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Print at Jan 24, 2026, 5:51:15 AM View all posts in this thread on one page
Posted by [email protected] at Oct 25, 2024, 6:00:39 PM
New to SH and looking for model prmitives
I’m new to SH and I’m looking for model primitives ( for instance a cylinder where all dimensions can be changed, location is controllable in all three axis and the blob can be textured). So far I’ve found a cylinder and a box. I’m looking for (but not limited to) a polygon where all dimensions and locations can be modified, a cone and a disk with rounded edges or a ring of round material.
Any help would be more than welcome.
I’m also looking for a cheap (free) 3d modeling program more in the sold modeling of a AutoCAD Solidworks (vector based) as opposed to a Blender type modeler.
Thanks,Brian

Posted by Keet at Nov 6, 2024, 5:18:00 PM
Re: New to SH and looking for model prmitives
You can change the dimensions and elevation of all objects in Sweet Home 3D with the exception of walls and rooms that have a few constraints.

For your model primitives:
• Use the Generate 3D Shape plugin to create any 8-point form you want
• Use the Basic Shape Generator plugin to create basic forms
• Download and import the DodecagonShapes library from dodecagon.nl
• Combine shapes and export/import to get a new shape

Some useful manuals, for example how to change material names, you can find on the Dodecagon Manuals page. And of course there are the Sweet Home 3D users guide and the Sweet Home 3D Tips and Tricks page
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Dodecagon.nl
1300+ 3D models, manuals, and projects

Posted by scjo at Nov 6, 2024, 6:57:16 PM
Re: New to SH and looking for model prmitives
SH3D is great at easily modelling and visualizing buildings and their interior. It is not trying to be a generic modeller. This limitation is really its advantage, as the tool can be kept simple this way.

That said, I figured 3 ways to obtain models for interior objects, in SH3D generally called furniture:
    1. do "real" solid modelling in a CAD like software like FreeCAD
    2. make meshes (no solids and not parametric) with textures in a VR modeller like blender
    3. find suitable models on respective web sites. I guess searching this forum or googling for 3d furniture models gets you there.
I’m also looking for a cheap (free) 3d modelling program more in the sold modelling

#1 takes the highest efforts but may pay off for you. If you don't want to spend a fortune, the next powerful CAD system is FreeCAD (FC). Runs on anything that has mouse and keyboard, free as in free beer and as in freedom, constantly improving.

Cost:
    - steep learning curve though milder than blender's,
    - usability not quite state of art of commercial systems
    - models have close to no visual properties, at most color and alpha per face.
Reward:
    - models suitable for prototyping, e.g. NC machines or 3D print, for designing own fittings or accessories based on the existing; accurate to the nm (10⁻⁹ m) if you wish
    - solid models, i.e. no worry about face orientation, tesselation after modelling, i.e. not part of the model
    - parametric design, i.e. every modelling step can be parametrized and changed any time back in history.
If you feel like going that way, I am ready to support you, as are many more people. Here with the basics or with model interchange among FC and SH3D, more in depth in the FC forum .
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Cheers - Joe //


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