As the community of 3D printing enthusiasts grows, so does the demand for software to create your own models. Recently, in our ranking, we presented you the TOP 10 most popular software for beginners, which also includes the SelfCAD program. The free trial version made us very curious, which is why we present the design tool to you in more detail in an interview with founder Aaron Breuer.
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Could you briefly introduce yourself and the SelfCAD software?
Hi 3Dnatives, my name is Aaron Breuer and I am the Founder and CEO of SelfCAD. SelfCAD is an easy-to-use and browser-based online design tool, meaning there is no software to download. Running in the browser allows switching between computers without losing design progress. To do this, the user only has to log in to our website with their credentials. SelfCAD is a slightly different 3D software compared to other CAD programs on the market. In addition to the user-friendly operation, it has a built-in slicer and is therefore suitable for beginners in 3D design.
What is the idea behind SelfCAD? What is the difference to the other programs on the market?
With SelfCAD you have everything you need. If you compare it to other software, you can play with it, but the equipment in terms of available tools is limited to a minimum. The reason for this is usually the same: after the user has become familiar with the software, he is forced to buy an expensive subscription or more expensive programs. The companies don’t care that users sometimes have to pay much more and still have a basic understanding of how to use it. That’s exactly why we decided to create a CAD editor that is easy to understand and with which you can create complex and professional designs at the same time. With us there are no expensive top-up costs, the whole package is provided in one cheap subscription.
When developing SelfCAD, we worked with several designers to find out what functionality they wanted in a design tool. At the beginning, we asked modelers of the Zbrush program which brushes they use on a daily basis, and the answers do not surprise us. Out of a total of 100, they only use a few of them every day. We have integrated these into SelfCAD alongside the other most important functions such as shaping, modeling and a unique 2D drawing tool. Furthermore, our users appreciate the ability to draw freehand and create models in seconds with our shape and image generator. We are simply a one stop shop for everything!
Who is SelfCAD intended for?
There are typically three distinct areas for CAD software. The smallest segment is 3D modeling for engineers and architects, who value a mathematically and physically correct representation. The associated software is very expensive and requires a great deal of time and learning effort. The second and probably largest area is 3D design for animation, rendering and special effects. Similar to the first, many professionals use the numerous software for film and photo productions in TV and videos.
In the last area, the market for manufacturing, we classify our SelfCAD. Here one attaches less importance to effects and focuses on the practical aspect. An example would be creating a simple cube. In Photoshop you can change its appearance in a few clicks, which looks cool in itself, but is not printable. For manufacturing, you have to have a real part geometry to turn it into a real object, and that’s expensive in any case. With SelfCAD, we want to offer a solution that is less specialized in complex effects and makes 3D design for 3D printing easy.
Where do you see SelfCAD in 10 years and how will CAD software change over the next few years?
That’s a good question. In the coming years, prices for 3D printers will continue to fall and the technology will become more accessible to a wider range of people. For this reason, I see great growth for our company, because this also increases the demand for an all-in-one solution like SelfCAD. In the future we would like to work more closely with schools and convince the big companies of SelfCAD.
Do you have one last word for our readers?
I honestly believe that half of all homes in the US will have a 3D printer in the next 5 years, so I don’t think there is a better time for a program as easy to understand and use as SelfCAD. You can turn your ideas into real objects with very little investment of time. SelfCAD as a standalone package does not lack any functionality and we look forward to hearing what users think of it in the future. We are also looking forward to introducing a CNC machine slicer that will expand our portfolio.
SelfCAD starts at $9.99 per month, visit their website for more information and a free 30-day trial.
Have you already tried SelfCAD? Let us know what you think and leave a comment on Facebook and Twitter!