There are numerous CAD Software tutorials online with the most famous one being SketchUp. While applications like SketchUp are useful they are not very user friendly for beginners with no prior experience working with CAD software. One company that offers free 3D design software but without all the difficult learning curves is FreeCAD.
The idea of learning Computer-Aided Design (CAD), in the beginning, seems exciting and somewhat overwhelming because we don’t know where to begin. In this free cad software tutorial, I will teach you how to get started using a popular free cad software called Autodesk Inventor. The purpose of this article is not to show you all the Autodesk Inventor buttons, but to get you familiar with the way this program works and how it affects the way you think about design.
1) Adobe Substance 3D
Adobe Substance 3D is a bunch of smart, creative apps that include Painter, Designer, and Sample app. This bunch of apps provides access to thousands of customizable models, lights, and materials created by s world-class guest artists.
Features:
- Help you to build simple or complex models.
- You can set up assets, materials, lights, and a camera for virtual photography.
- You can shape your model as you would in a real-world workshop.
- Allows you to create Augmented Reality (AI) experiences using assets you’ve designed in your favorite apps.
2) planner5d
Planner 5D is another important 3D alternative tool that enables you to create realistic interior and exterior designs in 2D/ 3D modes.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.489.0_en.html#goog_1417809442
Features:
- It allows you to use the Snapshots feature to capture your design as a realistic image
- Both 2D and 3D views as you design from various angles
- The intuitive and user-focused interface which offers an easy design process without any tutorials or instructions
- Apply custom colors, patterns, and materials to furniture
- Be a part of a growing community. Upload and customize projects
3) ZBrushCore
ZBrushCore is free CAD program that offers a simple way to make 3D sculptures. This application is easy to learn for people having no experience. It has many brushes to make models.
Features:
- Offers Tessellation (Covering surface with pattern).
- Automatic UV (Ultraviolet light) Creation.
- Easy to use toolbars to access frequently used tools.
- You can optimize the brush the way you like.
- It provides preloaded materials to design objects quickly.
- This application has a symmetry mode that enables you to define an axis.
Link: https://zbrushcore.com/mini/
4) FreeCAD
FreeCAD is an open-source tool to design a real-life object of any size. It is one of the best free CAD programs which allows you to modify your design easily. It enables you to effortlessly create 3D design from 2D.
Features:
- Runs as a command-line application
- Parametric associative document objects
- This CAD program has built-in Python console
- Graphical creation of planar geometry.
- Fully customizable/scriptable graphical user interface
Link: https://www.freecadweb.org
5) AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software that architects, engineers, and construction professionals rely on to create precise 2D and 3D drawings. You can edit and create drawings in AutoCAD on virtually any device.
Features:
- Create, edit and view, drawings on virtually any device
- Helps you to access any DWG file in AutoCAD with Autodesk’s cloud
- Reduce eye strain with contrast improvement
- Allows you to display all nearby measurements in a drawing
- Create, edit, and view CAD drawings
- Remove multiple objects with easy selection and object preview.
6) Vectary
Vectary is one of the best free cad software for beginners 3D designing platform. You can access it from any browser without installing it. This web-based application provides high-quality 3D results. The program helps you to assemble your first design by simply drag and drop.
Features:
- It provides high-quality templates.
- You can drag and drop 3D models.
- It offers various advanced and fully textured material.
- This free 3d CAD software offers smart shortcuts to speed up your work.
- Make photorealistic rendering with just one mouse click.
- Supports collaboration.
- You can easily print design on 3d printer.
- It enables you to attach comments to your models.
7) Open SCAD
Open SCAD is a tool for creating solid three-dimensional objects. It is free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This free CAD software for PC enables you to quickly preview the parts of objects. You can use it to make a parametric design by changing the parameters of objects.
Features:
- You can import and export the SVG, AMF, and 3MF files.
- Offers easy to use GUI.
- It provides CSG (Constructive solid geometry) geometry engine.
- You can customize the software the way you want.
- It can play sound notification on completing rendering.
- Supports shortcuts.
Link: https://www.openscad.org/
8) QCAD
QCAD is an open-source application designed for CAD in two dimensions. It enables you to create technical drawings like building plans, mechanical parts, interiors, and diagrams.
Features:
- It allows you to input and output DXF (Drawing Interchange File) and DWG (Drawing) files.
- This CAD program includes more than 40 construction tools.
- QCAD offers a library with more than 4800 CAD parts.
- It provides easy to use JavaScript interface.
- This application enables you to print on multiple pages.
- Support for TrueType fonts.
Link: https://www.qcad.org/en/
9) LibreCAD
Liberated is a free CAD program for 2D design. It allows you to create a CAD project of a high standard. This tool includes a wide range of tools for drawing shapes like line and circle.
Features:
- Developed by an experienced team and supported by a friendly community.
- LibreCAD started as a project to build CAM capabilities.
- This free CAD software for Mac is available in more than 30 languages.
- You can use it for creating 2D drawings.
Link: https://librecad.org/
10) BlocksCAD
BlocksCAD is a free CAD software that helps to make three-dimensional models that are appropriate for printing on a three-dimensional printer. This cloud-based tool allows users to learn the concept through visualizing and designing models.
Features:
- Download files for a three-dimensional printer.
- It enables you to create lessons.
- This application allows you to edit your model in less effort.
- It helps you to improve math and computer science skills.
- You can manage the account with ease.
Link: https://www.blockscad3d.com/
11) Wings 3D
Wings 3D is a free CAD software for making three-dimensional design. You can use this application to move, scale, rotate, cut, and weld any object of your choice.
Features:
- It provides a smooth preview of your design.
- You can add texture to your model.
- Wings 3D enables you to export any image for painting.
- This tool enables you to customize your interface.
- Supports hotkeys (shortcuts) for ease of convenience.
- You get a wide range of selection tools.
- It contains a wide range of modeling tools.
- Supported languages are English, Italian, French, Japanese, German, and many more.
Link: http://www.wings3d.com/
12) SketchUp Free
SketchUp Free is CAD software that enables you to make objects without any hassle. The tool comes with a 3D gallery that lets you search for models and share among other users. It is one of the best free 3D CAD software that lets you visualize your ideas.
Features:
- It helps you to customize the 3D workspace.
- You can collaborate with other people.
- This free cad program offers easy management of layers.
- Google SketchUp helps you to set lightning effects.
- Supports numerous plugins.
Link: https://www.sketchup.com/plans-and-pricing/sketchup-free
13) KiCAD
KiCAD is an open-source automation suite design for CAD. It has a symmetric editor that helps you to create any design without limit. This application allows you to make a PCB layout with up to 32 copper layers.
Features:
- It has a 3D viewer that you can use to inspect your design on canvas.
- The tool contains a large library of 3D models.
- This free cad program allows you to modify the appearance of the board.
- KiCAD enables you to quick start your design with a built-in schematic symbol editor.
- This application supports a wide array of tools.
Link: https://www.kicad-pcb.org/
14) NanoCAD
NanoCAD is an easy-to-use CAD application that helps you deliver a great user experience by providing high performance, a classic interface, and a native. This engineering design tool has been built to deliver design and project documentation for all industries.Sponsored by Bridgit
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Features:
- NanoCAD implements an efficient and easy to learn, classic-style CAD user interface.
- It uses the industry-standard DWG (*.dwg) file format natively.
- It includes an extensive set of tools for creating and editing 2D/3D objects.
- The nanoCAD scripting engine helps you to automate everyday routine tasks.
- The tool also offers plot settings dialog that allows you to set multiple plot areas and create multi-page plots.
- Reduce eye strain with contrast improvement
- Allows you to display all nearby measurements in a drawing
- Create, edit, and view CAD drawings
- Remove multiple objects with easy selection and object preview.
Link: https://nanocad.com/
15) Leopoly
Leopoly is a 3D CAD software that is designed with a fully customizable digital landscape that can be easily used for any project. It offers solutions that manipulate 3d designs, speed up sales cycles, personalizes product experiences, and more.
Features:
- It has built-in templates for 3D design.
- This software includes intuitive tools and objects that can be easily customized.
- Leopoly offers easy to use interface.
- Allows you to STL (stereolithography) file.
Link: https://www.leopoly.com/
16) TinkerCAD
Tinkercad is a tool that offers a fast and easy way to draw a 3D design. It can be used by teachers, hobbyists, professional designers, and kids to make models. This free mechanical drawing software enables you to move, scale, and rotate objects with ease.
Features:
- You can modify shapes and objects.
- It enables you to align objects.
- This tool allows you to rotate any shape.
- You can import .svg and .stl file formats.
- Tinkercad design can be exported in. stl, .vrml, .x3d, and .obj.
- It provides many shortcuts for quickly performing any action.
Link: https://www.tinkercad.com/
17) Meshmixer
Meshmixer is a program that helps you make three-dimensional printing. It supports numerous selection tools, including surface-lasso, brushing, and constraints. This application can automatically align the surface.
Features:
- You can perform stability and thickness analysis.
- You can drag and drop elements.
- It offers 3D positioning with pivots.
- Automatically set the orientation.
Link: http://www.meshmixer.com/
18) Sweet Home 3D
Sweet Home 3D is a Computer-Aided Design software for making interior design. It allows you to draw plans of a house, arrange furniture, and view in 3D. This application can be accessed from smartphones, computers, and tablets.
Features:
- You can drag objects to the plan.
- It allows you to change color, size, texture, location, and orientation of furniture.
- The tool automates the plan with room areas, texts, arrows, and more.
- You can control the sunlight effect and customize lights.
- It enables you to export the output as a bitmap, PDF, videos, and 3D files.
- Sweet Home 3D offers numerous plugins programmed in Java.
Link: http://www.sweethome3d.com/
19) Open Cascade Technology
Open Cascade Technology is 3d model modeling software development for CAD. This application can easily deal with 3D or 2D geometric models. It provides a visualization module that provides complex mechanisms for representing graphical data.
Features:
- It contains a wide range of topological and geometrical algorithms.
- This 3D CAD software provides ready to use solution for handling application-specific data.
- It offers an intuitive user interface.
- You can calculate the volume and surface properties of shapes.
Link: https://www.opencascade.com/
20) SculptGL
SculptGL is a cloud-based tool that helps you to draw 3D sculptures using various tools like brush, flatten, smooth, inflate, and more. It allows you to apply symmetry and import/export files in 3D printable formats.
Features:
- The tool can detect UV.
- You can use this software in real time.
- It allows you to undo and redo.
- Supports alpha texture for each tool.
- You can manage color, metalness, and roughness.
- This tool can optimize pre and post transform cache.
Link: https://stephaneginier.com/sculptgl/
21) DraftSight
DraftSight is a feature-rich 2D and 3D CAD solution. This tool is a strong competitor of SketchUp. This is an easy tool to create, format, and arrange layers to ensure your design is organized and conforms to layering standards.
Features:
- You can make 2D design and documentation
- Quickly modify move, rotate, copy, and scale entities with one command.
- Import existing blocks from your libraries or create new blocks that can be used as repeated elements in your designs.
- Helps you to increase your efficiency with features like PDF Underlay to reference your PDFs
Link: https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/
- Meshmixer
Meshmixer appears to be a really useful 3D software for 3D printing or even to elaborate some new designs for your products. It has a lot of 3D tools, such as 3D sculpting tools, remeshing or mesh smoothing features.
You will still need to train in order to make the most of this 3D modeling software. If you need a little help to prepare your 3D file for 3D printing using this program, have a look at our tutorial dedicated to Meshmixer
http://www.meshmixer.com/
- Smoothie 3D
Smoothie 3D is allowing you to create 3D models quite easily, using primitive shapes. But one of the most interesting features of this modeling tool is the possibility to get a 3D model from your 2D images…
Indeed, you can use it to turn your picture in a 3D model, and 3D print it using our 3D printing service once your STL file is ready.
Software for experienced users
Now we are going to focus on software for experienced users. It doesn’t mean that these programs are all difficult to use, but you need a previous 3D modeling experience to start using them in a good way.
- OpenSCAD
This 3D modeling program can impress a little bit at the beginning. OpenSCAD has the particularity to not focus on the artistic aspect exclusively. It is a perfect choice for elaborated projects. Thanks to the use of Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) and the Extrusion of 2D outlines, this software is intuitive. It is great for simple shapes that are already parametrically defined.
It is clearly not an interactive modeler, but more a 3D compiler, completely based on description language. OpenSCAD is not for everyone, but real coders will appreciate it.
If you want to use this free software for your 3D printing project, don’t hesitate to check our OpenSCAD tutorial.
- Blender
Blender is a well-known computer-aided design software, it is a very powerful mesh-based direct modeling software, and not a parametric one. Blender is even used by professionals to develop video games or animation. It is quite similar to software such as Mudbox or ZBrush, and it is not really suitable for beginners.
This program is amazing for artistic use, with great software tools such a sculpting, rendering and fast modeling. This is a perfect software if you need to create 3D printable 3D models, as it is also including CAD features to repair your meshes. It is allowing to avoid bad surprises once parts come out of 3D printers.
- FreeCAD
FreeCAD is an accessible and flexible open-source parametric 3D modeler. This program reads and writes to many file formats which makes it a convenient program to integrate your workflow. FreeCAD has some great modeling tools, like Finite Element Analysis, or a nice robot simulation module.
From product design to mechanical engineering, FreeCAD will help you to create your best 3D projects. It can really suit all CAD users and it is constantly improved by a whole community of users.
freecadweb.org
- SolveSpace
SolveSpace is a parametric 3D modeler is developed by Johnathan Westhues. It is a 2D and 3D CAD program, perfect to do some 2D models thanks to great drafting tools, or to elaborate good mechanism designs. Its CAD tools include Bezier curves and NURBS surfaces. SolveSpace is available with Windows Mac OS and Linux.
- eMachine Shop
This design software is mostly for professional use, so if you are looking for a great CAD program to manufacture your part using 3D printing technology, eMachine Shop could be the perfect solution for you! This program will analyze your design and show you if there are some impractical shapes in your design.
Conclusion
Are you looking for free cad software tutorial? If so, I’m here to help you. But first, let me explain what CAD is. CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. A computer aided design software allows us to design digital images of objects through 3D modeling or 2D drafting. Basically, it acts as a virtual blueprint on your computer screen. It can be used for designing almost anything, whether it is a home, an automobile, a piece of furniture—even kitchen utensils.