The next CAD package?

[Paul_H]

One very useful aspect is that it allows the importation of stl files and their reverse engineering back to 3D CAD files.
I use Inventor every day but I do have a copy of Fusion for its stl handling capability because I also use Artec and Zeiss 3D scanners.

Sorry to the OP to drift OT, but I haven't found this functionality to be terribly reliable. Some STLs import as sensible structures, some as meshes and sometimes the file has different properties (holes, gaps or voids being revealed).
I'd guess this is something to do with how and what software created the STLs, but can it be very frustrating. Maybe I'm missing some option ?

 

[Arun Sharma]

Sorry to the OP to drift OT, but I haven't found this functionality to be terribly reliable. Some STLs import as sensible structures, some as meshes and sometimes the file has different properties (holes, gaps or voids being revealed).
I'd guess this is something to do with how and what software created the STLs, but can it be very frustrating. Maybe I'm missing some option ?

As a rule of thumb, an stl [or mesh] that has been created in a CAD package is far less likely to have holes and defects in the mesh than one imported from a 3D scanner [or unknown source]. Fusion has an option in the import dialogue to repair meshes and this should be used if the file doesn't look to have opened properly or completely.

 

[Mike_C]

Hello Herbie,

I use Fusion for my scratchbuild work and I even had a go at designing my own kit. It was an AEC Matador which I wanted for a 2mm scale diorama. Never having done any CAD before, the model probably has been produced differently from the establisher users; however, the results looked good to me. I would recommend Fusion, especially as it is free for hobbyists.

cheers,

Mike

 

[Lancastrian]

I'm using QCAD and Fusion 360 for my designs.