I had a play with Blender this week.
Bit of a steep learning curve (if you are only used to using CAD).
Anyway imported some STL's from Solidworks and randomly pressed buttons.
Result.......... well not perfect but it's OK I thought.
ömür tokman wrote:
I think it's pretty successful!
I installed it on the computer a few weeks ago, I'm experimenting sometimes but the blender felt a bit confusing to me. I want to learn very much.
Yes confusing is a good description, just seems alien. I tried the Step importer you can get but the files were terrible so stuck with with the STL.
The help manuals don't seem to help me much.
Best place I found to get moving was Youtube
I think this is the one I got started with Complete Beginners Guide to Blender 2.8 | Free course | Part 1 | The Interface - YouTube
For STL into blender I think it was this one to get me started (some oddities in it but it does show easily how to smooth STL and then add the sharp edges back in) HOW TO: Render a SolidWorks model in Blender - YouTube
This one (even though it's out of date, probably something more up to date somewhere) for adding colour/material to specific areas Blender Multiple Materials Tutorial Colouring Different Selections of Spheres Rings and Segments - YouTube
Richard Gergely wrote:
ömür tokman wrote:
I think it's pretty successful!
I installed it on the computer a few weeks ago, I'm experimenting sometimes but the blender felt a bit confusing to me. I want to learn very much.
Yes confusing is a good description, just seems alien. I tried the Step importer you can get but the files were terrible so stuck with with the STL.
The help manuals don't seem to help me much.
Best place I found to get moving was Youtube
I think this is the one I got started with Complete Beginners Guide to Blender 2.8 | Free course | Part 1 | The Interface - YouTube
For STL into blender I think it was this one to get me started (some oddities in it but it does show easily how to smooth STL and then add the sharp edges back in) HOW TO: Render a SolidWorks model in Blender - YouTube
This one (even though it's out of date, probably something more up to date somewhere) for adding colour/material to specific areas Blender Multiple Materials Tutorial Colouring Different Selections of Spheres Rings and Segments - YouTube
I know there's a lot of advice about not going to youtube to learn SW. I'd guess some of that may apply to Blender.
Two things may be helpful here. First John Stoltzfus, can you branch this discussion? And, Paul Salvador care to weigh in on those videos, and maybe give some other suggestions?
AFAIK, Blender does some things SW doesn't or can't and vice versa.
Matt Peneguy wrote:
Richard Gergely wrote:
ömür tokman wrote:
I think it's pretty successful!
I installed it on the computer a few weeks ago, I'm experimenting sometimes but the blender felt a bit confusing to me. I want to learn very much.
Yes confusing is a good description, just seems alien. I tried the Step importer you can get but the files were terrible so stuck with with the STL.
The help manuals don't seem to help me much.
Best place I found to get moving was Youtube
I think this is the one I got started with Complete Beginners Guide to Blender 2.8 | Free course | Part 1 | The Interface - YouTube
For STL into blender I think it was this one to get me started (some oddities in it but it does show easily how to smooth STL and then add the sharp edges back in) HOW TO: Render a SolidWorks model in Blender - YouTube
This one (even though it's out of date, probably something more up to date somewhere) for adding colour/material to specific areas Blender Multiple Materials Tutorial Colouring Different Selections of Spheres Rings and Segments - YouTube
I know there's a lot of advice about not going to youtube to learn SW. I'd guess some of that may apply to Blender.
Two things may be helpful here. First John Stoltzfus, can you branch this discussion? And, Paul Salvador care to weigh in on those videos, and maybe give some other suggestions?
AFAIK, Blender does some things SW doesn't or can't and vice versa.
... I'm a weekend Blender wannabe user ... it's packed with options and add-on's that makes my head spin...
Paul Salvador wrote:
Matt Peneguy wrote:
Richard Gergely wrote:
ömür tokman wrote:
I think it's pretty successful!
I installed it on the computer a few weeks ago, I'm experimenting sometimes but the blender felt a bit confusing to me. I want to learn very much.
Yes confusing is a good description, just seems alien. I tried the Step importer you can get but the files were terrible so stuck with with the STL.
The help manuals don't seem to help me much.
Best place I found to get moving was Youtube
I think this is the one I got started with Complete Beginners Guide to Blender 2.8 | Free course | Part 1 | The Interface - YouTube
For STL into blender I think it was this one to get me started (some oddities in it but it does show easily how to smooth STL and then add the sharp edges back in) HOW TO: Render a SolidWorks model in Blender - YouTube
This one (even though it's out of date, probably something more up to date somewhere) for adding colour/material to specific areas Blender Multiple Materials Tutorial Colouring Different Selections of Spheres Rings and Segments - YouTube
I know there's a lot of advice about not going to youtube to learn SW. I'd guess some of that may apply to Blender.
Two things may be helpful here. First John Stoltzfus, can you branch this discussion? And, Paul Salvador care to weigh in on those videos, and maybe give some other suggestions?
AFAIK, Blender does some things SW doesn't or can't and vice versa.
... I'm a weekend Blender wannabe user ... it's packed with options and add-on's that makes my head spin...
Sorry Paul, who on here knows more than you do? I think there could be a good value in having a post on the forum showing SW users some good Blender tips and tricks...Though, the SW people may lock it b/c I believe DS has competing products. But, it's worth a try.
Matt Peneguy wrote:
Paul Salvador wrote:
Matt Peneguy wrote:
Richard Gergely wrote:
ömür tokman wrote:
I think it's pretty successful!
I installed it on the computer a few weeks ago, I'm experimenting sometimes but the blender felt a bit confusing to me. I want to learn very much.
Yes confusing is a good description, just seems alien. I tried the Step importer you can get but the files were terrible so stuck with with the STL.
The help manuals don't seem to help me much.
Best place I found to get moving was Youtube
I think this is the one I got started with Complete Beginners Guide to Blender 2.8 | Free course | Part 1 | The Interface - YouTube
For STL into blender I think it was this one to get me started (some oddities in it but it does show easily how to smooth STL and then add the sharp edges back in) HOW TO: Render a SolidWorks model in Blender - YouTube
This one (even though it's out of date, probably something more up to date somewhere) for adding colour/material to specific areas Blender Multiple Materials Tutorial Colouring Different Selections of Spheres Rings and Segments - YouTube
I know there's a lot of advice about not going to youtube to learn SW. I'd guess some of that may apply to Blender.
Two things may be helpful here. First John Stoltzfus, can you branch this discussion? And, Paul Salvador care to weigh in on those videos, and maybe give some other suggestions?
AFAIK, Blender does some things SW doesn't or can't and vice versa.
... I'm a weekend Blender wannabe user ... it's packed with options and add-on's that makes my head spin...
Sorry Paul, who on here knows more than you do? I think there could be a good value in having a post on the forum showing SW users some good Blender tips and tricks...Though, the SW people may lock it b/c I believe DS has competing products. But, it's worth a try.
I wish I could help.. and I agree it's worth trying or using... I play with it and I'm amazed at what it can do!
I do not know anyone except past forum users who experimented with Blender (they're in the forum somewhere).
and, I'm sure there are Blender users and programmers which have/do use SW.
In imho.. one of the big bridges is it is so different... then.. a lot of 3D programs... and it reminds (and more different) of LightWave3D (
Modo is modernish off-shoot) in that it was also different and very powerful!
Blender has it's own identity.. and the author want's to keep it that way... yeah, they are that unique and that kewl!
This guy, tutor4u, does the best Blender tutorials I have come across if anyone's interested.
One thing people will find lacking is the very limited materials library with initial install of blender.
You soon find out after reading around is that you will need to get add-ons - some can be activated within the software others you will have to go to websites and download and activate.
Some are free, some are free/pay depending on what level and there are some that are pay only.
Currently I have
Blender kit https://www.blenderkit.com/
Material Library VX (activated in the software)
Blender kit also has models you can import. So if you want to put your Solidworks models on a table for a display you can probably find a free table model for instance.
Here was my first effort with Solidworks STL in Blender. A electric shower 'can', basically the container where the heater element warms the water.
The position of the lights was not amazing and there were still slight triangulation even after smoothing on the large curved areas. I think adjusting the Solidworks STL export would have sorted that.
The nylon grey material looks reasonably like it should.
If nothing else, while Covid is having a impact on Business, it gives me something to occupy myself when I have those low work load days.
I think it's pretty successful!
I installed it on the computer a few weeks ago, I'm experimenting sometimes but the blender felt a bit confusing to me. I want to learn very much.