3D Printing for Boat Parts

[techmitch]

There are online services where if you send them a file they will print the piece for you. My question is, what software are folks useing to create the files? Looking for something that will run on a Mac and does not require a computer science degree to understand. Ironically, I have a computer science degree.

And you still bought a mac?

 

[Ramblin' Guy]

We use Creo at work. I’ve heard SolidWorks is easier. Supposedly Google create is cheap & good enough.

 

[bobeast]

And you still bought a mac?

Yeah. I know. I should be using a Pretend Computer

 

[jmauld]

Tinkercad.com is as simple as it gets.
Openscad if you want to “code” a design
Fusion360 otherwise.

 

[Nater Potater]

Yeah. I know. I should be using a Pretend Computer

Here, all along I thought it stood for Piece of Crap

 

[bobeast]

Tinkercad.com is as simple as it gets.
Openscad if you want to “code” a design
Fusion360 otherwise.

Thanks. I'll check those out.

 

[Smashpjp]

Yeah. I know. I should be using a Pretend Computer

Comical, as most of the developers/software engineers/PMs etc all use macbooks. Im on my third pre-IPO SV startup right now (1 previos went IPO, 1 did not, this one will) and its the primary supported device. Deff a west coast thing. I run a macbook as my mobile and win11 as desktop because I am a masochist. This is my third macbook pro and it is the best hardware platform for on the road, hands down.

 

[Escapade]

Been using services for years at our business. I use a service down the road from me in Pewaukee, WI They just delivered a medical housing 30"+ long X 12" X 8" deep. We scuffed it and sealed w/ a high build primer and a top coat. You would think it is injection molded. For out Multi function displays we had the guts on the rotary knob printed. Just swapped them out.

 

[Escapade]

Been using services for years at our business. I use a service down the road from me in Pewaukee, WI They just delivered a medical housing 30"+ long X 12" X 8" deep. We scuffed it and sealed w/ a high build primer and a top coat. You would think it is injection molded. For out Multi function displays we had the guts on the rotary knob printed. Just swapped them out.

As far as software to generate We have seats of Solidworks, Surfcam, and Powermill.

 

[Escapade]

From time to time, We have problems holding down parts for secondary machining. Here is an example of a Printed vacuum fixture. The main body area has thousands of micro holes to grab the part under vacuum while the outer edges are closed with no holes acting like a gasket. This was designed with solidworks and printed over the weekend.
The company we use is Evology MFG.

 

[Irie308]

Making some progress on a new version of vent diverters for the forward berth AC. Not completely happy with these but it’s a big improvement over my previous one.

This is actually a good design. Curious if you got it to where you wanted?

 

[jmauld]

No, I never was happy with the design and just let it slip.