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Mireia Fernandez Cristia

Updated 2 months ago

The CAD Software You’ve Been Waiting For

FreeCAD is a free and open-source 3D CAD (computer-aided design) modeler meant for graphic design. Intended for mechanical engineering product design, it dabbles much in computer-generated numerical modules and digital representations of the designs. However, FreeCAD can also be used in a number of other fields, such as architecture or electrical engineering. Since it is open-source, the coding of FreeCAD can be tweaked and improved upon even further by its dedicated community, by using the Python programming language. FreeCAD isn’t restricted to just one type of design it can generate—because of how general the 3D structures can be enhanced and evolved, its use can reach far and wide with the right application of coding.

Free For All

FreeCAD has tons of features that make it so flexible to almost any type of designing. First, it has a complete Open CASCADE Technology-based geometry kernel, which allows complex 3D manipulations on various shape types so you won’t just be restricted to the preset ones you’ll find. This program has a full parametric model, meaning that the shape of the 3D objects you’re using can depend on either tweaked properties or other objects. You can add plugin extensions and different modules by scripts to add more functionality to the whole program. Importing and exporting to the standard formats for CAD is pretty easy, although it doesn’t cover full support of other formats. If you’re more hands-on with the 3D designs, you can use FreeCAD’s Sketcher, which lets you draw geometrical 2D shapes that you can use as bases for your objects to be built upon. There’s also a robot simulation module that lets you test robot movements in your design. In terms of technical design, you also get the various features of rendering, architecture, and mechanical path machining for further testing and building. FreeCAD is a multi-platform program and has a full GUI for you to play with. You can run a command line on it and use your Python scripts when processing actions. As a CAD modeler software, FreeCAD is highly versatile, with great emphasis on the flexibility of features and how you can program almost anything on it.

Avatar of Mireia Fernandez Cristia

Mireia Fernandez Cristia

Mireia Fernández es una apasionada del mundo de los videojuegos y las nuevas tecnologías cuya afición se remonta al MSX HB 501p de su niñez. Nacida y residente en Barcelona, Mireia lleva más de 10 años ejerciendo como editora y está especializada en la redacción de análisis, tutoriales y guías de software así como también en darlo todo para tratar de publicar noticias antes que nadie. Entre sus aficiones está pasar horas y horas jugando con la consola, pasear a su golden retriever y mantenerse al día de las novedades del mundo SEO. Pero sin duda alguna, el mayor amor de su vida es su familia, a quienes quiere con locura.

  • Pros

    • Tons of features
    • Highly programmable
    • Lets you design from scratch
    • Lots of plugins and modules
  • Cons

    • More for engineering
    • A bit difficult for new users
    • Much of the features are locked behind a paywall
 0/4

App specs

Also available in other platforms

Program available in other languages



User reviews about FreeCAD

by Grace Jo

It is fast and easy to download. So, I would like to explore more by using this software.

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Laws concerning the use of this software vary from country to country. We do not encourage or condone the use of this program if it is in violation of these laws.
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