In order to use it you will need 3D models. Models can be in a variety of formats, but they have to eventually be translated into STL to be used by StlWork. We include a copy of StlTrans with StlWork to make it easier to find existing models or applications that can design a model. This page is an alphabetical list of compatible, low cost, 3D cad programs that are capable of designing models for use with StlWork.
| Version | Application Name (Link) | Price | Useful File Format (s) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 3D Canvas Pro | $69.95 | Exports DXF, VRML, 3ds |
Booleans, solid primitives USA |
| 3.0 | Active Dimensions | $56 | STL | USA |
| 6.1 | Amapi | $399 | STL | Nurbs, Recommended, French |
| Pro 1.2 | Amorphium | $229 | DXF, 3DS, Vrml | Good value, USA, interesting interface |
| .7 | Anim8or | Free | 3DS,OBJ | USA. Very nice for free! |
| v4beta | Argon | $895 | STL | Ashlar-Vellum, USA,Nurbs, Extensive I/O formats. |
| 3.5 | Bcad | $275 | DXF | more traditional Cad, Russian |
| 2.12 | Blender | Free | Vrml | Dutch |
| 2.0 | Breeze Designer | Free? | Vrml, DXF | Australia . POV |
| 5.0 | Bryce | $299 | DXF, 3DS, Vrml | Formerly Meta Creations, now Corel Canada. Terrain Meshes |
| Studio1.1 | Carrara | $399 | Vrml | USA |
| 5.0 | Cinema 4D GO | $195 | 3DS, Vrml, DXF | German |
| 1.5 | Creature Creator | $199 | 3DS | Sweden |
| 1.0 | Creature Lab | $299 | 3DS | Sweden |
| 3D max | DesignCad | $299 | DXF, Vrml | USA, traditional CAD |
| 1.0 | DXModel | $10 | 3DS | Canada |
| 3.0 | Easy Model | $35 | DXF, 3DS, Vrml | Netherlands |
| 1.0 | Imagine | $350 | DXF | USA Started as Silver on Amiga |
| NA | Inspire3D | $495 | VRML | USA, Light version of Lightwave |
| 2001 | Intellicad | $129 | DXF | USA |
| 1.31 | K3D | Free | OBJ | USA |
| 1.0 | Merlin 3d | $549 | DXF, 3DS | Canada, ACIS based, iges and step |
| 2.2 | Minos | Free | Vrml | French |
| v4beta | Neon | $445 | STL | Ashlar-Vellum, USA,Nurbs, Extensive I/O formats. |
| NA | Organica | $149 | DXF, 3DS | USA |
| 4+ProPack | Poser | $219+149 | DXF, 3DS, Vrml | USA, Formerly Meta Creations, for faces and figures with clothes. |
| 4.0 | Realsoft3D | $700+$170 | 3DS | Finland, IGES I/O optional. Nurbs |
| 2.0 | Rhino | $795 | STL | Complex surfaces, Nurbs USA |
| 1.51 | sPatch | Free | DXF, Vrml | USA |
| 1.0 | Softy3D | $39 | DXF, 3DS | Spain? Nice Organics |
| 9.0 | Solid Edge Origin/Plus | Free/$495 | STL | USA Unigraphics, Basic modeler, future upgrade path unknown. |
| 2.4 | Spazz3D | $100 | VRML | USA |
| 3.5 Plus | Strata | $149+ | Vrml | USA |
| 5.1 | TruSpace | $299 | DXF, Vrml, 3DS | USA, Nurbs |
| NA | Truspace for Intellicad | $239 | DXF | USA, Nurbs |
| 7.0Pro | TurboCad | $399 | DXF, 3DS,Vrml | Traditional CAD, ACIS enabled, USA |
How do we decide what programs to include? All programs on the list are less than $1000. They are all capable of designing 3D solid models that can be saved directly as Stl, or can be translated into Stl by StlTrans. None of them are part of a competitive Cad-Cam product.
Prices were as of July 10, 2001. If you know of additional products that may be available for less than $1000, please let us know at : imserv@imsrv.com The versions listed were available on-line for the prices shown. Note: In many cases there are older versions of the same software available for much less money, even free, and sometimes upgradable to the latest version! If you are on a tight budget, check out E-bay and other software sellers for retail boxed copies of some of these programs available for pennies on the dollar.
7/11/01-added Bryce & Poser
7/25 Added Imagine, Organica, Realsoft3D, Spatch
7/27 Added Merlin 3D
8/1 Added Argon & Neon
8/15 Added Inspire3D and Origin
9/2 Added Anim8ot, Breeze Designer, DXModel, Easy Model, K3D, Softy3D, Spazz3D, Cinema 4D GO, Active Dimensions, Creature Creator, Creature Lab