this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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Free Software

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What is free software?

Free software is software that respects the 4 software freedoms. The 4 freedoms are

Please note: Free software does not relate to monetary price. Free software can be sold or gratis (no cost)

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FreeCAD: Your own 3D parametric modeler (www.freecad.org)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I've been using FreeCAD a lot for woodshop projects, both designing the furniture I build, and for 3D printing shop accessories such as vacuum hose adapters.

FreeCAD is an incomprehensible pain in the ass. It tries to be all things to all people. It's probably the biggest example of an open source project that is designed to be made ~~before~~ rather than it's designed to be used. It's also exceptionally powerful, and the built-in spreadsheet is a game changer. Especially with the addition of a few macros, the ability to build your list of parameters in a spreadsheet, to work with measurements and quantities in a spreadsheet-style workflow, is unique AFAIK, and lets me work in ways no other software can.

I can't recommend it, and I can't recommend it enough. Version 1.0 will be amazing when it comes out in 2188.**

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Most people I've talked to who have used it say the same thing

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I don't think I've ever finished a model in FreeCAD. The UI is so incredibly frustrating that I end up uninstalling it and modeling in OnShape/Fusion360 depending on the OS I'm on at the moment.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I love freeCAD though I admit I probably wouldn't suggest it to anyone I didn't know very well. It's incredibly powerful and can do amazing things even if you only use 5% of its tools, it is very complex though and it's UI has a steep learning curve so if you're just getting started with a 3d printer or just want to make basic technical drawings then it's not what you're looking for - but if you want to make complex things that interlock and interact or if you want to apply some complex formula to your model then it's amazing.

Not that people shouldn't play with it, it can teach e lot about workflow and engineering practice. Also it's a great tool to have on hand for certain jobs, downloading parametric models and putting in your required sizes then outputting the model is really easy and useful. If you already know how to work with old engineering blueprints and convention's then you'll have a huge head start.

[–] Hazdaz -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Garbage software and a perfect example of why open source software usually sucks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I disagree, i've found pretty adequate for my needs. I agree the UI isn't great, it reminds me of how Blender used to be, but I use it for all my parametric modelling for 3d printing stuff around the house. Fusion 360 is a better experience overall but to say FreeCAD is garbage seems extreme. If you need hobbyist software and care about your freedoms at all it's worth the slight inconvenience to use FreeCAD instead.