11 answers

• 
  Hardi Meybaum over 1 year ago

  For native Mac apps you have following possibilities:

  1) Google Sketchup (http://sketchup.google.com/) - really easy to use, ideal tool for beginners
  2) AutoCAD for MAC (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=17326753) - AutoDesk just launched a product for Apple. I haven't use it so I don't no how good it is.
  3) Siemens NX is for MAC as well (http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/nx/index.shtml) . I have played around with it while ago and it was pretty good. But this is very powerful tool and are ment for hard-core engineers.

  1. 
     Margus Holland over 1 year ago

     I’ve used AutoCAD LT quite extensively before, but just for plain 2D. And AutoCAD for Mac kept crashing pretty steadily, so I’m not too sure about that one.

  2. 
     Hardi Meybaum over 1 year ago

     You can do 3D with new AutoCAD for mac.

• 
  Josh Mings over 1 year ago

  For Mac, you have a few options, some free:

  Google SketchUp - http://sketchup.google.com
  SolidThinking - http://www.solidthinking.com
  Blender - http://www.blender.org
  Cheetah3D - http://www.cheetah3d.com
  Cinema4D - http://www.maxon.net
  modo - http://www.luxology.com/modo
  Cobalt - http://www.ashlar.com/products/product-overview.html

  For prismatic modeling, the Ashlar products would be a good choice. For free and quick Google SketchUp is a fine way to start off.

  1. 
     ALI over 1 year ago

     + Autodesk Inventor
     http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk-inventor/

• 
  Scott Bruins over 1 year ago

  Are you open to running boot-camp on your mac? You could load windows 7 on your machine and run just about anything. What kind of modeling are you looking to do?

  1. 
     Margus Holland over 1 year ago

     I’d rather not install viruses on my machine :)
     But on a more serious note, sure, that would probably be the path to take. I’ve fiddled around with Sketchup a bit, but somehow it felt like I had to tread really-really carefully or I’ll end up messing it up pretty quickly.

     But I’d go with the basics – mostly mechanical things etc.

• 
  Kristina Narusk over 1 year ago

  Would Google Sketchup be too amateurish and limiting? At least that's what I've been recommended most of the time and it should run on Mac, too.

• 
  Hardi Meybaum over 1 year ago

  There are two ways to do it:
  1) there are native MAC apps that you can run
  2) you can use Parallel, VmWare or other software to emulate Windows.

• 
  ALI over 1 year ago

  since you have used autocad then it will be easy for you to use inventor.

  Inventor is nice and easy to learn

• 
  Julian Harding over 1 year ago

  I have seen Solidworks on a Mac, via PC emulator software (?).

• 
  Allan over 1 year ago

  Rhino 3D is coming to the mac as well, currently in Beta - you could apply to become a beta tester

  1. 
     J over 1 year ago

     You need to already use Rhino to become a Beta tester. I run Rhino on a Mac and am very happy with the basic system, though it still has a long way to go before it is a competent package to use in a business enviroment.
     I also run a PC for my full Rhino, when the Mac version falls on its knee's.

  2. 
     Hardi Meybaum about 1 year ago

     Allan, any updates on a Rhino for MAC?

  3. 
     Allan about 1 year ago

     @Joules not true, I have no license for Rhino and I'm a beta tester for the Mac Version - you just have to apply and they have to accept it

  4. 
     Allan about 1 year ago

     @Hardi sorry for the late answer, but yeah - they are still working on it, hopefully it won't take too much time until they are finished

• 
  Siim Teller over 1 year ago

  http://tinkercad.com/

  Platform agnostic, perfect for a beginner, great for 3D print prep so you’ll get to experience your stuff IRL thus giving positive feedback loop = keeps your learning going.

  1. 
     Josh Mings over 1 year ago

     great suggestion Siim. Love that little app. lotta possibility there and hope they continue developing.

• 
  Chris Duncan over 1 year ago

  "One problem being, that I’m now tied to Mac and cannot in any way possible even think about going back to Windows."

  Why?

  It depends what you want to lean toward, a designer or an engineer.

  If a designer you can get away with a Mac because the programs that run on it are good for the design and not necessarily production.

  If an engineer then you need to deal with windows because these are the real manufacturing programs.

• 
  J about 1 year ago

  I'm a member of the Rhino beta program. They are doing a good job, but still a long way to catch up to the Windows version. Then again the Mac development team is very small in comparison.

  For me the convergence of OSX and iOS are a compelling combination for on the move CAD and shop floor prototype design.

  The new iPad, if it can be integrated with machine control is going to be a desktop killer.