Best Budget 3D Cad software

[HuubParticipant @huub]

PS In support of Huub's comments, whilst it's been a good while since I last tried FreeCAD, it was very much a Curates Egg back then. From memory some things worked very well, others didn't (or maybe I just couldn't make them). I'm sure FC will have improved but frankly (as I found a better alternative) I'm not tempted to go and take another look unless I really need to.

I really understand your feelings. At the start when so many things went wrong, I often got frustrated and considered selecting another package. Now I have learned the pitfalls, I am glad I continued using/learning Freecad.
I think that most CAD packages have a steep learning curve.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

It was a while ago now Huub but I think one of the issues is that when you are trying to learn something new (and it doesn't seem to work) it really helps if you have some confidence that it SHOULD work somehow and that the most likely the cause of any problem is your lack of understanding.

Even though I didn't stick with Fusion, I was always pretty sure that any issues were probably caused by my poor product skills, rather than any undiscovered 'features' (e.g. bugs). I had the same confidence later when starting out with Solid Edge (and I still do). Having really good documentation also helps.

However, I was never completely sure with FreeCAD, which didn't help, because it's much easier to give up when you hit a problem.

Regards,

IanT

Edited By IanT on 09/04/2022 15:39:02

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by IanT on 09/04/2022 12:59:40:

I have no idea how Alibre CAD compares in detail with other modern CAD packages but it looked quite capable from the MEW articles and Jason hasn't moved his allegiance yet.

From some of the things that David has said he wants to do the entry level Alibre Atom3D may be missing some useful features.

I don't think Atom has a "draft" function that pro and expert have, this is to add a draft angle to a face or faces of a part and useful but not essential if you want to create 3D patterns for printing/casting.

Alibre can also get a bit confused with adding fillets particularly if you don't do them in the right order and they are something you are going to want on patterns, F360 seems a little better at fillets.

I also don't think Atom has the "trace" function which is nice if you are designing from an old image or old drawings as it allows you to import an image, scale it, correct distortion and then literally draw your part on top of the image. No need for the old way of drawing a grid over a blown up photo copy and getting your sizes and proportions from that. Not sure if F360 has it as I don't design with that.

The limited amount of drawing output from Free F360 may be an issue, I think it will do a pdf which would be OK to go with a build thread in the mag but if you were wanting to send out for laser or waterjet cut parts then no DXF or DWG file would be as pain.

Probably best for David to download a couple of free trials, watch some videos and then try to draw the same part or parts in each and see which he finds most to his liking.

[David-Clark 1Participant @david-clark1]

Hi Jason

Sounds like a plan.

The reason for the budget is I am living off £198 a week pension. Not because I don’t want to spend out, I can’t at the moment.

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

Jason,

Alibre Atom3D does have the Tracing Image function. It is in all levels of Alibre software.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Thanks David J, was not sure if it did

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

And the draft function is include in the extrude dialogue pane in Atom.

John

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Does that not do it to all sides of the sketch being extruded as it does in pro, this is the draft that I don't think is in atom

Edited By JasonB on 09/04/2022 20:44:23

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Jason,

Yes. I thought that was what was wanted. I couldn't visualise an object that would need a draft angle on only one face of a projection. Though it would be possible to design such a construction if necessary with separate sketches and extrusions.

John

Edit.  Posts crossed!  That facility is not in Atom.

Edited By John Hinkley on 09/04/2022 20:51:30

[RobinParticipant @robin]

I am getting to know FreeCAD, the price is right and there are lots of helpful YouTube movies about using it

[HuubParticipant @huub]

Robin,

When you start using Freecad you probably run in to the "topological naming" problem. Basically this is an old hard to fix bug. The Freecad WiKi has a page about how to solve and prevent the "topological naming" problem.

Freecad Topological naming problem

Huub

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 09/04/2022 16:08:58:

Posted by IanT on 09/04/2022 12:59:40:

I have no idea how Alibre CAD compares in detail with other modern CAD packages but it looked quite capable from the MEW articles and Jason hasn't moved his allegiance yet.

From some of the things that David has said he wants to do the entry level Alibre Atom3D may be missing some useful features.

I don't think Atom has a "draft" function that pro and expert have, this is to add a draft angle to a face or faces of a part and useful but not essential if you want to create 3D patterns for printing/casting.

Atom does allow you to use a draft angle on extrusions.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Neil, see my subsequent posts to that one , Pro has the ability to put draft on individual faces. For example this half round does not need draft on the curved parts but would at the ends

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

FreeCad Cad Cam (Completely open source.)

Hi All

This 2 hour video gives a very good perspective of the various commands and features of FreeCad
**LINK**

The presenter at the JOKO Engineering You tube channel has made many other videos on FreeCad**LINK**

As far as I know this is the only Free CAD CAM option available with a feature set approaching Fusion360

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Posted by John McNamara on 15/04/2022 04:47:55:

FreeCad Cad Cam (Completely open source.)

Hi John;

I'm also using FreeCAD now – the Youtube videos by "FreeCAD Academy" – link: FreeCAD Academy are also very good in my opinion.

I'm running it on my M1 Mac, no problems so far! I'm using CamBam for CAD; running the Linux ARM version of CamBam in a "UTM" Virtual Machine on my Mac. Other than currently using a file exchange directory between the VM and my desktop, it's seamless.

I've also got the Mac M1 version of QCAD Pro, which, like SOD, is my go-to for simple CAD work.

I did have a Win10 desktop computer with Atom3D, but it was actually a pain in the backside to have *another* computer collecting dust used only for 3D CAD. I was thinking of trying Atom3D in a VM on my Mac, but the license nabbed me when I tried; David Jupp sorted that out (unlocked my license – thank you David) but by then, I had downloaded FreeCAD, so have not yet bothered trying Atom3D in a VM. Maybe in the Autumn I'll have another go.

Just my experiences, for that they are worth. JohnS.

[Author]

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