Software to create 3D models?

[shilala]

I'm just starting out, retiring to my wood shop and Shopbot. I've been studying and watching tutorials on all the software I have, and I'm pruning out things that aren't useful, meaning all the features are available in other software I have.
Impatience (and a well needed break :)) brings me to this question...
What software is suggested, or just plain good for creating 3D models for importing into Aspire, or whatever tool path software I'm using?
I'm sure I already have what I need, I just want to pare down the studying time and leave more time for making sawdust.

The software I have are these...
Partworks 3.5
Partworks 3D
Artcam 2008
Vcarve Pro
Photovcarve
Cut 2D
Cut 3D
Aspire
Rhino
Cabinet Vision

I haven't even looked at the last two yet, I understand Rhino may do what I need? I'm guessing Artcam will, as well?
Should I look for something else?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I should probably say that my ultimate goal is to render artwork that my friend does into workable models that I can build into Humidors. Of course there's lots more ideas, but that's one that's most pressing.
Aside from that, I'd just like to take plain old jpegs and turn them into vectors, or maybe into 3D models if I think I'd like a bit more relief.
Sorry for rambling on. :)
Back to studying. You guys know stuff!!!

[Brady Watson]

You've got over $30,000 in software listed...and you haven't looked at all of them yet? :rolleyes:

-B

[shilala]

No I haven't, Brady. I've only started working with my machine in the last couple weeks, got it a couple months ago.
I hadn't finished building my shop when it arrived, and had a number of other projects to tie up before I could devote all my attention to the Shopbot and software.

[Brady Watson]

Creating good 3D models from scratch takes time and effort. You can also invest in 3D digitizing equipment to replicate existing 3D designs or send it out to be scanned if you are not up to creating it from scratch. You can also purchase reliefs already created that just need to be machined, such as those by Vector Art 3D (http://www.vectorart3d.com/)

Designing in 3D is just like learning an instrument. You have to start with the basic chords and build upon them until you learn how to play the right tune. It takes a lot of practice, desire and deliberate focus to draw good 3D. Your best bet would be to focus on learning Aspire or ArtCAM, and Rhino.

-B

[Rob Gunn]

Scott, 1 year ago I was where you are now. This is what I ended up doing, maybe it will help you decide. I found that 80% of what I needed to cut on my ShopBot was 2D (profile cuts and lettering). I realized that VCarve pro for $600 would do practical all that I needed and it is VERY east to use. The remaining 20% of what I need to cut would be true 3D. I use the free toolpath software from Vector Art 3D and rely on there pre-existing 3D art that is very reasonable in price. I don't want to sound like a Vector Art 3D salesman but I can say that it works great for what I need. Down the road if I find that I need to jump all the way into more custom 3D work and draw my own models then I can always up-grade my VCarve to a full Aspier package. Good luck and happy cutting!

[zeykr]

Partworks 3.5
Partworks 3D
Artcam 2008
Vcarve Pro
Photovcarve
Cut 2D
Cut 3D
Aspire
Rhino
Cabinet Vision

Partworks 3d and Cut 3d are the same software.
Aspire contains everything Partworks 3.5, vcarve pro, and cut 2d do.

So of the first 8 you list, only ones to look at are Aspire and Artcam, possibly cut3d for special applications. They both do similar things, though methodology and corporate ideology is somewhat different - look at a few tutorials for each and pick one to focus on.

Rhino is more of an engineering software and may be better at that type of thing than aspire or artcam which have an artistic bent.

Cabinet vision is great software, but is cabinet and closet specific.

[shilala]

Thank You, Gentlemen. You've answered my questions perfectly.

I have a digitizing probe, Brady. I got with the machine, with the thought of doing just as you mentioned. I looked at Vector Art 3D and their 3D Machinist software a couple nights ago, it was referenced in a training video. I have lots of flourishes and models that came along with software, I need to look at those more closely. Ultimately we want to be able to do custom 3D pieces (we being a friend and I) that can be incorporated into projects, so stepping past stock models is a must.

The 3D modeling will wait till this winter, but in the meantime I can get a lot more acquainted with Aspire, and now I have a plan, thanks to the help from you guys.
Cut2D is very easy, and it will serve me to make some signs and parts as I study. I can only read and watch so much video before I go nuts. :)

I can put my buddy on Artcam and Rhino and see if he can get anywhere, he's going to be doing all the artwork that we incorporate into things we're making, so he's ultimately going to need to understand one of those. He can catch me up when the time comes. If he can make the models, I can create the toolpaths and do the slicing, etc.
I did manage to create relief on a .jpg with Artcam, but it was reversed and I couldn't fix it. I'm guessing the familiarity I get with Aspire will go a long way toward learning Artcam, or at least I hope. :)

[curtiss]

Like any software... there are probably a few hundred things you can do with it, but you need to learn the 25 most useful items first.

Usually this involves someone showing you a few things in person.

From there, you pick up things a few items at a time over a few years.

[zeykr]

If you get good at Aspire you won't need Artcam and Vice-Versa. Pick one and stick to it, no need to learn both.

Cut 2d is just a watered down portion of Aspire. I'd remove Partworks 2D and 3d, Cut 2d, and Vcarve pro from your machine and just use Aspire (Aspire is just those things combined plus the ability to create 3d). Keep cut3d in reserve in the off chance you need it for multi sided maching, but ignore it till the need arises.

I personally think it would be best if you and your buddy both choose the same software - Aspire or Artcam, that way you can help each other learn. They both basically meet the same need and sound like what you need for your 3D designs for humidors etc.

Take up Rhino if you have a need for precision engineered type products, but I'd leave it for now till you get good at either Artcam or Aspire.

Notice I did not make a public recommendation between Aspire and Artcam - both have their ardent supporters here and to ask that question - which is better - will bring a lot of opinions. Each has it's strong points, but you can do the job with either. I just wouldn't try doing it with both - do a little research and pick one of them to learn for now. My guess is you'll never need the other if you do.

[Joe Porter]

Scott, I notice that you're in Ohio. Vectric (Aspire) is having a user group meeting in Cinncinatti this October. You might want to go to their web-site (www.vectric.com) and study up on it and maybe attend. I have been to two of these meetings and they are very informative. . Good luck, joe

[shilala]

Thanks for that, Ken.
I've been working with Aspire all day, I'm making a 3d sign. I'm mostly guessing at commands, I haven't studied up much yet, but I noticed I can do anything on there that I can do on the Cut2D and Cut3D and VCarve.
I love the support videos and documentation that comes along with Aspire, the gentlemen who made the videos are as good as they come. They've pretty much made a fanboi out of me already.
That's a good suggestion on the Rhino/Artcam/Aspire situation. So far I don't see all the versatility in Aspire that I see in Artcam, but the interfaces may just make one look less advanced than the other? I'll let Shane look at the 3 and see what he thinks. I'm sure I can lead him towards Aspire, but if he wants to model in Artcam, that's fine by me. Whatever works for him, right?
I'm going to stick with Aspire and just keep at it until I get dangerous.
I have absolutely no background in cnc anything, but it's been very easy to pick up, so far. Outside of missing really, really obvious things, like translating the x and y axis from my software to the machine, I've really not had any hitches. I've got a lot of career experience that translates and my Dad was a machinist, as well as my brother, for awhile. I spent a lot of time in a machine shop when I was a kid.
It's going to take a lot of experience to pick the correct tooling and depths and things like that, but that sure doesn't come in a few days. :)
Having you guys to lean on is absolutely priceless. I'm certain I'd be getting nowhere fast without all I've read here and the suggestions I've gotten.
It's really impossible to thank you all enough.


If you get good at Aspire you won't need Artcam and Vice-Versa. Pick one and stick to it, no need to learn both.

Cut 2d is just a watered down portion of Aspire. I'd remove Partworks 2D and 3d, Cut 2d, and Vcarve pro from your machine and just use Aspire (Aspire is just those things combined plus the ability to create 3d). Keep cut3d in reserve in the off chance you need it for multi sided maching, but ignore it till the need arises.

I personally think it would be best if you and your buddy both choose the same software - Aspire or Artcam, that way you can help each other learn. They both basically meet the same need and sound like what you need for your 3D designs for humidors etc.

Take up Rhino if you have a need for precision engineered type products, but I'd leave it for now till you get good at either Artcam or Aspire.

Notice I did not make a public recommendation between Aspire and Artcam - both have their ardent supporters here and to ask that question - which is better - will bring a lot of opinions. Each has it's strong points, but you can do the job with either. I just wouldn't try doing it with both - do a little research and pick one of them to learn for now. My guess is you'll never need the other if you do.

[shilala]

Thank You, Joe!!!
I will definitely look it up and see to it that I'm there. My wife has suggested I get to some of those sorts of things, I've just been entirely too busy. October would be perfect.

Scott, I notice that you're in Ohio. Vectric (Aspire) is having a user group meeting in Cinncinatti this October. You might want to go to their web-site (www.vectric.com) and study up on it and maybe attend. I have been to two of these meetings and they are very informative. . Good luck, joe

[michael_schwartz]

Start out with ONE program, and become proficient with it before purchasing, and or learning another. Aside from mechanical or physical limitations CNC equipment is limited only by what you can do with the software package that you have chosen. In a few years, you will understand much more about your machine, what you use it for, and what your needs are. Get some experience, before you go out and buy a $20k software package. Its easy to make mistakes right now that you may regret later.

I waited a year before upgrading from PartWorks to Aspire. Aspire is easy enough that you can start working with it right away, and sometimes I wish I had bought it from the start, but this did narrow my focus down to the basics.

After using Aspire for a year and a half, I started working with E-Cabinets, and then I purchased the ShopBot link to go with it.

In a couple of years, a professional cad package (AutoCad) will be the next step that I take.

[WoodMarvels.com]

It really depends on what you want to do with the ShopBot (Desktop version can do FDM 3D printing) - 3D for me means Autodesk 3DS Max or Maya, MODO, Blender etc... but you can't cut these models using a "2.5D" machine. Like the other guys here, I also suggest you learn ONE software first then build your way up from there - start with the simplest too!

At the end of the day though, it takes skill and experience to build something neat... anybody can buy a pencil but not everybody can make a million dollars selling the art made with it. Buy lots of cheap plywood and just cut/design stuff everyday, that's the best way to learn. For vector creation, nothing beats Adobe Illustrator though - it's probably overkill (as is most CAD programs) but that would be my suggestion. After, import the vectors into partworks and cut away.

Jon

[shilala]

Thanks, Jon!!!
I have Adobe Illustrator, it came with CS5, I've just never had cause to use it. (Or learn it, for that matter.)
I have enough experience with a number of Adobe products that the learning curve would be relatively small. I'll give it a good look when the time comes.

I've really thrown myself into Aspire. I've watched just about all the video that Vectric has available, next stop will be YouTube. I'm guessing there are a lot of project-related videos there. I'm going to put the Aspire manual on my iPad so it'll be handy whenever or wherever I need it or want it.
Aspire is working out great. It's crazy intuitive and very well done. It's really been a joy to learn it, and although I have LOTS more to learn, that's a huge endorsement. I don't think I've ever said that about software in my life. :D

[wowhuh.mike]

Rhino and a 3d connexion 3d mouse is a very very powerful set of tools to have at your side. It will let you understand your model fully in three dimensions. It will take persistence and patience but I guarantee it can do everything you ask it to.