| Guided reading | FreeCAD is a cross-platform mechanical engineering and product design tool based on OpenCasCade. As a parametric 3D modeling tool, it works with PLM, CAx, CAE, MCAD and CAD, and its capabilities can be extended with a number of advanced extensions and customization options. |
It has a minimalist Qt-based user interface with switchable panels, layouts, toolbars, extensive Python API, and an Open Inventor compliant 3D scene representation model (thanks to the Coin 3D library).
case
Home users/hobbyists: Have a project you want to build, have already built, or 3D print? Modeled in FreeCAD. No prior CAD experience required. Our community will help you master it quickly!
Experienced CAD users: If you work with commercial CAD or BIM modeling software, you'll find similar tools and workflows in FreeCAD's many workbenches.
Programmers: Almost all FreeCAD functionality can be accessed in Python. You can easily extend the functionality of FreeCAD, automate it with scripts, create your own modules, or even embed FreeCAD into your own programs.
Educators: Teach your students a free software without worrying about buying a license. They can install the same version at home and keep using it after leaving school.
Function
Free Software: FreeCAD is free for everyone to download and use.
Open Source: Open source on GitHub.
Cross-Platform: All Windows, Linux and Mac users can enjoy the functionality of FreeCAD.
Comprehensive online documentation.
A free online manual for beginners and professionals.
Annotation support. For example: text and dimensions.
Built-in Python console.
Fully customizable and scriptable user interface.
There are online communities that showcase projects.
Extensible modules for modeling and designing various objects.
FreeCAD offers users far more features than we've listed here, so feel free to check out the rest on the features page of their website.
There are many 3D modeling tools on the market, but few are free. If you're a modeling engineer, architect or artist and looking for a program you can use without having to spend cash, FreeCAD is a pretty nifty open source project that you should take a look at.