To answer the OPs question, no generally 3D printers do not come with design CAD software. Its possible some that I don't know about do but that is not the general rule. You need to provide your own CAD packages to design with.

As stated, they commonly come with or give you references to slicing software that converts what you design into gcode that drives the printer. However this is not design software.

curious aardvark listed a couple good ones that are free. Another would be TinkerCad.


Basically anything that can output a STL file (or OBJ or DXF that can be converted to STL) will work. I use Modo ($1k graphics design program) to make stuff with. I bought it for doing 3D graphics meshes for CGI rendering. But it makes things I can print too Not really the best tool for the job but I am familiar with it and I can get the job done.