3D Printing
Article | April 24, 2024
Here’s the ultimate guide to the best 3D printing software. Learn about the top 10 3D printing software tools, the advantages of 3D printing in manufacturing, the future of 3D printing, and much more.
Contents
1. Uncovering the Rise of 3D Printing Software
2. The Value Factor: Advantages of 3D Printing in Manufacturing
3. Top 10 3D Printing Software Tools for Best Outputs
3.1 Onshape
3.2 NX CAD
3.3 ideaMaker
3.4 3YOURMIND
3.5 Simplify3D
3.6 Materialise Magics
3.7 Altair Inspire Print3D
3.8 Ansys Discovery SpaceClaim
3.9 ESSENTIUM HSE 180 3D Printing Platform
3.10 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing
4. Contemplating the Future of 3D Printing
1. Uncovering the Rise of 3D Printing Software
Commonly referred to as additive manufacturing, 3D printing has existed longer than one would imagine. In simple terms, 3D printing refers to the process of transforming digitally formed designs, also computer-aided designs (CAD), into tangible three-dimensional objects. One may think of 3D printing as creating an object slice-by-slice or layer-by-layer, from bottom to top, thereby upholding its title of ‘additive manufacturing’.
Evolution of 3D Printing and Its Impact on Industry
Expanding quickly, the realm of additive manufacturing witnessed the arrival of a larger number of 3D printer manufacturers. Along with them came some promising advancements in 3D printing technology, and manufacturers began to increasingly adopt computer-aided designs for 3D printing. However, the early expansion phase was not without its challenges. These included the exorbitant costs of the printers and the complexity of their use, which hindered the widespread adoption of the technology.
Nevertheless, recent years have seen a transformative phase for 3D printing, as many cost-effective and easily accessible 3D printing software tools have emerged in the market. The tools offer the users merits like greater accessibility and cost-effectiveness, allowing them to undertake fast prototyping and detailed customization more simply and smoothly. Such merits have not only augmented the overall productivity and efficiency of the manufacturing sector, but are currently being used by the leading industries that are leveraging additive manufacturing.
2. The Value Factor: Advantages of 3D Printing in Manufacturing
A widespread practice among manufacturers, 3D printing has become a favorite among companies for the undeniable merits it renders, which include:
Greater Design Flexibility: Offering unmatched freedom to designers, 3D printing software tools allow for creating and realizing more complex and sophisticated designs with attractive features like mass customization.
Swift Prototyping: 3D printing software makes it possible to manufacture parts of a design within hours (depending on the design complexity), ensuring a greater number of units and better production outputs.
Cost-efficiency: In the long run, the cost-effectiveness of 3D printing can hardly be denied. Compared to CNC machining, additional materials need only be added in 3D printing when required, lowering material costs, inventory, and warehousing costs.
Waste Minimization: In additive manufacturing, operators use only the material required to create a given component, effectively minimizing waste.
Ease of Access: 3D printing has become more user-friendly and affordable, making it accessible to a wider range of budgets and skill levels. High-end software, once exclusive to experts, now offers intuitive interfaces, broadening its use for designing and printing 3D models.
Enhanced Confidentiality: 3D printing software tools allow manufacturers to produce prototypes of their designs in-house, securing them from potential design thefts and protecting all intellectual properties.
Sustainability: 3D printing promotes sustainability by using materials efficiently and minimizing waste. Its precise, layer-by-layer approach conserves resources by using only the necessary materials, often incorporating biodegradable or recycled inputs to further reduce environmental impact.
Changing Lives in Healthcare: Facilitating the production of advanced medical devices and body organs (prosthetics), 3D printing software tools are changing the lives of people in more ways than one, as they augment patient satisfaction and improve the quality of life.
3. Top 10 3D Printing Software Tools for Best Outputs
The usage of 3D printer software tools and additive manufacturing process hitherto have proven highly beneficial for manufacturing companies worldwide and in America, where the process is believed to be reviving cthe country’s manufacturing sector.
Yet, among the many greats in the field of additive manufacturing lie these ten incredible 3D printing software tools that are promising optimal results to the manufacturers with their advanced technologies:
3.1 Onshape
A leader in cloud-native CAD and Product Data Management (PDM), Onshape is a comprehensive tool that was acquired by PTC in 2019 and is used for designing and creating products by over 3 million trusted users. With effective integration of CAD, data management, analytics, and cloud-computing power, the complete-in-itself 3D printing tool renders a promising platform to fasten and facilitate product development. Importantly, unlike file-based CAD, Onshape, which leverages the power of a strong cloud architecture, transcends the former's demerits, ensuring that product development is streamlined, no data is lost, and users aren't burdened with the management of their own files.
Why Millions of Users Trust Onshape
The trailblazing 3D printing tool has gained the trust of millions of users for the incredible features it provides, which include:
Superlative Data Management: Onshape has advanced built-in tools for design data management and component tracking and is based on strong cloud infrastructure. The design teams can easily edit the designs simultaneously, and updates are shown in real-time.
Cloud-native Capabilities: An entirely cloud-native tool, Onshape not only discards the need to download, manage, and install files and software but also allows for prompt and easy access to data by rendering a centralized repository, ensuring that all data and tools are invariably updated, available, and accessible from any part of the world.
A Dynamic Collaborative Platform:Offering a multi-user environment, the promising 3D printing tool allows for seamless sharing and management of design data among team members and renders complete control over access thereof
Easily Accessible and Secured Data: Accessible from any web browser, Onshape allows users to leverage its capacities from any part of the world, also ensuring the security of its data, as it remains solely on Onshape servers and thereby limits the risk of potential data leaks or unapproved access.
3.2 NX CAD
Allowing the realization of a digital twin, Siemens NX CAD software is a comprehensive product design solution that facilitates smooth and faster product development, supporting its entire lifecycle, from conceptualization to manufacturing. With NX CAD, designers create compelling illustrations and undertake 3D modeling, utilizing its impressive toolset that augments design intent, quality, integrity, and collaborations. From streamlining work from model to printed components to augmenting design quality and innovation, the software's strength lies in its scalability, mid-project upgrades, and seamless integration that make for an excellent portfolio, entailing all components of industrial design, engineering, manufacturing, and styling.
NX CAD: A Credibility-Adding Design Software
Being a credibility adder in the true sense, this CAD software for 3D printing has a proven record of being beneficial for organizations that are working to augment their product development innovation and efficiency. The different highlights that showcase the functionality of Siemens NX CAD Software are:
Possibility of Creating a Digital Twin: By allowing effective simulation and product development, promising software facilitates the establishment and utilization of digital twins, ensuring that companies successfully deliver high-quality products with undeniable precision.
Superlative Integration: The software comprises practical tools for conceptualization, designing, engineering, and manufacturing, all within a unified creative environment. With an impressive breadth in its portfolio catering to different stages of product development, NX CAD allows better control and supervision.
Value-Adding Upgrade Releases: Through the modeling tool, users can leverage the latest features. The software provides easy mid-project upgrades that add value to the production cycle and enhance better outputs, all without disrupting the ongoing project.
Compatibility and Scalability: Having a depository of the last ten years' files, the software promises unparalleled compatibility, which lets users open these files in the current release without the translation requirement. Furthermore, serving as an excellent solution for businesses of all sizes, the software renders great scalability, thus making for a future-proof investment.
Investment in Core Modeling Technology: Siemens' unmistakable commitment to modeling technology allows the software to let users leverage the most productive 3D modeling environment, thereby ensuring a high innovation quotient and superlative quality of outputs.
3.3 ideaMaker
Integrated with attractive printing templates, ideaMaker is a robust slicing software that has been developed by Raise3D. With its streamlined software and easy access to materials, the slicer software is known to prepare files in a practical, user-friendly way, supporting varied file formats such as .OBJ, .STL, and .3MF. Among the prominent features of ideaMaker remains its incredible simplicity, which ensures shorter learning curves and ease of access.
Choosing ideaMaker: An Idea Worthwhile
With the robust slicer software, designers get the chance to have limitless customization, where users of different levels of expertise leverage ideaMaker's various strategies for efficient slicing and gain greater control over their printing projects. The different benefits of using Raise3D's ideaMaker are:
Slicing Perfection: ideaMaker remains an excellent choice for those seeking an easy-to-use slicing software with vast customization options and complete access to advanced editing tools.
User-friendly Interface: Owing to its user-friendly interface, even non-expert users feel comfortable and in control of their projects. Furthermore, with its wide range of tools, advanced users successfully fine-tune their prints, add 3D texturing and optimize their designs to desired specifications.
Fee-less Expert-backed Software: High-quality slicing is easy and cost-effective with this slicing software, which allows users to undertake their projects without any fees. Additionally, since it is backed and supported by a leading producer of 3D printers (Raise 3D), it renders a solid edge and boasts strong reliability and quality in the slicing process.
Perfect Alignment with Raise3D Printers: As an innovation-focused product of Raise3D, this powerful tool is highly coptimized for Raise3D printers and, therefore, ensures quick, precise slicing along with high-quality print when used with them.
Failure Detection: This feature especially benefits beginners who struggle with model orientation and may encounter risks of uneven peeling or unwanted cavity structures. In this case, the tool's failure risk detection feature allows non-expert users to identify these risks and further recommends better orientations.
3.4 3YOURMIND
A compelling on-demand manufacturing platform, 3YOURMIND is a force to reckon with in the 3D printing and 3D modeling sphere. From streamlining the processes of identifying, designing and manufacturing to catering to contract manufacturers, OEMs, and operating companies, this powerful tool enables users to establish digital inventories that further help in reducing production time, facilitating quicker operations, and lowering overall costs.
Why 3YOURMIND is a Great Find
Rendering superlative flexibility and innovation, 3YOURMIND is a complete package, for it facilitates a company's production processes from A to Z, from part identification to production. The platform's notable ability to quickly manufacture spare parts and augment production quality through advanced technologies makes it perfect for organizations endeavoring to lessen lead times and maintain quick operations. What sets 3YOURMIND apart from its counterparts is its list of features, which include:
On-Demand Manufacturing: Among the key highlights of the tool remains its ability to provide scalable on-demand solutions to meet clients’ needs. The tool comes with open APIs that connect hardware and software along with customizable software, which work to successfully meet the company’s unique business needs. Its ability to produce spare parts agilely further reduces downtime and augments operational efficiency.
A Digital Inventory that Cuts Downtime: Through its impeccable digital inventory, 3YOURMIND aims to deliver manufactured parts faster by streamlining the manufacturing process. Furthermore, through a network of internal and external suppliers, one may see, order, or distribute production parts quickly, reducing unplanned downtime.
Data-driven Decision Making: Allowing for smarter decisions by offering precise data insights, 3YOURMIND empowers decision-makers to make solid choices that turn a manufacturing endeavor into success and enable companies to manufacture parts with improved features.
Cutting-edge Production Technologies: The platform seamlessly supports the use of innovative production techniques to make optimized parts, which gives companies a competitive edge and ensures better output quality.
A Robust Supplier Community and Communication Channel: With its strong network of approved suppliers, 3YOURMIND offers a promising platform that facilitates smooth and easy communication and work distribution and secures greater quality and efficiency.
3.5 Simplify3D
Founded in 2013 and featured among the best 3D printing tools, Simplify3D is a complete-in-itself 3D slicer software that enhances the additive manufacturing or 3D modeling process. The tool serves as a bridge between the 3D models and printers, translating these models into instructions that are understandable or readable by the latter. With its robust slicing engine, realistic pre-print simulations, and incredible interface, customers get to relish complete control over their 3D prints.
Simplifying Additive Manufacturing with Simplify3D
The comprehensive software Simplify3D has been specially designed to meet the needs of engineers, innovators, and professionals, which enables them to produce tangible 3D objects from computer-aided or digital designs seamlessly. How the software is simplifying 3D printing process is well reflected in its notable features, which include:
Latest Slicing Engine: With its advanced and up-to-date slicing engine, Simplify3D provides unparalleled control to professionals and companies over their 3D prints, with multiple detailing and customization options related to support structures, density, layer heights, etc.
Compelling Compatibility with Diverse 3D Printers: Users utilize diverse hardware for their printing requirements and generally look for options that seamlessly support their hardware. Keeping the same in mind, Simplify3D has been designed to render incredible compatibility, supporting a vast range of 3D printers and ensuring supreme flexibility over various devices.
Notable Customization Tools: Tweaking and augmenting printing quality become easier with Simplify3D as it comes with some glorious customization tools that can be leveraged for different materials and models.
An Easy-to-Use Interface: Simplify3D's user-friendliness can hardly be denied. The tool's intuitive interface allows both novices and experts to attain high-quality professional-grade outputs effectively.
Previews of Promise: Simplify3D comes with an impressive preview mode that shows exactly how a print would be made. A clear, detailed preview allows users to make necessary tweaks and adjustments before the actual printing process commences, ensuring less production time and greater product quality.
3.6 Materialise Magics
With over 485 granted patents and a presence in around 20 countries, Materialise Magics works to create a better and healthier world through its sustainability-promoting manufacturing processes and undeniable focus on R&D. Essentially an STL file editing platform, Materialise Magics is used by companies or users to streamline their 3D printing workflows.
The Magic of Materialise Magics
An ideal choice for professionals seeking to augment the quality of their 3D models and additive manufactured parts, Materialise Magics is among the best 3D modeling software that effectively addresses the everyday challenges of 3D printing, including model optimization and error correction. It comes with an impressive array of tools developed by the experience-rich Materialise that boasts over three decades of noteworthy experience in additive technologies. The magic of this dynamic data preparation and STL file editing platform can be witnessed in the brilliant features that it entails:
STL File Conversions: All files can be imported into the software for editing, cutting, and labeling parts. Notably, the software allows for easy conversion of these files to STL format and renders advanced editing tools for customization.
Strong Control over Workflows: From importing files to optimizing designs and initial design to printing process and final build preparation, Materialise Magics offers users advanced controls over their workflows, as significant processes can be carried out within a single software environment.
Optimization of Designs: With its wide range of editing tools, users may hollow models, generate supports, and apply textures, thereby augmenting both the appearance and functionality of their designs.
Automation Software: Materialise Magics is a platform through which companies can significantly reduce their lead times and errors. It offers workflow automation software that can automate and optimize repetitive tasks.
Build Platform Preparation Capabilities: Increasing printing process efficiency, Materialise Magics seamlessly facilitates the arrangement and orientation of models on the build platform, further reducing material usage and ensuring optimal productivity.
Greater Printability and Error Detection: The promising software automatically detects and corrects flaws in the 3D models, which ensures quicker, error-free operations and greater printability and outputs for companies utilizing the tool.
Industry-specific Solutions: The tool provides tailored solutions for various industries, including industrial manufacturing and healthcare, meeting the unique needs of each sector.
Sustainability as a Way of Life: Materialise Magics aims to continually innovate and reduce the environmental impact of operations, simultaneously enhancing the potential of companies’ additive manufacturing investments and reflecting its commitment toward a better and healthier society.
3.7 Altair Inspire Print3D
Facilitating the creation of innovative, structurally efficient 3D manufactured parts, Altair Inspire Print3D is a product of Altair that comes with an impeccable reputation in simulation, computational intelligence, and high-performance computing. Designers and companies can use this promising tool to create optimal designs, enhance operational efficiency, and lessen production ccosts. Seemingly, and like the other Altair solutions, Inspire Print3D is perhaps made to combine with the company's broader ecosystem of design tools.
An Inspirational 3D Printing Tool
With Altair’s leadership in sectors like simulation and HPC, it becomes apparent that Inspire Print3D comes with the capability to render cutting-edge tools for speeding up the product development cycle and enhancing 3D printed parts for sustainability and performance. Since it stays a part of the Altair synergy, it comes with the ability to manufacture high-quality, optimized parts. Among the key features of this inspirational tool remain:
Designs Driven By Simulation: Predicting Performance And Quickly Identifying Errors Before Printing, Altair Inspire Print 3D Is Indeed A Sophisticated Addition To Additive Manufacturing Software That Integrates With Altair's Simulation Technology And Augments Process Efficiency.
Design Optimization: With Altair Inspire3d, Optimal Designs And Support Structures Can Be Created, As The Software Offers Advanced Tools For Material And Topology Enhancement.
Easy Identification Of Defects: The Modeling Software Allows For Easy Defect Identification, Including Excessive Heating, Deformations, Or Delamination. This Feature Thus Not Only Facilitates Required Modifications In Design But Also Makes For Better Decisions By The Concerned cPersonnel.
A Commitment To Sustainability: As Part Of Altair, The Comprehensive Tool Aligns With The cCompany's Solid Commitment To Sustainability, Ensuring The Reduction Of Waste And Minimum Energy Consumption.
3.8 Ansys Discovery Spaceclaim
A noteworthy 3D modeling software, Ansys Discovery SpaceClaim, offers a fast-paced, versatile, and user-friendly platform for geometry editing, preparation, and clarification for simulation. Enabling users to cmake and modify complex 3D models rapidly, Discovery SpaceClaim is a part of Ansys, which has been a leading figure in engineering simulation for over 50 years. Correspondingly, the quality that the product offers is fully proven and undeniable.
Why Choose Ansys Discovery SpaceClaim
Especially advantageous for users aiming to streamline designing processes, the comprehensive tool facilitates fast 3D modeling. It lets users work with it without the steep learning curve associated with traditional CAD software. Effectively integrated with the simulation tools of Ansys, the product further enables companies to transition from model production to analysis effortlessly. In this light, the key features of the product include:
Easy Model Creation: Offering a user-friendly, intuitive approach to manipulating geometry, the tool allows users to create models easily and modify them without hard parametric controls. Additionally, with its direct modeling approach, the tool fastens the product development cycle as users can rapidly iterate and refine designs.
Ready for Simulation: The tool has been specifically optimized to prepare simulation models. The preparation entails geometric simplification and ensuring precise analysis through CAD file cleanups.
Possibility for Reverse Engineering: The promising 3D printing software comes with tools that can convert 3D data into superlative CAD models. Therefore, reverse engineering may be undertaken cto work with archival data and physical prototypes.
Impressive Compatibility: Discovery SpaceClaim renders strong compatibility with a vast range of CAD formats, thereby ensuring smoother collaborations and integrations within existing workflows.
3.9 ESSENTIUM HSE 180 3D Printing Platform
A revolutionary 3D printing platform, the ESSENTIUM HSE (High Speed Extrusion) 180 3D has been designed to change the plant floor radically. As the name suggests, the superlative printing tool comes with an unparalleled speed of up to 500 mm/sec with all linear servo motors, 1 m/sec movement speed, and 1G acceleration that enable the manufacturing of parts to be 15 times faster than the commonplace 3D printers.
What Sets ESSENTIUM HSE 180 3D Apart
The tool's unmatched speed, material versatility, high efficiency, and ability to overcome the challenges of traditional Fused Deposition Modeling and Fused Filament Fabrication make for the many benefits that come with its usage. Undeniably, making rapid mass production a reality for industrialists today, the tool entails many notable highlights, such as:
Reduced Production Times: Especially suitable for businesses looking to quicken their processes, ESSENTIUM HSE 180 dramatically reduces the production time for both simple and complex geometries and offers printing speeds 5 to 15 times higher than the traditional printers.
Superlative Compatibility: The 3D printing tool renders compatibility with some of the broadest ranges of industrial materials, making for more applications.
Linear Servo Motors: ESSENTIUM HSE 180 enables accurate, fast movement and minimizes waste motions with 1G acceleration and 1 m/sec travel speed. With such advanced features, it is bound to become one of the favorites of various manufacturing companies worldwide.
Making Quick Mass Production a Reality: Specifically designed for mass production, the comprehensive tool has made the dream of quick, error-free mass production a reality, letting 3D printing compete successfully with subtractive manufacturing techniques on parameters like cost and agility.
3.10 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing
Previously known as Quickparts, 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing leverages 3D Systems' unparalleled 30 years of experience and expertise in additive manufacturing technologies to render a vast array of printing solutions to varied industries, including aerospace, defense, automotive, healthcare, and durable goods. Using 3D Systems' advanced printers, businesses can rapidly transform their designs into tangible objects without requiring large-scale production facilities.
Key Features at a Glance:
Helping businesses with specialized production processes that aren't readily available to them, 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing serves as the perfect choice for carrying out various processes, including high-speed prototyping or small-batch production. The most prominent features of this tool are:
A Technology Powerhouse: Relevant today, the effective 3D printing tool renders a wide variety of additive production technologies to its users, which comprise SLA, SLS, DMLS, etc. and match the requirements of various materials and resolutions.
Industry-specific Solutions: Offering printing solutions to varied industries and sectors like healthcare, aerospace, and automotive, 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing ensures unmistakable compliance with the regulations and standards of these industries, along with companies' output quality and good standing.
Worldwide Reach: Backed by 3D Systems, the printing software tool leverages individualized assistance from local experts to ensure the best manufacturing outputs for companies worldwide.
Solutions Specific to Applications: 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing's USP lies in its ability to provide application-specific solutions to its customers, which are powered by its application engineers. These solutions result in better and highly optimized designs. The tool further provides easy access to an array of materials suitable for various applications and can be used for prototypes or end-use parts.
4. Contemplating the Future of 3D Printing
Advancements in technology, enhanced investments in research and development, and reduction in costs associated with the future of additive manufacturing are set to revolutionize 3D printing in multiple ways including the establishment of more resilient supply chains through digitization and possibility of better and more customized products.
The global 3D printing market size was valued at USD 20.37 billion in 2023 and is expected to register a CAGR of 23.5% from 2024 to 2030.
[Source: Grand View Research]
With additive manufacturing being extensively resorted to for cost reduction and production of lightweight components by manufacturing industries, 3D printing will remain an inspiring space to explore and venture into. The future of 3D printing will majorly comprise the maturation of polymer 3D printing, an increase in the significance of automation and software, and greater competition between metal 3D printers. Products can be further managed more effectively as manufacturers will look to connect their physical supply chain digitally. With the decentralization of production and digital inventories, companies will also gain from better, more robust distributed manufacturing, ensuring the production of final goods closer to their customers.
Similarly, the future trends in 3D printing technology hold many more positive developments, including multi-material printing, which allows for forming complex, multi-functional objects in a single print. Another exciting trend in the 3D printing realm is the integration of AI. With AI optimizing designs, monitoring quality, and adjusting print parameters, companies are set to achieve better output quality and expand their businesses. The future of 3D printing, therefore, looks promising, enabling companies to leverage its potential fully.
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