Faulty Equipment | Hobby CAD shootout
faulty.equipment
A collection of quick reviews of CAD software for the hobbyist. Features free and/or accessible options such as Onshape, FreeCAD and Fusion 360

Hey there! As a 3D printer addict I do a lot of small parts in CAD to print and use around the house. Lately I’ve been exploring all sorts of CAD software since finding out there’s a more around than just Fusion360 and Onshape so I started exploring what’s out there and jotting down my impressions.

Hope this is not spam, just want to help people see what’s around and help them pick!

  • adityajazz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    I’ve tried ZW3D. What I can say is it looks like NX. I’m familiar with it cause I use NX before. And it capable doing g3 continuity. As far as I know it has good price, permanent license, and maintenence skip (just skip maintenance and after years just pay 1 time maintenence fee you will get the latest version). It is not as good as Siemens NX, needs more fix/features here and there. But it has potential in the future.

    But for hobbyist I’ll recomend Solid Edge Community Edition, because it has no limitations besides for non-commercial use. This one is really powerfull if you can use sync tech mainly for prismatic modeling. And 2024 version has been launched, just wait it till community edition will be updated.

    Creo I never touch it so can’t say about it. But I like the UI. PTC has Onshape (cloud based CAD) too if you want to try, just register and open/design using your web browser. But for free account your model will be public, if you have academic/edu email you can use it to register and your file will remain private.

    Inventor, I have tried but didn’t like it.

    There are Alibre for affordable price. Also there are T-flex and Kompas 3D (russian made).

    If you like direct editing based CAD (history free) there is Ansys SpaceClaim. *(Solid Edge is kind of hybrid can do Sync/history free and Ordered parametric).

    CMIIW