I took a quick look at a new 3D CAD system, Part3D.
Part3D is an iPad application, an unusual platform for a powerful CAD tool. Usually, CAD tools require hefty desktop environments to run, but that’s not the case here.
The app is distributed on the Apple Store, and you can get started right away without a subscription or even identification.
There are some other iPad apps that produce 3D models, but they tend to use sculpting methods, rather than the more precise parametric approaches required to produce usable parts.
Here, Part3D does exactly that: you can produce simple sketches with lines, circles, and rectangles. The sketches can then be used to perform extrusions or cuts. It’s also possible to sketch on top of geometry, making it easy to produce holes, for example.
Sketching is done using an Apple Pencil, so you can’t really do it with your fingers, as far as I can see. However, you do need the pointing precision of the pencil anyway.
I was pleased to see that when sketching, Part3D automatically connects sketch elements when the pencil comes close. This avoids a lot of fussing to maneuver elements to close gaps.
I could not, however, figure out a way to numerically specify dimensions. This is really required in order to produce proper parts. Part3D does list the dimensions of objects as you sketch them, so you apparently have to make each element the correct size as you sketch it.
My favourite tool, filleting, is available in Part3D. Filleting always makes parts look far better, and also can reduce material use.
You can hide sketches and bring them back if you need to do more extrusions.
There are tools to do linear arrays and arcs of repeated parts, but those seem to be available only in the paid version.
I could not figure out how to modify already-drawn sketch elements, mostly because there doesn’t seem to be a way to select objects properly.
Part3D allows anyone to export .STL files directly from the app on the iPad. You can save to Files, or better to your iCloud drive, where you can then pick up the file on a desktop machine to be used with slicing software for printing.
As you can see in the above export image, there is a premium level for Part3D. There’s a monthly or annual fee that unlocks the ability to export in STEP and OBJ formats, and apparently increases the quality of STL exports.
How good is the export? Here’s a view of an exported design I made in Part3D, and you can see that the curve is slightly coarse, but probably perfectly suitable for many applications.
Part3D is a good start on what could eventually be a very good application for quickly making usable parts for 3D printing. However, it’s clearly in an early stage of development, and requires a few more features to make it actually usable. At this point, it is likely not worth the subscription price.
If you are looking for an iPad app for 3D CAD, there are a few others that are currently available.
Via Part3D
