FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler that functions a lot like popular applications like SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360, or Onshape.
I stumbled upon FreeCAD several years ago when looking for software with free commercial-use abilities. I was confronted with a very scary user interface I wasn’t used to (I believe this was before their 1.0 version). The idea that tools were inside of workbenches or that a pad was an positive extrude was a bit too much for me.
After some time further developing my CAD skills, I began to see how FreeCAD was actually very similar to any parametric software. Their new version helped a ton too. This is my case for using this tool to learn CAD, AND, a way to democratize engineering and design for those without access or the financial means to purchase expensive licensing.
This tool actually helped me become a better drafter. In most “stronger” CAD, many functions are taken for granted. Dropping points or adding lines usually snap to horizontal or vertical constraints, or you can sometimes snap to the midpoint of a line segment. In FreeCAD, you have to do many of those things manually. But because you do them manually, you know what constraints exist. One of my biggest frustrations while using other software, is that I lose track of the auto-constraints to the point where my models break and I have no clue why…
The interface is highly customizable under Edit >> Preferences. I’ve made a ton of changes to the UI/UX to match what I’m used to in Creo and Onshape. I’d be happy to share those changes.
I am so happy that this open-source project exists, and that there is an effort to build a tool that makes modeling accessible to all people. I believe it is a matter of time before it will become competitive with other applications. As far as I can tell, I can do basically everything in FreeCAD that I can do in other commercial software. Of course, even I can argue that the workflow to complete those functions are easier, shorter, and more reliable in a professional grade suite (for now). However, FreeCAD is free and it is FreeCAD is supported by a large community of CAD users who want its workflows to become easier, shorter, and more reliable in time. And let’s be honest, the majority of CAD functions you will use 95% of the time are easy and reliable to use.
I’m hopeful that things will continue to improve and that new features will be introduced. The contributors release weekly development builds for users to test and provide feedback. The random build I tried a month ago actually made the extrude feature feel more “professional.”
I will add tutorials on my website soon!
Cheers.