Compare Forma3D vs. PolyWorks|Modeler

Forma3D turns an iPhone or iPad into a complete scan-to-print workstation: fix broken STL files, sculpt new models, color them for multi-filament printing, and hand off print-ready 3MF files to a slicer — no desktop software or cloud involved. All mesh processing runs locally via Metal. Multi-color printing done right: paint faces with brush, fill, eyedropper, or auto-segmentation, then export 3MF carrying real slicer profiles — printer, nozzle, layer height, infill, supports, brim, seam. Bambu Studio and Creality Print assign AMS filaments automatically; files go straight to MakerWorld and Bambu Handy. A real modeling toolkit: component-level editing of vertices, edges, and faces — extrude, inset, bevel, mirror, revolve, remesh, simplify, subdivide — plus Manifold CSG booleans, nine cut shapes, and a curve-based bend tool. Eleven sculpting brushes with multiresolution, symmetry, matcap shading, and Pencil pressure. Create from primitives, sketches, 3D text, curve tubes, SVG traces, photo reliefs, lithophanes, or procedural bolts, screws, gears, and racks. Scan real objects with LiDAR + Object Capture at three detail levels. Check printability with an overhang heatmap, split oversized models along edge loops with peg-and-socket joints, and fix non-manifold geometry via bridging and grid fill. Imports/exports STL, 3MF, USDZ, ZIP, SVG; encrypted projects, autosave, full undo. Viewport extras: 8 X-Ray styles incl. live cross-section, HDRI and matcap lighting, ViewCube ortho views, editable camera FOV. 43 Blender-style hotkeys, Apple Pencil hover, interactive tutorials, 16 languages. Free with 3-day trial.

PolyWorks|Modeler™ is an all-encompassing software solution designed for reverse engineering, enabling the extraction of high-quality CAD entities, curves, surfaces, parametric sketches, and prismatic features from polygonal representations of scanned parts, which can then be utilized as a foundation for your advanced CAD modeling needs. The initial phase of the reverse-engineering process involves converting digitized point clouds into surface-based polygonal models, commonly referred to as meshes. These polygonal models are not only more compact and accurate but also less prone to noise compared to raw point clouds, making them suitable for industrial applications like milling, 3D printing, and aerodynamic simulations. It's crucial to implement effective scanning techniques that guarantee both quality and precision, utilizing real-time quality meshing technology. Users can enhance their models by filling in gaps, smoothing, and reconstructing surfaces, cleaning up boundaries, and recovering sharp edges to ensure surfaces are watertight. Additionally, users can extrude boundaries, offset surfaces, recreate fillets, and perform Boolean operations with CAD models, thus expanding the potential of their designs and applications. With these features, PolyWorks|Modeler™ significantly streamlines the reverse-engineering process, making it an invaluable tool for professionals in various industries.