Bart, My favorite 3D modeler is CATIA V5 (very expensive and not affordable for most users) but I have been testing Autodesk's 123d and I like it a lot. I miss some features, but it works just fine for mechanical parts. Regards, Luis
Autodesk just released Beta5 of 123D... a few more primitives added, along with STL export (I thought it already had that?). It takes a bit of getting used to but is well worth the effort, I feel. It has a lot of modelling options that makers should like with easy filleting and chamfering, shelling, and much more. Glenn
I think they added VRML export. STL was already there. This tractor I made using it: <a href="https://www.shapeways.com/model/283224/md_3_tow_tractor.html?gid=ug" target="_blank"></a> I really like the user interface. But I am still trying to adapt to it. It's quite different from CATIA. Regards, Luis
I'm a long-time user of Wings3d which can export wavefront .OBJ, VRML 2.0 .WRL, collada .DAE and stereolithography .STL files natively. All my models were made with Wings3d or OpenSCAD.
I humbly nominate Houdini's ".bego" or ".sdf" It's a great program used on many motion pictures. It's from http://www.sidefx.com/
I think those file formats are proprietary, making them difficult/expensive for us to implement. Also, it makes more sense to implement file formats that are common across applications. Can't Houdini export STL, OBJ, VRML2 or Collada? Bart
softimage exports obj too. for most other formats this plugin does the job. http://www.okino.com/conv/pt4xsi.htm geerz, roman
OKey dokey. Yes, Houdini outputs OBJ (which I've used). So, no problem. Just putting the suggestion out there. :blush:
What about the program Anim8tor? https://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html Could this be a program that would be compatible with your requirements at Shapeways? I only ask cause i don't know any technical details of what specifically is required about a program to be considered acceptable, and because this one wasn't on your list! =3 Thanks in advance! =D -Count Ramsely
SketchUp can export STL with a PlugIn. Tested with 7.0 and 8.0. http://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchu p-skp-files-dxf-or-stl
List updated, thanks! @Count_Ramsely: I haven't heard of anyone using Anim8tor yet. It has also not been updated since 2006 - looks like a dead project? Cheers, Bart