Five Best Free CAD Software

Jack Lie CNC machining expert

Specialize in CNC Milling, CNC Turning, 3D Printing, Urethane Casting, and Sheet Metal Fabrication Services.


CAD software is an important tool for professional architects, engineers, animators, and graphic designers. It takes a lot of practice and skill. If you need free CAD software or 3D modeling tools, but you’re not sure which one is right for you? Check out our selection of 5 of the best free CAD software tools. It includes 2D/3D CAD programs for beginners, intermediate and advanced users.

Best Free CAD Software

3DBuilder

3D Builder is a 3D modeling tool developed by Microsoft, 3D Builder is powerful and can meet all the requirements of the majority of people’s 3D modeling, the software not only supports the traditional Win7 Win10 system, but also supports Win10 mobile phone and XBOX one platform.
View, capture, personalize, and print 3D models using the 3D Builder. Download multiple 3d files and edit them using the 3d modeling space. Use a webcam to take photos and make them three-dimensional. Personalize 3d files by applying embossed effects to your name, or by innovating by combining models and parts together.Generate from scratch using simple shapes.

Wings 3D

Wings 3D is a powerful and easy to use modeling tool, mainly used for 3D polygon modeling operations, with simple operation, support and pov-ray and YafRay plug-in compatible, support automatic UV mapping and other functions.

The software features
Single function, designed as modeling tool (modeler), small computer configuration requirements, using plug-in renderers such as pov-ray and YafRay.
Menu USES text configuration, no ICONS, multiple selection and modeling tools
Modeling tools support adsorption functions and vector operations, customizable shortcuts and interfaces.
The fine-tuning mode allows for quick adjustments to the model, assigning and editing light, material, texture, and vertex colors.
Automatic UV mapping, polygon (Ngon, five-sided above) graphics support.
There is a plug-in manager for loading and unloading plug-ins that supports importing and exporting many popular formats.

FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open source CAD/CAE tool based on OpenCASCADE. OpenCASCADE is an open source CAD/CAM/CAE geometry model core, from Matra Datavision, France, is the famous CAD software EUCLID development platform.
FreeCAD is designed directly for mechanical engineering and product design, and is also suitable for engineering, such as architecture or other engineering majors. FreeCad helps you build and assemble components, that is, a lot of 3D parts.These parts are 3D fixed models that can be connected or assembled by joining, restricting, executing, popping, adjusting, or controlling.These parts and their connection constitute the so-called structure and device, called mechanical assembly.By changing the shape, size, and form of the attachment, you can simulate the system without using a physical model.

SolveSpace

SolveSpace is a free (GPLv3) parametric 3d CAD tool.

Applications include:

  •  modeling 3d parts — draw with extrudes, revolves, and Boolean (union / difference) operations
  •  modeling 2d parts — draw the part as a single section, and export DXF, PDF, SVG; use 3d assembly to verify fit
  • 3d-printed parts—export the STL or other triangle mesh expected by most 3d printers
  •  preparing CAM data—export 2d vector art for a waterjet machine or laser cutter; or generate STEP or STL, for import into third-party CAM software for machining
  • mechanism design — use the constraint solver to simulate planar or spatial linkages, with pin, ball, or slide joints
  • plane and solid geometry — replace hand-solved trigonometry and spreadsheets with a live dimensioned drawing

Blender

Blender is an open source, cross-platform, versatile 3d animation software that provides a wide range of animation short film production solutions ranging from modeling, animation, materials, rendering, to audio processing, and video editing.It has a variety of user interfaces that are convenient to use under different working conditions, including built-in green screen image match-making, camera reverse tracking, mask processing, late node synthesis and other advanced video solutions.It also has built-in cartoon FreeStyle and Cycles renderer based on GPU technology.Python as a built-in script, support for a variety of third-party renderers.

The main function:
A fully integrated authoring suite that provides comprehensive 3D authoring tools, including modeling, mapping, Texturing, binding, skinning, animation, physics simulation of particle and other systems, scripting, rendering, motion tracking, compositing, post-processing, and game production.

Cross-platform support, which is based on OpenGL graphical interface is the same on any platform (and can be customized by Python script), can work on all the mainstream Windows(10, 8, 7, Vista), Linux, OS X and many other operating systems.

Each release has more than 200,000 downloads worldwide.