- Open Source Cad Software 2d
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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. LibreCAD is a free open source CAD software for Windows. It is a simple 2D CAD software through which you can manually create simple 2D shapes and structures. All the essential 2D designing tools such as Line, Circle, Curve, Ellipse, Polyline, etc. Are present in the Tools menu of this software. You can easily select one tool at a time and start making shapes and designs.
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.
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
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.
Open Source Cad Software 2d
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
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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.
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
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 Ipad piano vst. ! 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.
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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Autodesk's AutoCAD is an industry-standard for high-end CAD designing. But does that make it the right CAD tool for your construction business?
Autodesk is a juggernaut in the industrial drafting solutions market. And its products are the go-to tools for many types of professionals, including product designers, architects, and instrumentation engineers.
The company's AutoCAD is a popular tool in the construction industry, offering features such as 3D modeling and parametric constraints. But big things have long shadows; in AutoCAD's case it's the $1,610 per user per year price tag. It's a fairly expensive option, especially for small construction firms.
If you're looking for a less expensive software option, the fact that the market is fraught with terrible AutoCAD knockoffs doesn't help either.
So, we've done the research to bring you the top four AutoCAD alternatives. Read on to learn about the key capabilities and pricing of the top four AutoCAD alternatives for construction businesses.
How we selected the best AutoCAD alternatives
Products are listed in alphabetical order. To make the list, products had to meet the following criteria:
- Core AutoCAD capabilities: The product had to offer similar 2D and 3D modeling capabilities and support similar file types to AutoCAD.
- Minimum of 20 user reviews published on Capterra's site in the last two years: Recent reviews help us analyze the pros and cons of the alternatives.
- High 'likelihood to recommend' rating: The product should have an average recommendation rating of at least 8 out of 10 on Capterra.
- High 'features and functionality' rating: The product must have a minimum functionality rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
1. FreeCAD: Open source parametric 3D CAD modeler
| Recommendation rating:8.1/10 Features & functionality rating:4.2/5.0 Reviews:71 |
FreeCAD comes with capabilities such as 3D parametric modeling, robot simulation, 2D drawing and sketching, and a rendering module for creating high-quality 3D images.
The tool is suitable for a wide range of uses in manufacturing and engineering industries. However, construction businesses can also use it to create floor plans or to design 3D building models.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Users like the tool's many features, considering it's completely free to use for commercial purposes. | Users mention that certain modules can become outdated when there are no updates from the community. |
| Users also like the fact that the tool is lightweight and works on most systems, even those with low RAM, without crashing. | Users also say that there is a steep learning curve. |
How much does FreeCAD cost? | |
| FreeCAD is an open-source solution and can be freely downloaded for use on platforms such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. |
3D modeling of a building in FreeCAD(Source)
2. SketchUp: Intuitive 3D modeling
| Recommendation rating:9.6/10 Features & functionality rating:4.8/5.0 Reviews:128 |
SketchUp helps users draw 2D construction plans as well as 3D models of buildings. Along with design-related features, the tool offers features for document management with support for numerous file types (including DXF, DWG, FBX, OBJ, XSI, and VRML) and the facility to export images (including PDFs and HD animations).
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Users mention that the tool has a short learning curve. | Users mention the tool is not suitable for large-scale designs that require parametric modeling. |
| Users like the intuitive interface that makes direct 3D modeling easy. | Users say the tool lacks functionalities and relies heavily on plugins, which come at an additional cost. |
How much does SketchUp cost? | |
| SketchUp's cloud-based version offers a basic free plan for personal use; the paid plans start at $119 per user per year. The on-premise version is priced at $695 (one-time license fee), with an additional $120 for annual upgrades. |
3D construction plan design in SketchUp (Source)
3. SolidWorks Premium: Full-featured CAD tool
| Recommendation rating:8.6/10 Features & functionality rating:4.5/5.0 Reviews:324 |
SolidWorks Premium is a good option for 3D sketchers who want CAD software for detailed design work. The tool comes with extensive design features that allow for creating 2D drawings and 3D models. The tool also supports document management (with version control) for building a repository of up-to-date designs.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Users like the tool's wide set of functionalities for 3D modeling. | User mention that the software is buggy and prone to crashes. |
| Users like the vendor's exhaustive training resources. | Users mention that the software is incompatible with any operating software beside Windows. |
How much does SolidWorks Premium cost? | |
| SolidWorks Premium's license costs and terms of use vary based on whether you're using it for commercial or academic purposes. The student version is $150 for a 12-month term-of-use license fee; the commercial pricing is customized based on a business's specific needs. |
3D image design in SolidWorks (Source)
4. Vectorworks Architect: Suitable for BIM modeling
| Recommendation rating:8.0/10 Features & functionality rating:4.4/5.0 Reviews:25 |
Vectorworks Architect offers capabilities such as 2D drawing, 3D modeling, and building information modeling (BIM). As its name suggests, the tool is designed to help architects; it allows building 3D construction site models, drawing site blueprints, and designing digital walk-through presentations.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Users like the tool's capabilities to integrate with other CAD solutions. | Users say the tool comes with a steep learning curve. |
| Users also like the tool's capabilities for creating high quality graphics. | Users mention that the tool can become slow on computers running on fewer than 4GB RAM. |
How much does Vectorworks Architect cost? | |
| Vectorworks Architect offers only custom pricing for the software with a free 30-day trial period. |
Autocad Open Source
Designing stairs in Vectorworks (Source)
Best Open Source Cad Software
What other great CAD options are out there?
Is there a great CAD program that we've missed? What do you use? If you use AutoCAD, why do you prefer it? Let us know in the comments below!
The AutoCAD alternatives listed here are based on ratings from Capterra users. To expand your search, compare other CAD software on Capterra.
Autocad Open Source Free
Note: Listed pros and cons are derived from features listed on the product website and product user reviews on Gartner Digital Markets domains (Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice). They do not represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Capterra or its affiliates.
Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.
