Posted By Lucie Gaget on Mar 21, 2018 |
3D modeling software are useful for many different applications and could be a great asset for your business. It is a real advantage to develop your project, and it can be used for architectural projects, in the medical field or even in the fashion sector. Everything is possible. In this blog post we are going to see how a 3D modeling program could help you in your daily work and what an open-source software exactly is. Then, we will see what are the best available open-source CAD software in 2020 in order to help you find the right CAD tool for your company.
FreeCAD is a free open source 3D CAD software for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Through this software, you can create and edit both 2D and 3D CAD models. To work with different types of 3D models, it offers various different workbenches like Part, Drawing, Mesh Design, Raytracing, Robot, etc. In each workbench, you will get a specific set of tools to create a specific type of 3D model. SolidWorks Standard Get up to speed quickly with SolidWorks Standard and unlock the benefits of this powerful 3D design solution for rapid creation of parts, assemblies, and 2D drawings. Application-specific tools for sheet metal, weldments, surfacing, and mold tool and die make it easy to deliver best-in-class designs. Version history.
Why should you use CAD software?
3D modeling software could be useful for your company for diverse applications. It can be used by engineers or designers, and even by amateurs. It is becoming a convenient and essential tool to work on designs, prototypes, or to produce 3D printed parts. You can use it to 3D model your parts in order to 3D print them, or just for the visualization of your projects.
Treyarch infinity ward. Do you need to improve your design process or want to elaborate industrial designs?
These kinds of programs are particularly convenient if you are looking for a new prototyping process. Indeed, prototyping is becoming quite simple while using 3D modeling software and additive manufacturing. You can do many iterations at a lower cost, and you just have to modify your CAD model if you need to change something.
3D modeling software could also be a good solution to get a better visualization of your project or to improve your product design. From technical drawings to advanced 3D models for mechanical engineering, everything is possible if you choose the right CAD tool. We know that there is necessarily a software on the market that will fit your needs, and it may be an open-source software!
What is an open-source CAD software?
Open-Source software has a free public code that can be downloaded and modified by developers. It can be great if you want to add features to specific software in order to improve it, and adapt it to the use of your business. All the community can participate in the software development, anyone can write an extension to make the software better. It clearly has a collaborative aspect.
There are various open source CAD software programs available, that you can download for free. You can use them to create and modify your 3D models and develop your professional projects. Are you interested in starting 3D modeling with an open-source CAD software? Let's see what the best programs are for your business.
The best open-source CAD programs
Here is a selection of the best open-source 3D CAD software for 3D applications. You will mainly find software for advanced users, as these programs are addressed to professionals or programmers.
General open-source software
FreeCAD
FreeCAD is a parametric 3D modeling software. You don't need previous experience with 3D modeling to use it, but you can totally achieve complex models with it, for engineering or architecture projects. Indeed, it has professional features adapted to work for mechanical engineering. It can be used by anybody: home-users, designers, programmers and even educators.
If you need to 3D print your part, check our tutorial to learn how to prepare your 3D model to 3D printing using FreeCAD.
Blender
Blender is a widely used open-source software. It is useful to create various 3D designs, from electronic projects to digital art. It can create impressive models, using polygonal modeling techniques. You can use Blender to create simulations and animations.
You need to be experienced with 3D modeling, but if you need a little help, Blender has a really large community, offering a lot of tutorials.
If you are planning to 3D print your model, check out our tutorial to prepare your design for 3D printing using Blender.
OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is an open-source parametric software, that can be used to create 2D designs, and 3D models. It is a great tool to make 3D objects designed for additive manufacturing. While using OpenSCAD, you can't modify directly with your mouse the CAD model that is in the viewer. This software uses its own language.
OpenSCAD is perfect if you need to create accurate models, but you have to keep in mind that it is really programmer oriented.
Wings 3D
Fastest ssd usb. Wings 3D is a free open-source software. It offers a great variety of modeling tools, that could help you with all of your projects. It is a good software to create your CAD models and work on texture and materials. However, it is not the perfect tool if you need a CAD program for animation and rendering.
We have a tutorial that could help you to create your 3D model with Wings 3D.
OpenCascade Technology
OpenCascade Technology is a complete 3D modeling tool: from modeling to visualization, everything is possible. The geometric, topological and visualization algorithms of this program will allow you to create 3D models for any type of sectors, just for visualization, or for manufacturing processes.
SolveSpace
SolveSpace is a parametric 2D/3D modeling software. It is a good tool if you need an open-source CAD software to export your 3D files for 3D printing. It has all the basic features of a 3D software, and it is possible to make complex designs. You can work on the design of an object or process mechanical simulations with this program.
Art of illusion
Art of illusion is an animation oriented software. It is an open-source program, allowing to work on 3D modeling, texturing and material, but also able to make some rendering. Art of illusion is a high end animation program, powerful enough to be used professionally.
OpenJSCAD
OpenJSCAD is an open-source CAD program. It is quite similar to OpenSCAD, that we discussed previously in this blogpost, but the difference is that OpenJSCAD is a browser-based program. It is easier to use. Indeed, it is a good solution as you don't need to install any software to create the 3D model that you want to 3D print.
Moreover, all the features are well explained on the website, you just have to follow the indications to create your own 3D designs.
JS Sketcher
JS Sketcher is a CAD program that you can access with your browser. This open-source parametric modeling software is written in javascript. For the moment, there are not too many features, so it is a simple software to use if you are just beginning with open-source programs, but you will still need a little bit of training at the beginning. This is a really promising software.
QCAD
QCAD is a free computer-aided design software. It is hosted on GitHub and is open to any contributions. This 2D CAD software offers a wide range of CAD tools. This CAD program can be extended through its complete ECMAScript (JavaScript) interface.
BRL CAD
This CAD tool software has been developed by Mike Muuss at the Army Research Laboratory and used by US military. They used it for academic, industrial or even health applications. This solid modeling system has been around since 1984, it simply became an open-source project in 2004.
It is now possible to use this program for engineering or graphic applications.
LibreCAD
Solidworks Open Source File
LibreCAD is a free open-source CAD with a large community of users, contributors and developers. This 2D CAD software is really complete and useful for laser cutting projects, for example. The source code can be downloaded directly from GitHub
Open-source CAD software for specific applications
Makehuman
If you are looking for an open-source software for chara-design: you have to try Makehuman! It has an intuitive interface, and perfect software tools for beginners. It is allowing you to use parametric modeling to create your characters, and to work on body proportion, faces, eyes, etc. This software offers a lot of possibilities, but you will not be able to create realistic 3D models with this CAD program
OpenFX
OpenFX is a 3D modeling software, it has a powerful feature set. This open source software is majoritarly used for chara-design. OpenFX is a flexible program, offering you a lot of possibilities in terms of chara-design. For example, you can make good skeleton structures and skinning with this 3D software. You can even simulate actions with the character that you've created, to see how your design reacts.
MolView
MolView is a molecular modeling software. It is a free web-application, with a steep learning curve, so it is possible to use it even if you have no previous CAD experience. This open-source program allows to create various projects such as structural formulas, simulation of proteins, etc.
Microsoft Open Source Database
You can watch the video below to get more information about this software:
OpenVSP
Open VSP (Vehicle Space Pad) is an open-source software for aircraft. It has been developed by NASA. This is a serious and intuitive tool that will allow you to create CAD models easily and create accurate designs and mechanical overview for all your aircraft projects.
If you are just getting started, here is a tutorial for you to discover the basic CAD software options of OpenVSP:
We hope that this top will help you to find the perfect open-source CAD software for your project. If you already have a 3D model, and want to try additive manufacturing, you can upload your 3D model right now on our online 3D printing service. You will access our 3D printers, allowing you to create amazing 3D printing projects.
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The purpose of this article is to determine, on the basis of selected criteria, the top 5 CAD software for designing furniture. The software selection criteria include
(a) Ability to perform design tasks, (b) Ease of use, (c) Difficulty and time required for the learning curve, and (d) Cost.
The reasons for using these criteria to select the top furniture design software are detailed in this article.
1 SketchUp Free
By now, SketchUp has become a 3D CAD classic. What strikes first-time users of SketchUp at once is the neat, and tidy interface. There are not too many buttons that can boggle beginners learning this free online CAD software tool. Thanks to the intuitive tools that allow navigating, and sculpting accurately in the 3D view, it is possible to create simple 3D printable models from scratch within the first few hours of learning.
The free online CAD software tool also includes drawing layout functionality, and allows surface rendering in a variety of 'styles.' SketchUp comes with its exchange repository integrated into the program itself: 3D Warehouse – a library where approximately 2.2 million SketchUp models can be downloaded directly into the program.
Users of the Premium version of SketchUp (available for Windows and macOS) are able to add new features to the program by installing extension – many of them free of charge – there is virtually no limit to its potential capabilities. Also, the support of this free online CAD software tool for 3D printing is already impressive and growing every minute.
2. CAD Pro
CAD Pro® drafting software lets you design, visualize, and document your furniture design ideas clearly and efficiently.
CAD Pro offers a full set of drafting software features that will allow you to design any type of blueprints for modern furniture design.
CAD Pro provides you the necessary design tools to create fine furniture design for your bedroom, dining room, home office and living room.
Design and create comfortable quality furniture designs and furniture blueprints with CAD Pros' design tools. CAD Pro allows you to start with a blank canvas, upon which you can apply the best of your prior experiences in the world of fine furniture designs.
CAD Pro is excellent for preparing very detailed computer aided design projects such as; furniture designs, furniture blueprints or any type of computer-aided design. Computer –Aided Design Software is a computer graphic language that is used to communicate ideas, furniture drawings, furniture plans and furniture blueprints from the creative design stage through production. Computer aided design is the best way to produce your next furniture designs.
3. SolidWorks
SolidWorks is a very versatile furniture design software that you can use for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and offices. The CAD models support a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel furniture, wooden furniture, as well as custom-design furniture.
You can use this tool to design virtually any type of furniture components, including desks, chairs, tables, office panels, and customize them according to your needs.
If you want to see the whole picture, you can also add metal doors, wooden doors, windows and shutters to get a detailed view on how the room will look like once you add the finishing touches.
SolidWorks supports 3D modeling and simulation for cabinets, countertops, cabinet hardware, stairs and rails, knobs, hinges, stops, etc. This powerful furniture design software will help you unleash your imagination and design the perfect house.
4. SketchList 3D
If you're a fan of wooden furniture or work wood professionally, then this is the perfect furniture design software for you. SketchList 3D simplifies the time consuming and repetitive woodworking design tasks, allowing you to work everywhere, in the shop or at your client's home.
The solid 3D sketches allow you to mark even the tiniest details and quickly modify ten if something looks out of proportion. The virtual boards also let you see how the elements of your design go together.
Once you're satisfied with the end result, you can use Adobe 3D PDF to send your sketch to your clients so that they can see the ‘before' version of your work.
5. PRO100
PRO100 is a professional software for furniture and interior design. This tool will allow you to design the interior of kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms faster and more efficiently.
One of the main strong point of this tool is the quality of visualisation. The crystal-clear detailed images that PRO100 renders are very useful, allowing you to spot even the tinniest design details.
The latest version of the tool brings even more impressive features to the table:
Design export to 3D panoramas (including VR glasses, mobile devices, web sites)
Swap any part, e.g. handles, fittings, drawers
Distribution tool (e.d. for shelves or lights arrangement at equal distances from each other)
Export to *.jpg files
6. SketchChair
SketchChair is a free, open-source software tool that allows anyone to easily design and build their own digitally fabricated furniture.
7. Cabinet Design Software – SmartDraw
SmartDraw's cabinet design software is easy to use and gives you great, professional-looking results. Even if you're using it for the first time.
Start with the exact cabinet template you need—not just a blank screen. Then simply stamp custom shapes for shelf units, hampers, drawers, and racks on your design. Move, delete, add, and stack units quickly and easily.
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