Hi there!
I’m looking into getting myself a good printer and I am wondering if I need to install some platform-specific drivers for them to run. I am running Debian 12 (GNU/Linux) and I am afraid that I must run some proprietary blob to connect to the printer.
Could someone share their experience please? Even if you don’t use Linux, your feedback would be very appreciated!
(Also, while you are at it, please share some recommendations for printers, I don’t really know where to go (>v<) Have about ±500€ )
Try to run something like fusion360 or freecad to see if your device can handle those, they will come in handy once you’re ready for them.
I just use Blender. Any advantage to using FreeCAD?
Blender is more of an artistic tool. Not great at creating precise geometry. Tools like freecad make it much easier to create functional parts where the geometry matters. They are also easier to edit and adjust things after the fact as they tend to be parameterized - letting you update a value to update the model.
But they are terrible at more artistic things like miniatures or figurines or more organic shapes which is where blender shines.
So it really depends on what you are trying to create. But for a lot of people using 3d printers (which I believe tend to create more functional than atheistic prints - at least from designs they have created themselves) tools like freecad tend to serve them better then tools like blender.
Blender can absolutely be great at creating precise geometry, one just needs to know how to properly use the tool. Yes, the workflow will be much different than in other CAD, but principally, Blender is just as good as any other, or even better due to a more extensive development history and greater degree of maturity.