Vixiv will soon provide new software to optimize 3D printable designs.
cad
SP3D Expands Testing of AI-Powered 2D-to-3D Platform
THEIA converts simple 2D technical drawings into precise 3D models within minutes.
Backflip’s 3D Scan to CAD Could Disrupt Almost Everything
There are considerable implications from this week’s announcement of a 3D Scan to CAD service from Backflip.
New Research Identifies Key Workflow Improvements for 3D Concrete Printing
A new research paper explores the workflow used in 3DCP.
Backflip Introduces Revolutionary AI Tool for Automated CAD Modeling
I had a chat with Greg Mark about the incredible new release from his new startup, Backflip. Mark is the namesake behind a company you’ve likely heard of: Markforged. Mark and partners built that company up and cashed out a few years ago to start an entirely new company, Backflip. Backflip has been operating in… Continue reading Backflip Introduces Revolutionary AI Tool for Automated CAD Modeling
Autodesk Layoffs: Is AI Reshaping the Future of CAD and 3D Design?
Autodesk is to reduce its staffing by nine percent: is AI to blame?
nTop Takes a Major Step Toward AI-Powered Design with CloudFluid Acquisition
nTop is making a significant acquisition.
FreeCAD 1.0 Released: Open-Source CAD Tool Reaches Milestone
I didn’t notice until just today, but it turns out that FreeCAD 1.0 was released a couple of weeks ago.
Novineer: Topology Optimization with Editable CAD Models
We had a chat with Novineer, a new company offering 3D generative design software. The Daytona-based company is quite new, having been founded in 2022 by Dr. Ali Tamijani and Dr. Zhicao Wang. Tamijani had previously been a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. They began development of their product in 2023, and… Continue reading Novineer: Topology Optimization with Editable CAD Models
Introducing Dune 3D: A New Open-Source CAD Tool for Simplified 3D Design
There’s a new open-source 3D CAD tool on the loose: Dune 3D.
Hands on with Backflip.ai
Last week, Backflip’s AI-powered generative CAD system was revealed. We took it for a test drive.
Top 5 Beginner-Friendly 3D Printing Design Tools for Engineers
Comparing the best starting points for additive design in terms of features, support, ease of use and more.
Finally, You Can Buy SOLIDWORKS Online
Solidworks CEO Manish Kumar sheds light on the new sales strategy and shares what’s in store for Solidworks 2025.
New AI Technique Pioneers Accurate Mechanical 3D Model Generation Using BREP Geometry
Research is proceeding on ways to use AI techniques to generate solid mechanical 3D models.
The Fastest 3D CAD Modelers in the World
On TooTallToby.com, a passionate community of CAD enthusiasts are pushing themselves to be better modelers—and having fun along the way.
The Case for Learning CAD Before Purchasing Your First 3D Printer
What should you do first? Buy a desktop 3D printer or learn a CAD tool?
What are the Advantages of 3D CAD?
How about no confusion and accuracy, for starters.
Top Free and Low-Cost Professional CAD Software for 3D Printing Enthusiasts
What is the current state of “free” professional CAD tools for 3D modeling?
How will Autodesk use AI for Product Design?
A conversation with Stephen Hooper.
Alibre Atom3D: Affordable CAD Solution for 3D Printing Enthusiasts
There’s an inexpensive option for 3D CAD you may not have heard of: Alibre Atom3D.
KATALYST LABS Introduces Parametric Text-to-3D Tool to Simplify CAD Design
A new text-to-3D tool has surfaced with a big difference: it’s parametric.
LEAP 71 Proves Automated Rocket Engine Design: A Breakthrough in Computational Engineering
There’s been a major development for 3D printed aerospace: LEAP 71 has proven the viability of automatically designed rocket engines.
AI PCs are Here. Should Engineers Upgrade?
The latest generation of engineering computers features new neural processing units (NPUs) to give AI a computational boost—but not all users will benefit equally.
5 Dos and Don’ts for Anyone Learning Simulation Technology
NAFEMS’ top trainer gives advice for all CAE users.
What Software is Available for 3D Printing?
From beginner-friendly options to cloud-based collaborative CAD, these are some of the most popular software solutions for additive manufacturing.
Book of the Week: Sculpting in ZBrush Made Simple
This week’s selection is “Sculpting in ZBrush Made Simple” by 3D artist Lukas Kutschera.
Hands on With the Meshy.ai Text-to-3D Service
I’m looking at Meshy.ai, a new Text-to-3D service.
Book of the Week: Fusion 360 for Makers
This week’s selection is “Fusion 360 for Makers” by Lydia Sloan Cline.
Plasticity Blends Artistry with CAD in a User-Friendly 3D Modeling Tool
I’m looking at a new 3D modeling tool, Plasticity.
Rhino3D 8 Revolutionizes 3D Scanning with Innovative Shrinkwrap Function
Robert McNeel & Associates has released a new version of Rhino3D, version 8.
Hands on With Alpha3D’s AI 3D Model Generator
Alpha3D offers an AI-powered 3D model generator that works with text and images.
Spare Parts 3D’s Theia: Transforming Technical Drawings into Digital Inventories
Spare Parts 3D has developed a unique system for generating 3D models from technical drawings.
Introducing CADScribe: A Text-to-3D Tool for Quick 3D Parts Modeling
I’m looking at a new free online tool called “CADScribe”, which can seemingly generate 3D models.
AMAIZE AI Co-Pilot for AM to be Integrated into EOS Printers
The software from 1000 Kelvin promises to increase productivity and accelerate engineering speed.
Beyond CAD: ChatGPT’s Experiment Paves the Way for AI-Designed 3D Parts
Can you design any 3D printable part using ChatGPT? That’s the claim of a new experiment.
John Walker: The Entrepreneur Who Brought CAD to Desktops and Enabled 3D Printing’s Rise
Last week we lost John Walker, founder of Autodesk.
What are the Most Popular CAD Programs?
It depends who you ask.
Enabling Complex 3D Models for Industry and 3D Printing with Metafold
We had a chat with the folks from Metafold about their generative design tool.
Book of the Week: 3D Modeling and Printing with Tinkercad
This week’s selection is “3D Modeling and Printing with Tinkercad: Create and Print Your Own 3D Models” by James Floyd Kelly.
What is Parametric Modeling?
PTC made parametric modeling famous.
Will AI Finally Put the Aid in Computer-Aided Design?
Moribund software about to get an innovation boost from the AI tsunami.
Top Down, Bottom Up or Middle Out? What’s the Best Way to Model in Inventor?
An Inventor tutorial.
What’s New in Inventor 2024.2
2024.2 is an exceptionally loaded point release.
Trinckle: Simplified 3D Tooling Design Software for Non-CAD Users
Trinckle continues to innovate with a new version of their tool-making software.
Book of the Week: 200 3D Practice Drawings
This week’s selection is “3D PRINTING PROJECTS: 200 3D Practice Drawings For 3D Printing On Your 3D Printer” by Sachidanand Jha.
Blender 4.0 and Rhino 8 Debut Advanced 3D Tools
Last week saw two very popular 3D modeling software tools receive major upgrades.
Hexagon Introduces HxGN Additive Manufacturing Suite
Designed to support manufacturers’ adoption of AM on an industrial scale.
Rethinking Construction: The Potential of Generative Design for 3D Printed Buildings
I’ve been thinking about a new concept for designing 3D printed buildings that just might change the way we work and live quite a bit.
It’s Official, AI Simulation is Here! What Does it Promise?
First impressions of SimScale’s AI-based physics prediction technology.
Book of the Week: Mastering Fusion 360
This week’s selection is “Mastering Fusion 360” by Jake O Sugden and Joshua Manley.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 5 — All You Need is a Few Functions
With the rendering of implicit functions into the voxel field, we have created the ability to work with lattices and complex infills.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 4 Implicits
We will dive a bit into the technicalities of a Voxel-based kernel here, how do we interact with it?
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 3 — Voxels to the Rescue
Thanks to the previous articles, we should have a pretty good understanding of the reasoning behind Computational Engineering and the fundamental technology necessary to support it.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 2 — The Technology
After setting the stage in the first two installments of this series of article, let’s dive a bit deeper.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 1 — A Bit of History
Let’s define what Computational Engineering is and how it differs from the way we currently use computers to design physical parts.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Prologue
For the last decade, I have relentlessly pushed for a change in the way we humans engineer physical things. Our future depends on it.
Book of the Week: CAD Projects with Tinkercad
This week’s selection is “CAD Projects with Tinkercad” by Johannes Wild.
LEAP71: Exploring Computational Engineering in the 3D Space
LEAP71 announced a deal with The Exploration Company, but what’s this all about?
AI Startup Exposed: The Use of Humans in 3D Model Generation
A report on 404 Media reveals an AI startup was secretly using humans to generate 3D models.
With History-Based Modeling, Shapr3D Checks Off Another Box
Hungarian CAD company is completing its comparison to market leaders.
EOS North America Launches ‘Can I 3D Print This?’ Service
EOS North America announced today a new service called “Can I 3D Print This?”
Book of the Week: 400 CAD Exercises
This week’s selection is “400 CAD Exercises” by Sachidanand Jha.
3D Printing in the Years Ahead: A Glimpse into the AI-Powered Future of Desktop Printers
Last week I forecasted what a typical desktop FFF 3D printer of 2026 might look like. This week let’s go further ahead.
Top Assembly Features SOLIDWORKS Users Cannot Live Without
Assemblies, unlike parts, can benefit more from shortcuts than parts.
AI Meets 3D Scanning: How Scan to 3D Could Transform the 3D Printing Process
I’ve realized there is yet another way to leverage AI for 3D printing that might be easy to do.
3D Spark: Transforming the Manufacturing Process through Intelligent Analysis
3D Spark offers a service that can optimize part production for manufacturers.
CAD Is Not Natural: Making Organic Shapes with xShape
Jason Pohl and how xShape has changed his world of industrial design.
Onshape Holds an Online User Conference
Highlights and observations of Onshape Live 23.
Major Problems Ahead for 3D Model Repositories?
There could be a huge problem for 3D model repositories like Printables, Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory and others in the very near future.
CoreTechnologie’s Innovative 4D_Additive Software Streamlines CAx Processes
Thanks to intelligent 3D nesting, textured surface design, a sophisticated SLS build manager, and more.
AM-Flow Makes 3D Printing at Scale Simpler with Automation
3D printing at scale just might get a lot simpler with AM-Flow’s automation solution.
Text to 3D: The Massive Implications of Luma AI’s Imagine 3D Technology
This week Luma AI announced a new 3D model generation technology, that while crude today, will ultimately dominate in the future.
Hyperganic’s New Simulation Tech
Hyperganic announced a new and very speedy 3D simulation technology.
Siemens and BASF Create a Concept RV for Hymer
Hymer uses the Siemens Xcelerator software portfolio and BASF new materials to reimagine motor homes.
3D Printing and Canva
Charles R. Goulding and Valentina Alzate look at how Canva could relate to 3D printing.
Polygonica 3.2 Fills Critical 3D Printing Need by Accounting for Distortion
MachineWorks mesh management SDK gets a serious update.
There’s a Growing Focus on Post Processing
Post processing was for a long time the forgotten step in 3D printing. Now, that’s changing.
Intelligent Depowdering Is Here
I’m looking at a new solution from Solukon that can automatically depowder 3D prints.
Stratasys’ Latest Acquisition Increases Part Quality, But Raises a Question
Stratasys announced the acquisition of quality software startup Riven.
Have You Tried CadQuery?
CadQuery might eventually become more popular than OpenSCAD.
Book of the Week: Advanced Jewellery CAD Modeling in Rhino
This week’s selection is “Advanced Jewellery CAD Modeling in Rhino” by Jack Meyer.
Design Strategies Needed to Unlock 3D Printing’s Potential
A Protolabs engineer’s perspective on the right DfAM approach.
trinckle’s Fixture Designer Shows How It’s Done
I’ve been looking at trinckle’s Fixture Designer software, and it’s quite impressive.
Book of the Week: The AI Cookbook
This week’s selection is “The AI Cookbook: A taste of the future” by Paolo Rosson.
Could Sketch2Pose Show The Way To Easy 3D Modeling?
Sketch2Pose provides an intriguing capability that might eventually lead to a new way of 3D modeling.
Carbon Acquires Advanced Generative Software System
Carbon announced today their first corporate acquisition, and it’s a big deal.
Question of the Week: 3D Printing A Skeleton Model
This week’s question relates to a very unusual 3D printing requirement.
Book of the Week: FreeCAD 0.20 Learn by Doing
This week’s selection is “FreeCAD 0.20 Learn by doing: Sketcher, Part Design, Assemblies, Technical Drawings” by T Kishore.
Adobe’s Solutions Open the Way for 3D Innovation
Charles Goulding & Andressa Bonafe look at Adobe’s innovations in the 3D print world.
NVIDIA Omniverse: A New World for 3D Creation and Simulation
Charles R. Goulding and Andressa Bonafé look at NVIDIA’s contribution to 3D design and 3D printing.
Beyond Generative Design: Where 3D Modeling May Go
I caught a glimpse of a potential future for 3D modeling tools, and it’s breathtaking.
Design of the Week: Functioning Model Car
This week’s selection is the Functioning Model Car by Charlie Ashman.
3D Printed Digital Inventory Gets Real in Oil & Gas
News from Spare Parts 3D reveals interesting results from a digital inventory move.
Blender Gains CAD Functions!
At long last, it appears that Blender will soon be able to perform proper CAD functions.
3DFindIt Shows How To Find 3D Models
A 3D model lookup site has quite a variety of search methods.