FreeCAD
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2010) |
 Bearing's 3D model running on freeCAD 0.10. | |
| Developer(s) | Juergen Riegel, Werner Mayer |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 0.9.R2836
/ January 16, 2010 |
| Preview release | 0.10.2878
/ January 23, 2010 |
| Repository | |
| Written in | C++, Python |
| Operating system | 32-bit MS Windows (NT/2000/XP), All POSIX (Linux/BSD/UNIX-like OSes) |
| Type | 3D Modeling, Scientific Engineering |
| License | GPL or LGPL |
| Website | http://free-cad.sourceforge.net |
FreeCAD is a general purpose 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (GPL & LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties.
FreeCAD features tools similar to Catia, SolidWorks or Solid Edge, and therefore also falls into the category of MCAD, PLM, CAx and CAE. It will be a feature based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture which makes it easy to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.
As with many modern 3D CAD modelers it will have a 2D component in order to extract design detail from the 3D model to create 2D production drawings, but direct 2D drawing (like AutoCAD LT) is not the focus, neither are animation or organic shapes (like Maya, 3ds Max or Cinema 4D), although, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD might become useful in a much broader area than its current focus.
Another major concern of FreeCAD is to make heavy use of other open-source libraries that exist in the field of Scientific Computing. Among them are Open CASCADE (a powerful CAD kernel), Coin3D (an incarnation of Open Inventor), the Qt GUI Framework, and Python, a popular scripting language. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.
See also
External links
 | This Microsoft Windows software-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Linux-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Unix-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |