Shapr3D – any experience?

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Just noticed Shapr3D, a 3D modelling tool that I had not noticed before. Has anybody on the forum tried it out?

There is a free basic version and a 14 day free trial of the pro version. I don't have the time to have a go myself at the moment but thought it may be a solution for some of the folk enquiring about CAD options.

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Well I just downloaded it and tried the intro, it looks easy to use and I'll persevere!

[John Doe 2Participant @johndoe2]

Yes, I have just started using Shapr3D.

It is my first CAD and it runs on iPad and Mac, which is what I need.

I believe it uses the Solid Edge CAD software internally, with an interface to work on an iPad with an Apple pen, or on a Mac with a multifunction mouse. Most of my work will be at home, but it might be useful to be able to design on the iPad, away from the desk.

My primary use at the moment is learning to make parts to 3D print. On the Shapr3D website there are a lot of tutorials and forums for advice and help. It is quite intuitive – I have never used CAD but these parts did not take me very long to create, and it is very easy to add fillets etc. to the drawn 3D shape. You can quickly sketch a rough shape, then go round and type in the actual dimensions, to refine it, and it all changes accordingly. £300 for a year seems very reasonable, or there is a limited free version I think.

I can certainly say it is easy to use and get the hang of.

My first items are simple pieces to learn the CAD, and are hinge/connectors to replace the broken ones on my clothes horse !

My photos are 90° rotated and I don't know how to rotate them correctly, but you can see the idea.

 

 

Edited By John Doe 2 on 19/12/2022 18:12:22

Edited By JasonB on 19/12/2022 18:35:25

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I had a quick look at its webpage a few days ago when their advertising department had picked up on my searches for tutorials on another CAD program.
I was quickly put off by the statement that the free version only allowed 2 models and the pro version cost more than a lathe every single year.
I cannot see how an casual amateur (like me) using a CAD program for a few hours, then forgetting about it for a month until maybe wanting to draw another bracket can justify more than fifty quid for full ownership. I do not count in this the amateurs who digitise a full loco or traction engine.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I've just watched some intro videos on Shapr3D and there were certainly some aspects that reminded me of Solid Edge, which only runs on Windows (not Mac or iPad) – although I've no idea if Shapr3D uses the SE 'engine' or not.

However, the "Basic" version of Shapr3D can only export "low-quality" STL and 3MF files – which may be OK for 3D printing but may prove to be very limited beyond that (no DXF files for instance). The 'Pro' version of Shapr3D costs $25/month and obviously offers more extensive file (and possibly other) functionality that the free 'Basic' version does not.

So, providing you have access to a Windows 10/11 system, I don't see any advantage over SE Community Edition which is very capable (in both 2D or full 3D mode) with no file (or functional) differences from the commercial version of SE – and which is also free to download.

Regards,

IanT

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

It just seemed to me, from a quick view of the instructional and demonstration videos, that it might appeal to those who are struggling with hierarchical menu driven CAD. The tutorials and the user interface of the programme itself are by far the easiest to understand and master that I have seen. No strange nomenclature either!

Not what I need for myself but well worth a look if CAD is a tool to be used only occasionally, or for undemanding 3D modelling projects

[John Doe 2Participant @johndoe2]

Posted by Bazyle on 19/12/2022 18:31:06:

I had a quick look at its webpage a few days ago when their advertising department had picked up on my searches for tutorials on another CAD program.
I was quickly put off by the statement that the free version only allowed 2 models and the pro version cost more than a lathe every single year…………

Gosh, where can I buy a full spec decent professional lathe for £299 ?

If one only uses CAD a few times a year, does one actually need unlimited capability?

I have the pro version, but I am curious how the free version allows just two models? Can you erase a model and draw a new one, or draw multiple models on one page, as I have done, (above), or does it somehow limit you to two actual physical models, wherever they are, and even if they have been deleted?

 

PS, Thanks Jason for turning my photos. I must learn how to do that..

Edited By John Doe 2 on 20/12/2022 10:43:49

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Doe 2 on 20/12/2022 10:42:13:

[…]

I have the pro version, but I am curious how the free version allows just two models? Can you erase a model and draw a new one, or draw multiple models on one page, as I have done, (above), or does it somehow limit you to two actual physical models, wherever they are, and even if they have been deleted?

.

Free version allows two models in the folder … you can delete one, or both, and create a new model … or just keep adding to the work-in-progress.

An excellent way of offering a trial

Regret I haven’t really done it justice yet.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ looks like it must be a while since I played with Shapr3D … what I believe was my password no longer works, and when I requested a reset, no eMail arrived. I think they must have changed the whole registration process.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/12/2022 11:17:21

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by John Doe 2 on 20/12/2022 10:42:13:

Posted by Bazyle on 19/12/2022 18:31:06:

I had a quick look at its webpage a few days ago when their advertising department had picked up on my searches for tutorials on another CAD program.
I was quickly put off by the statement that the free version only allowed 2 models and the pro version cost more than a lathe every single year…………

Gosh, where can I buy a full spec decent professional lathe for £299 ?

If one only uses CAD a few times a year, does one actually need unlimited capability?

I have the pro version, but I am curious how the free version allows just two models? Can you erase a model and draw a new one, or draw multiple models on one page, as I have done, (above), or does it somehow limit you to two actual physical models, wherever they are, and even if they have been deleted?

PS, Thanks Jason for turning my photos. I must learn how to do that..

…

Only moderators can turn photos once they're posted. It's an irritating 'feature' of the forum! Ordinary users have to make sure the photo is right way up with an editor before adding it to an album. It's a pain.

Back to Shapr3d, it seems to work in much the same way as the others, except the user interface requires touch screen technology, ideally a big screen tablet. A disadvantage is that the mouse/keyboard version is still under development.

The demo video creating an office chair makes the interface look easy, but bear in mind demos always do! It shows the workflow being done rather naturally with a pencil-pointer in one hand whilst the other selects context sensitive buttons, such as extrude after a closed sketch is drawn. The interface looks faster than FreeCAD and SolidEdge, and maybe Fusion360.

A tutorial shows the interface works in the same way for dimensioned sketches, but much slower than the chair demo because the dimensions have to be added. This is much closer to how other CAD packages work.

Another problem with the chair demo is it creates a visualisation rather than an engineering design. The chair is created as a single object, quickly producing an image of the chair, which is useful for selling ideas. However the engineering design is more difficult. A real chair is built of parts, that have to fit together. For example the demo, omits the wheels, and each wheel consists of a wheel with tyre, axle, swivel, and some way of being attached to the chair leg. I suspect in engineering mode, where multiple dimensioned parts are assembled into a whole, Shapr3d performs like the competition. It's hard work. But, fair cop guv, SE and friends aren't good at producing quick visualisations because they have to do all the engineering first! A huge amount of work, if all that's needed is an artists impression, that can be tweaked with the customer.

The ability to put two 'models' on the same page is a mixed blessing. Two or more different objects in the same context become very difficult to manage when parts are used in assemblies, exist in versions, or are worked on by a team. Small problem with simple objects that don't change much, absolute nightmare in complex models. Even if the CAD software allows it, I never use the facility.

Shapr3d's basic version is too restricted for me. Is the Pro version worth the money? Probably not in my case. As a hobbyist I use CAD in short bursts and always for non-commercial purposes. Though I occasionally do big and complicated, it's hard for me to justify spending $299 a year on CAD. Almost all my 3D printing needs are done with FreeCAD, where it's inability to do assemblies is irrelevant and there's no need for visualisations.

Horses for courses.

Dave

[Author]

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