Blender è un'applicazione di livello professionale gratuita, in cui la matematica non è particolarmente necessaria ma può essere utilizzata con buoni risultati e i suoi requisiti minimi non sono poi così eccessivi (la mia copia di Blender funziona su un Dell 380 di 20 anni al massimo):
Hardware minimo (utilizzo di base)
CPU dual core 2 GHz a 32 bit con supporto SSE2.
2 GB di RAM
Display a 12 bit 1280 × 768
Mouse o trackpad
Grafica compatibile OpenGL 2.1 con 512 MB di RAM
Hardware consigliato
Hardware ottimale (di produzione)
CPU a otto core a 64 bit
16 GB di RAM
Due display full HD con colore a 24 bit
Mouse a tre pulsanti e tavoletta grafica
Doppia scheda grafica compatibile OpenGL 3.2 con 4 GB di RAM
Se ti piace la programmazione, sono disponibili anche le librerie Python e C.
Inoltre, c'è un sito StackExchange dedicato a Blender , che è utile.
A titolo di confronto, da Best 3D Design / 3D Modeling Software 2019 (15 di 30 sono gratuiti) , questo elenco comparativo potrebbe essere utile
Name Level OS Price Formats
3D Slash Beginner Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi or Browser Free, 24$/year Premium 3dslash, obj, stl
LibreCAD Beginner Windows, macOS and Linux Free dxf, dwg
Photoshop CC Beginner Windows and Mac 142€/year 3ds, dae, kmz, obj, psd, stl, u3d
SculptGL Beginner Browser Free obj, ply, sgl, stl
SelfCAD Beginner Browser Free 30-day trial, 9.99$/month stl, mtl, ply, dae, svg
TinkerCAD Beginner Browser Free 123dx, 3ds, c4d, mb, obj, svg, stl
Clara.io Intermediate Browser Free, Premium from 100$/year 3dm, 3ds, cd, dae, dgn, dwg, emf, fbx, gf, gdf, gts, igs, kmz, lwo, rws, obj, off, ply, pm, sat, scn, skp, slc, sldprt, stp, stl, x3dv, xaml, vda, vrml, x_t, x, xgl, zpr
DesignSpark Intermediate Windows Freemium, 835$ (All Addons) rsdoc, dxf, ecad, idf, idb, emn, obj, skp, STL, iges, step
FreeCAD Intermediate Windows, Mac and Linux Free step, iges, obj, stl, dxf, svg, dae, ifc, off, nastran, Fcstd
MakeHuman Intermediate Windows, Mac, Linux Free dae, fbx, obj, STL
Meshmixer Intermediate Windows, Mac and Linux Free amf, mix, obj, off, stl
MoI Intermediate Windows and Mac 266€ 3ds, 3dm, dxf, fbx, igs, lwo, obj, skp, stl, stp and sat
nanoCAD Intermediate Windows Freemium, 180$/year sat, step, igs, iges, sldprt, STL, 3dm, dae, dfx, dwg, dwt, pdf, x_t, x_b, xxm_txt, ssm_bin
OpenSCAD Intermediate Windows, Mac and Linux Free dxf, off, stl
Sculptris Intermediate Windows and Mac Free obj, goz
SketchUp Intermediate Windows and Mac Free, 240$ Pro dwg, dxf, 3ds, dae, dem, def, ifc, kmz, stl
3ds Max Professional Windows 1505$/year, Edu. licenses av. stl, 3ds, ai, abc, ase, asm, catproduct, catpart, dem, dwg, dxf, dwf, flt, iges, ipt, jt, nx, obj, prj, prt, rvt, sat, skp, sldprt, sldasm, stp, vrml, w3d xml
AutoCAD Professional Windows and Mac 1575$/year dwg, dxf, pdf
Blender Professional Windows, Mac and Linux Free 3ds, dae, fbx, dxf, obj, x, lwo, svg, ply, stl, vrml, vrml97, x3d
Cinema 4D Professional Windows, macOS 3695$ 3ds, dae, dem, dxf, dwg, x, fbx, iges, lwf, rib, skp, stl, wrl, obj
modo Professional Windows, macOS, Linux 1799$ lwo, abc, obj, pdb, 3dm, dae, fbx, dxf, x3d, geo, stl
Mudbox Professional Windows and Mac 85€/year fbx, mud, obj
Onshape Professional Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android 2400€/year, free and price reduced business version available sat, step, igs, iges, sldprt, stl, 3dm, dae, dfx, dwg, dwt, pdf, x_t, x_b, xxm_txt, ssm_bin
Poser Professional Windows, Mac Standard 129.99$, Pro 349.99$ cr2, obj, pz2
Rhino3D Professional Windows and Mac 495€ Educational, 995€ Commercial 3dm, 3ds, cd, dae, dgn, dwg, emf, fbx, gf, gdf, gts, igs, kmz, lwo, rws, obj, off, ply, pm, sat, scn, skp, slc, sldprt, stp, stl, x3dv, xaml, vda, vrml, x_t, x, xgl, zpr
ZBrush Professional Windows and Mac 400€ Educational, 720€ Single User dxf, goz, ma, obj, stl, vrml, x3d
CATIA Industrial Windows 7180€; Edu. licenses av. 3dxml, catpart, igs, pdf, stp, stl, vrml
Fusion 360 Industrial Windows and Mac 499.80€/year, Edu. licenses av. catpart, dwg, dxf, f3d, igs, obj, pdf, sat, sldprt, stp
Inventor Industrial Windows and Mac 1935$/year 3dm, igs, ipt, nx, obj, prt, rvt, sldprt, stl, stp, x_b, xgl
Solidworks Industrial Windows 9950€, Edu. licenses available 3dxml, 3dm, 3ds, 3mf, amf, dwg, dxf, idf, ifc, obj, pdf, sldprt, stp, stl, vrml