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Alvin Dy

Alvin Dy exhausted his parents and teachers with questions as a kid. When he started writing for Total 3D Printing, he rediscovered that part of himself.

He loves technology from consumer to commercial tech and aims to share his expertise with everyone that needs help.

6 Best Sketchup Alternatives in 2022 You’ll Love

The thing with 3D modeling programs is that there’s one or two that’s perfect for you. You can have a lot of options when you’re looking for the best one. A lot of people will suggest Sketchup, but what if you’re not entirely sold on this program just yet?

The good news is that you have fairly competitive alternatives in:

  • Art of Illusion
  • Fusion 360
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • Rhino 3D
  • Tinkercad
  • Blender

What should you know about all of these Sketchup competitors? And should you stick with Sketchup, or are they better?

What Is Sketchup?

sketchup

Sketchup is one of the most intuitive computer-aided design software that can help you create two- and three-dimensional sketches with ease. This software was once known as Google Sketchup

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Anycubic Wash and Cure Review: Is It Worth Buying?

One of the things that you always do when dealing with resin printing is to wash and cure your models after they are printed. Every expert and enthusiast will recommend both activities for post-processing. Thankfully, devices like the Anycubic Wash & Cure Machine 2.0 make post-processing a lot easier and faster.

There are currently two versions of the Wash & Cure Machine. The original is no longer available from the Anycubic online store except if you’re in the United Kingdom. They sell the original Anycubic Wash & Cure Machine for $99.

The Anycubic Wash & Cure Machine 2.0 sells for $50 more and is available from the manufacturer’s website.

Anycubic Wash & Cure Machine 2.0: Everything You Need to Know

anycubic wash and cure station

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The Main Differences Between Sketchup and AutoCAD

It is an excellent time to be into 3D printing. For one, printers are getting more powerful and capable while their prices continue to drop. And you have several options when it comes to 3D modeling and rendering. Two of the best programs out there are AutoCAD and Sketchup, and you are wondering which one is better.

Main Differences Between AutoCAD vs Sketchup

The main differences between AutoCAD vs Sketchup are:

  •  AutoCAD is a computer-aided design software, whereas Sketchup is a 3D-modeling program.
  • AutoCAD is more geared towards professional users, whereas Sketchup is an excellent option for hobbyists.
  • AutoCAD is more expensive, whereas you can save some dollars when you go with Sketchup.
  • AutoCAD offers compatibility with more file formats, whereas Sketchup is simpler to use and master.

What Is Autodesk AutoCAD?

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Blender vs Fusion 360: Which One Will You Like More?

When you want to come up with your own designs for 3D printing, there is several computer-aided design software that you can use. Two of the best are Blender and Autodesk Fusion 360. Both are widely used and have a range of features that you can use. But which one should you choose?

Main Differences Between Blender vs Fusion 360

The main differences between Blender vs Fusion 360 are:

  • Blender has a confusing user interface, whereas Fusion 360 has a more intuitive user interface that relies on drop-down menus.
  • Blender requires plugins so it can work well with 3D printing, whereas Fusion 360 has more advanced and enhanced 3D modeling and printing tool.
  • Blender is free to use with an open-source license, whereas Fusion 360 costs around $500 and is free only for hobbyists and start-ups earns no more than $100,000 annually.

Read on as we discu

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Solidworks vs Inventor: How to Decide Which Is The Best Pick?

When designing a prototype or creating something that you’d like to print, you can rely on CAD software to help you with the task. Two of the most recommended programs are SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor. These two give you a range of excellent and easy to use tools to help you create and fine-tune 3D objects for your printing needs.

But if you look into these two more closely, you’d find that some things are different and these differences may help you decide to choose one over the other. The main differences between the two are:

  • SolidWorks costs more upfront, whereas Autodesk Inventor is available on a subscription basis that may be cheaper at first, but tends to add up over time.
  • SolidWorks is known for being easy to learn and intuitive to use while Autodesk Inventor comes with a steep learning curve.
  • SolidWorks has a growing and large user community that you can tap if you have problems or questions. This is something that Autodesk product
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Ender 3 vs Ender 5: Which One Is The Big Winner?

Creality has always been coming out with a 3D printer that has good print quality at prices that you will love. There are a lot of Ender models out there, with the company coming out with Pro and Plus versions of different models. The Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 are two of the company’s best known 3D printers.

How does one compare to the other? Which one is the better printer for your needs?

Main Differences Between Creality Ender 3 vs Ender 5

The Main Differences Between Creality Ender 3 vs Ender 5

  • The Ender 5 has a bigger build volume at 8.7 by 8.7 by 11.8 inches, whereas Ender 3 only has a build volume of 8.7 by 8.7 by 9.8 inches.
  • The Ender 5 is easy to set up and takes only around half an hour to finish the assembly with an easy to understand user guide, whereas the Ender 3 takes significantly longer with an estimated assembly time of around two to three hours.
  • The Ender 5 uses an MK10 hot end, whereas Ender 3 uses an earlier vers
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MatterControl vs Cura [2022]: Which is The Best For Your Needs

Main Differences Between MatterControl vs Cura

The main differences between MatterControl vs Cura are:

  • MatterControl allows you to do designing and slicing of the 3D object, whereas Cura is focused only on the slicer aspect of the printing process.
  • MatterControl needs 100 gigabytes of hard disk space and 6 gigabytes of RAM, whereas Cura needs 600 megabytes of hard disk space and 8 gigabytes of RAM.
  • MatterControl is more expensive as it wastes more material, whereas Cura comes cheaper as it operates with less material.
  • MatterControl is a 2.0 version, whereas Cura has been updated 7 times over a period of three years.

Read on and find out which of these two would suit your needs better. How does MatterControl compete against Ultimaker Cura? What are the features that each one offers? And which one is the better slicer?

What Is MatterControl?

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