3D printing is one of the most innovative and exciting technological advances being developed this century. In recent years, we have witnessed the creation of 3D printed toys, furniture, prostheses, and even bones. Although a 3D printer brings your computer aided design (CAD) to life, the creation is only as good as the model developed using specialized software.

When you are starting out, you may be uncertain about how to select the right 3D modeling software. Below, Faro Industries, a professional plastics industry leader based in Rochester, NY, offers you some tips on selecting the right 3D printing software:

Determine How Much You Can Spend

First and foremost, decide what your budget is. 3D modeling software can be found in one of three forms: free, free basic features with the option to purchase more advanced tools, or commercially-available software. As you might imagine, commercially-available software has more capabilities; however, if you are on a budget, most free software may allow you to accomplish many of your goals.

Consider Your Needs

There is 3D modeling software available to suit the needs of a plethora of industries. Determine what your goals are with 3D printing—for instance, are you making scale models? Or, perhaps you want to design technology or jewelry—and then choose software that is made specifically to fit those needs.

Decide on the Complexity of Your Software

There are a great deal of free and commercially-available software on the market that has a user-friendly interface. For a beginner, this can be an excellent choice as it teaches you how to bring your images and designs to life using this technology. But, as your skills improve and your designs become more intricate, you may want to move up to more complex 3D modeling software. Advanced software is less intuitive, but it allows you the freedom to create more detailed designs and model it in interesting ways.

For more information on 3D printing, or for help developing your own prototype, call (585) 647-6000 or visit the Faro Industries website today. You can also like their Facebook page for the latest trends and updates.