If you have just obtained your 3D printer and have an idea of something to print, you need some essential software tools for 3D printing to bring that idea to life. You might not always create your files from scratch, but you can download them from 3D printing websites like Thingiverse, Myminifactory, Printables, Makerworld, and many others. However, you need to be familiar with a 3D modeling program to create or adjust the files you downloaded.

Also, you need a 3D slicer to convert the 3D model into a G-code that you send to the 3D printer. Various 3D printing software is available, and a good one should have the tools for creating 3D printable models, slicing, editing STL files, or repairing meshes. Below are my favorites, which I use for different purposes.

5 FreeCAD

Free 3D printing software

FreeCAD is a free and open-source 3D printing tool for designing 3D models ready for 3D printing. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and utilizes a parametric design approach. That is, you can adjust and make changes to your 3D model at any stage of the design process without affecting the structural integrity of the file. Unlike other 3D modeling software with the menu bar and tools arranged there, FreeCAD organizes the tools in Workbenches, each providing specific tools for a particular purpose. For 3D printing, you will find the tools in the part design workbench.

Any design you create using the tools in the part design workbench will be solid and 3D printable. FreeCAD also supports file formats like STL and OBJ, which are the standard file formats for 3D printing.

4 Cura

Popular slicing software

Cura is by far the most popular 3D slicer available and supports most of the standard FDM 3D printers. It’s the slicer that I used first when I got into 3D printing, and if you have been into 3D printing, you must have already used or heard of this software. It supports Windows, Mac, and Linux, and once you download and install it, you will see an option to choose your 3D printer and customize the settings based on your machine. Cura supports the most common file formats, like OBJ, STL, DAE, 3MF, and DAE.

You can do basic file editing in Cura before slicing. For example, you can rotate and scale the file along the XYZ axis. There is also an option to create a new interface of the model using the mirror option. The new copy of the object created will have the same dimensions and shape as the original one. This is essential when you want to 3D print several copies of the file without importing it several times. The software also comes with many plugins that you can install to customize and enhance your 3D printing workflow. After slicing the file, Cura also has a preview option that allows you to see how your design will be 3D printed in real time.

3 SelfCAD

CAD and slicing software

I use SelfCAD when I don’t want to switch between different software to design, adjust, or slice the file. It is CAD software with a built-in slicer, almost similar to Cura. SelfCAD runs online, and there is a downloadable version for Windows and Mac. It comes with various tools for creating 3D models, such as freehand drawing and sketching, powerful 3D sculpting brushes, image-to-3D model, boolean operation tools, and different 3D shapes that you can use as a starting point for designing your files.

In addition to creating files from scratch, you can import the ones designed in other programs and modify them in SelfCAD based on your needs. It also comes with the magic fix tool that you can use to fix any non-manifold issues in your designs before sending them to 3D printing. The built-in online slicer is easy to use, and you can adjust the necessary settings and then generate the G-code to send to your 3D printer. You can preview the file and see how it will be 3D printed, and there is an option to check the estimated size of the material and the time it will take for the file to finish 3D printing.

2 TinkerCAD

Free and user-friendly 3D printing software

TinkerCAD is a very easy to use 3D modeling software that anyone, regardless of their experience in 3D designing, can learn within a few hours and start creating their 3D printable models. The interface is user-friendly, making it an excellent tool for starting out with 3D printing. TinkerCAD uses a solid-based modeling approach. You create the files by combining and subtracting basic geometric shapes like spheres, cylinders, and cubes.

Boolean tools can also be used to create 3D models by merging multiple shapes into a single object or cutting out sections to create a hollow design. You don’t need advanced knowledge of parametric and sculpting designs to prepare your designs. Despite these advantages, you can’t create complex 3D models in this software, but I like it because I can make simple 3D models quickly.

1 Meshmixer

Mesh repairing tool

Meshmixer is another favorite tool that I use for 3D printing to fix issues with my meshes or clean 3D scans before 3D printing. If you check my article on why I use Meshmixer, you will see that this tool allows one to import 3D models in various file formats, like 3MF, OBJ, STL, and AMF. It comes with tools for automatically detecting and fixing holes and open meshes that can cause issues in 3D prints. You can also analyze the file and identify the areas that have overhangs and need supports, and you can add them automatically or manually.

Meshmixer also comes with sculpting tools that you can use to modify the 3D model, for example, by smoothing or adding features to certain parts. If you would like to hollow the 3D model, you can do so easily in Meshmixer by using the Hollow tool that you can find in the Edit section.

Prepare your files for 3D printing

Each of these five tools has its own capabilities, and you can use them to prepare your designs for 3D printing. If you don’t want to download 3D models from 3D printing repositories, you can create them using any 3D design software above. Once you have the file, the next step is to check and analyze it for errors, which you can do using Meshmixer. You can then convert the 3D design into a format your 3D printer understands- G-code- using a slicer like Cura.