Sketchup vs fusion 360 how to#
Sketchup vs fusion 360 full#
Sketchup vs fusion 360 pro#
Sketchup vs fusion 360 software#
Sketchup vs fusion 360 trial#

Parametric modeling basically eliminates the need to redraw your design each time one of the dimensions on your design changes since it changes automatically. They did admit that the learning curve for Fusion 360 is steeper than SketchUp but it’s still easier than other professional software.Īnother user who moved from SketchUp to Fusion 360, stated that Fusion 360 is parametric and SketchUp isn’t.

Sketchup vs fusion 360 software#

Once they got a 3D printer, they stumbled upon Fusion 360 and it became their main go-to software for creating models. One user who has tried both SketchUp and Fusion 360 for 3D printing said that they initially started with SketchUp and ended up transitioning to Blender. Another thing to know is that the skills you learn in SketchUp aren’t easily transferable to other CAD software, unlike Fusion 360. People agree that if you want to create something mechanical to 3D print, SketchUp isn’t the best option. One user who designed something really complex in SketchUp said that using a CAD software like Fusion 360 would have made designing those parts easier and faster, though for simple objects, SketchUp is the ideal software. I wrote an article called Is Fusion 360 Good for 3D Printing which you can check out. There are more capabilities for creating mechanical and unique models with Fusion 360. Most people seem to prefer Fusion 360 due to its parametric modeling feature and advanced tools.

Once you’ve successfully exported the SketchUp file, your model will be ready for 3D print.īoth SketchUp and Fusion 360 are great platforms for 3D printing but the choice of the tool may differ depending on the users.

Click on Export and SketchUp will start the export.

Select Save and another dialog box will open.

Click on Stereolithography File (.stl) in the drop-down box under Save As.

Set the location where you want to export your SketchUp file & enter the file name.

Go to File > Export > 3D Model to open the dialog box or go through the “Download” button on the online version.

To 3D print from SketchUp, follow the steps:

Sketchup vs fusion 360 how to#

How to 3D Print From SketchUp – Does it Work With 3D Printers? Perfect for professional work and comes with a desktop platform at $229/yr

Sketchup vs fusion 360 pro#

SketchUp Pro – Premium version with a lot of added functionality, various layout tools, Style Builder, custom builders and more.SketchUp Go – Added feature like solid tools, more export formats, unlimited storage at $119/yr.

Sketchup vs fusion 360 trial#

The desktop version does require a paid plan to export STL files and it has a 30-day free trial version if you want to test it out. If you are using the free version of SketchUp online rather than the desktop version, you can grab STL files by using the Download button rather than the Export button. Yes, SketchUp files can be 3D printed as long as you export the 3D model as an STL file for 3D printing. If you really want to get into SketchUp, I’d recommend going through this playlist of SketchUp tutorials and various modeling techniques. SketchUp is mostly made for architecture and not originally to create models to 3D print, but it does still work quite well for many people.Ĭheck out the video below for an example of a user making 3D models with SketchUp. On the other hand, someone recommended going with TinkerCAD instead of SketchUp, saying it’s easier to learn and does everything a beginner would need, along with great tutorials. One user did mention that they love SketchUp for 3D printing and it’s the only software they use. They did say that it’s very quick if you want to make a prototype object that doesn’t need to be edited. Objects like screw threads, bolts, chamfered edges will not be easy to create according to the user. It also doesn’t have parametric modeling which means that if you need to adjust something specific that is the wrong size, it won’t automatically adjust the design, so you’d need to re-design the whole thing One user who has used SketchUp for many years did say curves are difficult to create.

Sketchup vs fusion 360 full#

It is free to use and even has a cool model library called the 3D Warehouse that is full of standard parts that can go straight onto your build plate. You can export models as STL files to 3D print. SketchUp is known for being a simple software to use that has many features and tools that make it easy to use. You can create 3D models for 3D printing quickly in all types of shapes and geometries. Yes, SketchUp is good for 3D printing, especially for beginners. 4.4 Verdict Is SketchUp Good for 3D Printing?