# 3D Printing design software for MAC

**URL:** <https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [August 1, 2014, 7:55am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117 "2014-08-01T07:55:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![frlobo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/frlobo/32/1279_2.png) [@frlobo](https://community.particle.io/u/frlobo)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:55am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117/1 "2014-08-01T07:55:50Z")

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Offtopic. But smart people lives here!

Quick Question:  
I am on a MAC, Just recently purchased a nice 3D printer. Don’t want to bootcamp for solid works. Does someone recommends a descent 3D modeling software for my printer?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![zach](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/zach/32/20714_2.png) [@zach](https://community.particle.io/u/zach)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117/2 "2014-08-01T15:16:48Z")

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I’m not much of a 3D modeling guy, but SketchUp is pretty cool, and there’s a free version. What 3D printer are you using?

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**Author:** ![pra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@pra](https://community.particle.io/u/pra)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117/3 "2014-08-01T15:40:38Z")

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I use ViaCad. Less than $100 and works well for me. I produce STL files to go into Slic3r for geode production.

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**Author:** ![developstuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/developstuff/32/1912_2.png) [@developstuff](https://community.particle.io/u/developstuff)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117/4 "2014-08-01T15:44:11Z")

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OpenSCAD if you want to program your models 🙂

[http://www.openscad.org/](http://www.openscad.org/)

And another handy tool is MeshLab:

[http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/](http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/)

Both OSS

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**Author:** ![Hootie81](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/hootie81/32/2879_2.png) [@Hootie81](https://community.particle.io/u/Hootie81)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117/5 "2014-08-01T17:23:41Z")

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ill second sketchup for ease of use… can have models drawn up in a few minutes

it will export STL’s with a plugin and then i use makerware to generate the file to print

What printer did you end up buying?

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**Author:** ![frlobo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/frlobo/32/1279_2.png) [@frlobo](https://community.particle.io/u/frlobo)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/3d-printing-design-software-for-mac/6117/6 "2014-08-01T23:55:31Z")

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Thanks for all your help. Im trying apps tonight!

I bough the form labs form+

> **[High Resolution SLA and SLS 3D Printers for Professionals | Formlabs](https://formlabs.com/)**
>
> Formlabs designs and manufacturers the Form 2 stereolithography (SLA) and Fuse 1 selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers for professionals.

More expensive to run but the stereo lithography its amazing in quality terms.