designing my own parts and yet here I am 3 hours later finishing my functional and printable skate baseplate. blendr never supposed to work for this stuff. huge kudos to onshape for keeping this pro grade tool accessible

I was turned onto Onshape by your previous videos. I am using this in conjunction with Fusion 360. I am a engineering designer by trade so CAD comes naturally to me but I have noticed that Onshape does not handle dxf or dwg files well and when I have those models or I have to follow an somewhat organic design I use Fusion 360. I am in the process of learning the great ways of making a part and being able to make it any size with Onshape. Good luck all. Even coming from a CAD background it can become overwhelming.

Super helpful. Thank you!

Very balanced presentation. And, I learned something, especially that I was confused about the "manifold" issue. I have encountered this in the past, and didn't understand completely what was going on. But yes, meshes are fraught with problems and can be a time waster, whereas parametric modeling is IMHO easier to grasp.

Comparing Blender and OnShape is an apples and oranges comparison. They are for different things. Comparing OnShape to FreeCAD, TinkerCAD, Fusion 360, etc. would have been more useful.

Thank you for telling us about OnShape. I love Blender and like you said it has its place. But now that I'm learning OnShape it will be my default tool for 3d printing.

There is also MOI(not free but quite reasonable and you don't need a subscription).Also a new entrant is Plasticity which is well priced and looks like it would be easy to learn and particularly good for fillets which are a problem with some CAD programs.

I use Rhino 3D what are your thoughts?

Hi, thank you for posting this video, I will share my experience as Mechanical Engineer who used CAD software for more than 9 years (Solidworks) and Blender for more than 5 years, in both rendering and 3D printing. - //// Blender in 3D printing ////: • Pros: - (Free to use) • (easy to learn) • (easier than CAD to model complicated shapes) • ( great community, they are helpful) • (Tons of great free learning resources) • (done complicated shapes faster than CAD software) • (Easy to 3D print without any problem, will explain the way later) • (has many 3rd party plugins to facilitate and speed modeling) • (can create non destructive models) • Cons: - (need experience to create measurable model) • (can't replace CAD software for accurate models unless you are using 3rd party CAD addon) • ( need to scale up the model after you finish it 100 times - as my own experience which maybe i'm missing something-) • (need to be careful if there is 2 objects or more, for example if you want to create Mechanical model with joints or movable parts you need to choose the right space between them so they doesn't fused with the wrong part, later will explain) • (sometimes you can't chamfer or bevel the model duo to topology issue, you can fix it but will take time) - ///// Solidworks (CAD software) any CAD software in general in 3D printing ////: • Pros: - ( great for creating specific parts to fit in real life use) • ( easy to create simple to mid level models) • (fast to 3D print without using extra steps) • (Smooth models) • ( easy to bevel and chamfer the edges) • (No need topology) • ( Non destructive) • Cons: - (Difficult for complicated shapes, for example Car design) • (there is some difficulty to create in 3D space, you need to create planes to draw on it) • (few free and great resources) • (IDK about any community) that's for what I can remember now, as for 3D printing issue with Blender, whenever you finished your models, if you are using Windows 10 and more as far as I know, there is software in your computer called "3D Builder", after exporting your models from blender open 3D builder then import your model, it will fix it and prepare it for 3D printing immediately, the software close the holes in you models and fuse any intersecting objects to one object. I hope this helpful, if there is any comment to correct me please do, I'm still learning. the more tools you have the less constrains you will face.

For manifold issues I try meshmixer's solidfy function

I learnt blender as a hobby to create some logos and animations but i never thought of it as CAD tool. For CAD modelling i always used a proper CAD tool like AutoDesk Inventor, PTC Creo, CATIA SolidWorks, FreeCAD, SketchUp Pro,

Great but, what about SolidWorks, or Sketchup? I use Blender, SW, Sketchup, depending on what I want to design but, could you compare SolidWork with OnShape?

I also use F360. I don't know if it's easier or harder than OnShape, but it feels pretty easy for me and I enjoy working with it. I don't enjoy the slow lock down of paid features. So maybe I'll give onshape a try

Sorry, where can I find the video you show at min 10:40 about the giraffe? Thanks

I dropped Fusion 360 for Blender so I can keep the rights to my own designs. Ultimately it came down to control, and Blender gives me complete freedom to do what I want with my designs. Can't beat that, but to each their own.

i love onshape, used it for cad class

thanks for the help.

I’m currently having problems in blender because it’s not staying symmetrical even with it selected. Then when I figured out how to re set the symmetry it left holes in my design.

Have you tried CAD Sketcher plugin for Blender? I would be interesting to hear your thoughts on that one, since you already have quite some experience using blender for 3D printing modeling.

Blender and Onshape are different purpose. One for the animation and free hand modeling. One for the engineering and precise modeling.