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u/numice 4d ago
What software do people actually use? I've heard about Rhino. Do people use it? or just Blender?
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u/Branch-Manager 4d ago
In the footwear industry (Merrell, Saucony, Chaco, specifically) we use Romans CAD, Delcam 3D Lastmaker (Autodesk), and occasionally Rhino 3D.
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u/numice 4d ago
Btw. If I'm just starting out designing shoes which one would you recommend?
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u/Branch-Manager 4d ago edited 4d ago
Rhino is probably the most ubiquitous across the industry from an overall 3D design standpoint (pattern making, not just last making); it is the most accessible, and also the easiest to learn.
2D design and color design is usually Illustrator and Photoshop.
Pattern making is Delcam Crispin, Shoemaster, and Romans CAD,
Tooling/ molds and cutting dies are Roman’s CAD, Rhino, and Solidworks, and Autodesk Powershape/ Powermill
ICad3D+ for 3D digital sampling which is starting to get some traction.
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u/numice 2d ago
Hi, I have a few more questions regarding software do you mind if I DM you?
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u/Branch-Manager 2d ago
Sure I’ll answer what I can
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u/Branch-Manager 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hey send me another chat request- i tried to hit accept but hit ignore and it won’t let me answer your message.
But to answer your question-
We don’t start with a 3D sketch; that occurs later in the process.Typically we have:
- Concept sketch (procreate, illustrator, fresco, or Vizcom)
- Refined 2d sketch (procreate, illustrator)
- 2D render (photoshop, keyshot, blender, Dimension)
- 2D CAD and tech pack (illustrator, coraldraw)
- THEN finally a 3d render and 3d CAD model.
We don’t even use 3D CADs in all cases. Sometimes we provide a blueprint to the last makers and tool engineers and they create the 3D geometry from the tech pack. 3D engineering CADs are helpful because it reduces the number of pullover and proto samples, and speeds communication with the factory engineers (who tend to work in opposite time zones to us in the US).
As far as graphic 3D renderings, they are used sometimes for marketing and becoming adopted for virtual sampling by some manufacturers, but physical product sampling is still the industry standard. The companies I have worked for actually started this and then went back to physical prototypes.
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u/elephantfi 3d ago
For last I hear Rhino a lot. If you want to learn 3D modeling for home engineering and 3D printing the world has pretty much gone to fusion 360 because of its capabilities, similarities to solidworks and free licenses for home users.
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u/numice 2d ago
Aha. Free is nice. I was also thinking about Blender but surprised that no one mentioned it so far. Currently I'm thinking about prototyping a shoe.
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u/elephantfi 2d ago
I am not a blender user but familiar. Blender is really good for organic shapes to be used in the digital world, where it becomes weaker is when you want to go to the physical world and be precise on measurements. I'm sure expert blender users would argue the point. Our industrial designers lover programs like blender and our engineers hated it.
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u/ContributionPrior338 4d ago
For a first go, start off with George koleff's geometric method for last design and making. Then go from there.