Print3D Blog

We have added support for DWG and DXF files in all our free plug-ins and standalone software. Now Print3D customers can obtain physical parts described in DWG and DXF files even if their CAD software is unable to display the 3D model to them.

Take Solid Edge for example. Solid Edge is unable to read 3D data from the DWG file. But a Solid Edge user can use our free Print3D Solid Edge add-in to read the DWG file and create an instant offline quote without transmitting the DWG data across the internet. If he proceeds to save the quote and place an order, the DWG data will be transmitted in encrypted form securely to a Print3D facility and he will get a physical part in the mail the next day.

So if someone sends you a DWG file containing 3D objects Print3D will build a physical part for you even if you cannot see it in your CAD software. However, if you want to see the contents of the DWG file or edit the 3D objects in it you can simply open it in our free Print3D standalone application and use its editing tools. The Print3D standalone shows you the build lines exactly how they will appear on your physical part. You may want to reorient your part to prevent the build lines from interfering with a particular feature. Or since DWG files are unitless you may want to scale it to a different unit.

All this wonderful software for free. Enjoy!!

We just released a Print3D plug-in for IRONCAD, which coincided with IronCAD’s release of V11 of their IRONCAD product. It is interesting to note the case of the alphabets used here. “IronCAD” is the name of the company, and “IRONCAD” is the name of their product.

Print3D is now an IronCAD Gold Partner. This means that our free plug-in will be included on the partner CD that is shipped with every license of IRONCAD.

A lot more is coming. We have just got started.

Today we put up a new video at our web site showing just how easy it is to get a price quote – literally at the click of a button. Watch the video here.

Today we trashed the toolbars in the Print3D Standalone. Why? Because users told us to. This is what the old toolbars looked like.

I agree, quite a mess. And this is what the toolbar (just one) looks like now. The boring 16×16 pixel toolbar buttons have been replaced by fancy 48×48 pixel buttons.

Some toolbar buttons have drop down menus for easy navigation. Over the next few weeks we intend to add some basic and advanced mesh editing capability to Print3D 1.0. Stuff like hollowing meshes, filling holes, sealing cracks, stitching faces, etc. And all this for free. And just so that you know, none of the free software offered by Print3D ever expires. Use as you please for as long as you want. I would appreciate it if you spread the word around.

The new Print3D 1.0 Standalone can be downloaded here along with our other free CAD plug-ins. If not for anything else you can use it as a free viewer. Print3D 1.0 can view the following types of CAD file formats:

• Stereolithography STL
• OpenRP RP
• IGES
• STEP
• 3D Studio 3DS
• Rhinoceros 3DM
• Wavefront OBJ
• Visualization Toolkit VTK

We intend to add support for more file formats along the way, such as VRML and probably AutoCAD’s DWG and DXF.

Keep watching this space. I suggest you find yourself a feed reader and add this blog’s feed to it so that you stay informed of the happennings at Print3D without having to come here everytime. I use RSS Bandit for two very good reasons: it’s good and it’s free.

I like free. Don’t you?