Originally Posted by
oscarl48
The STL importer is the only add-on I own. I use it almost exclusively to port 3d models into designer. You can do basic shapes but it is incredibly versatile for 3d models to 2.5d imports.
I have done hundreds if not thousands of patterns using the STL importer as part of my pattern creation workflow. In combination, I use blender 3d, which is a free program, to create 3d models which I then save as STLs and import into designer. There are many options in software to create the 3d models to include the 3d add-on for designer. I have not used sketchup very much so don't know its capability at creating STLs for designer.
The one thing with any 3d modeling software is the learning curve is going to be extremely high unless you have used it before (being good with sketchup may help). Its taken me over 2 years to get to the level I'm at with blender. I still have a long ways to go since I am self (youtube) teaching myself. There are some limitations with the STL add-on software but overall it works pretty darn good in importing 3d models into designer if they are designed correctly. Just for reference you can reference any pattern I've built to see what the software can do. Most of them were built as 3d models in blender and then imported as STLs into designer.
Below are some examples of a finished project and patterns I've created as 3d models and then imported into designer using the STL importer add-on.