Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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G'day everyone,

CAD and 3D Modelling are thrown around a lot when I do 3D printing and computer part design. I have been asked questions about the software that I use, and I think that it is a very misunderstood part about the design process, especially when 3D modelling software looks similar to 3D CAD (and in some ways they do the same thing).

I am no 3D modeler by any means, but I have used 3D modelling software (3ds max and blender) for rendering parts, so I know my way around the software, and some of the big differences between it and parametric CAD.

Solidworks has always been my go to, and I it is the one I know the best, but I have used CATIA V5 on and off over the years.

My goal here is not to show you how to use solidworks, it is just a brief overview of what it can and cannot do, what are its strengths and why I think it is a great piece of software (when it doesn't crash).

I will also attempt to describe the advantage of parametric cad, and why it is useful over direct 3D modelling.