| FreeCAD | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Screenshots from FreeCAD version 1.0 | |
| Original authors | Jürgen Riegel, Werner Mayer, Yorik van Havre[1][a] |
| Initial release | 29 October 2002; 23 years ago (2002-10-29) |
| Stable release | |
| Preview release | 1.1[3] |
| Repository | |
| Written in | C++,Python |
| Operating system | Linux macOS Unix Windows FreeBSD |
| Type | 3D modeling,CAD,CAM,BIM,FEM |
| License | LGPL-2.0-or-later |
| Website | freecad.org |
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FreeCAD is a general-purposeparametric 3Dcomputer-aided design (CAD) modeler and abuilding information modeling (BIM) software application withfinite element method (FEM) support.[4] It is intended formechanical engineering product design but also expands to a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or electrical engineering. FreeCAD isfree and open-source, under theLGPL-2.0-or-later license, and available forLinux,macOS, andWindows operating systems. Users can extend the functionality of the software using thePython programming language.
FreeCAD features tools similar toCATIA,Creo,SolidWorks,Solid Edge,NX,Inventor,Revit, and therefore also falls into the category ofbuilding information modeling (BIM), mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD),PLM, CAx andCAE. It is intended to be a feature-basedparametric 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, FreeCAD has a 2D component to facilitate 3D-to-2D drawing conversion. Under its current state, direct 2D drawing (likeAutoCAD LT) is not the focus for this software, and neither are animation or 3D model manipulation (likeBlender,Maya, orCinema 4D). However, the modular nature of FreeCAD allows the user to adapt its workflow for such environments via the use of plugins.
FreeCAD uses open-source libraries from the field ofcomputing science; among them areOpen CASCADE Technology[5][6] (aCAD kernel),Coin3D (an incarnation ofOpen Inventor), theQt GUI framework, andPython, a popular scripting language. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.[7]
There are moves to expand FreeCAD into other sectors such asElectrical engineering andarchitecture,engineering, &construction (AEC), and to addbuilding information modeling (BIM) functionality with the Arch Module.[8]
FreeCAD has a modular structure built from a set of workbenches, where basic workbenches are bundled, and additional workbences could be created and installed by users.
Sketcher Workbench is a default workbench with a set of 2D drafting tools for drawing in specified 2D plane.
Part Design Workbench is a default workbench for constructing solid geometry (body) by 3D operations from 2D sketches and 3D geometry modification operations (boolean, pattern, hole making, lathing, etc.).
In FreeCAD, its possible to use both solid modeling paradigms: top-to-down or down-to-top — so, its possible to create cylinder from circle sketch by extruding it, or by lathing cube solid with a rectangular sketch turned around any cube axis.
Part Workbench is a default workbench for adding solid parts primitives and multibody solids, with a set of tools for solid boolean operations.
Drafting Workbench is a default workbench with a set of tools for raw and advanced editing of 2D and 3D geometry. Its used in cases of complex geometry impossible to create or edit with Sketcher, Part Design or Part workbenches.
Assembly Workbench is a default workbench for assembling parts into multipart assembly connecting each part with variousgeometric constraints. Also, there are alternative 3rd party workbenches for assembly creating each with different logic and set of constraints.
Technical Drawing Workbench is a default workbench for generating 2D drawings from 3D view of parts or assembly, with a set of tools for posprocessing generated drawing (scaling, views orientation and projection, line and fill editing, adding measurements,GD&T labels, etc.). This workbench is used for producing finalshop drawings and specifications documents for printing or export to PDF.
Optics Workbench is a 3rd party workbench for design and analizing optical systems in FreeCAD.[9]
FreeCAD's own main file format isFreeCAD Standard file format (.FCStd).[10] It is a standard zip file that holds files in a certain structure.[10] The Document.xml file has all geometric and parametric objects definitions.[10] GuiDocument.xml then has visual representation details of objects.[10] Other files include brep-files for objects and thumbnail of drawing.[10]
Besides FreeCAD's own file format, files can be exported and imported inDXF,SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics),STEP,IGES,STL (STereoLithography),OBJ (Wavefront),DAE (Collada),SCAD (OpenSCAD),IV (Inventor) andIFC.[11]
FreeCAD's support for the proprietaryDWG file format has been problematic due tosoftware license compatibility problems with theGNU LibreDWG library. The GNU LibreDWG library started as a realfree alternative to thesource-availableOpenDWG library (later Teigha Converter and now ODA File Converter) and is licensed under theGPLv3. As FreeCAD (and alsoLibreCAD) has dependencies on Open Cascade, which prior to version 6.7.0 was only compatible with GPLv2,[12] it couldn't use the GNU LibreDWG library as GPLv2 and GPLv3 are essentiallyincompatible.[13][14] Open CASCADE technology was contacted byDebian team in 2009, and 2012 got a reply that Open CASCADE technology was considering dual-licensing OCCT (the library), however they postponed that move. A request also went to theFSF torelicense GNU LibreDWG as GPLv2 or LGPLv3, which was rejected.[15]
As of 2014 the 0.14 release of FreeCAD, including the new LGPL release of Open Cascade, the BSD-licensed version of Coin3D, and the removal of PyQT, FreeCAD is now completely GPL-free.[16] However, LibreDWG has not been adopted. FreeCAD is able to import and export a limited subset[17] of the DWG format via the ODA File Converter (the former OpenDWG library).[citation needed]
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FreeCAD was notably presented atFISL 16 in 2015, inPorto Alegre,[18] as well as at theLibre Graphics Meeting inLondon in 2016.[19] These two exhibitions can bring together bothdevelopers and users. In 2020, it was duringFOSDEM inBrussels that two of these developers, Yorik Van Havre and Brad Collette made the presentation.[20]
The FreeCAD 1.0 version includes several new features, such as the new assembly workbench; fixes for many bugs, including the topological naming problem; unification and correction of many workbenches; very diverse changes and improvements in the user interface and user experience (UI/UX);[21] and a new logo, chosen from five finalists of the public contest created to renew the brand.[22] It was released on November 18, 2024.[23][24]
With the release of FreeCAD 1.0 on the horizon, it was decided to make a logo and branding change. At the request of the project managers, the intent of the update was to iterate on the current branding, rather than completely replace it.[25] There is an official guideline for the use of the logo in its short, long and mono version; the recommended and prohibited uses, all available in[1].[26]
| Version | Release date | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsupported: 0.0.1 | October 29, 2002 | Initial release | |
| Unsupported: 0.1 | January 27, 2003 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.2 | August 9, 2005 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.3 | October 31, 2005 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.4 | January 15, 2006 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.5 | October 5, 2006 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.6 | February 27, 2007 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.7 | April 24, 2009 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.8 | July 10, 2009 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.9 | January 16, 2010 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.10 | July 24, 2010 | ||
| Unsupported: 0.11 | May 3, 2011 | Sketcher, Part, 2D and Robot modules[28] | |
| Unsupported: 0.12 | November 20, 2011 | Architecture Module[29] | |
| Unsupported: 0.13 | January 29, 2013 | Ship Design module, Openscad module, 3D mice support[30] | |
| Unsupported: 0.14 | July 1, 2014 | License changed to LGPLv2+, spreadsheet module, render to LuxRender[17] | |
| Unsupported: 0.15 | April 8, 2015 | Oculus Rift support, updated ifc importer in Architecture module[31] | |
| Unsupported: 0.16 | April 18, 2016 | FEM workbench, Path module[32] | |
| Unsupported: 0.17 | April 6, 2018 | Addon manager, Surface module, TechDraw module[33] | |
| Unsupported: 0.18 | March 12, 2019 | New Start view, extended Arch module, many improved modules[34] In 0.18.5 Addon-Manager broken, so 0.18.4 is stable release. | |
| Unsupported: 0.19 | March 20, 2021 | Modules to Python 3 and Qt5 mostly ported,[35] actual 0.19.4 | |
| Unsupported: 0.20 | June 14, 2022 | Completely rewritten Addon Manager, more than 30 new tools in TechDraw, persistent section cuts, many improvements of existing tools[36] | |
| Unsupported: 0.21 | August 2, 2023 | Planned as the final release before patches for the topological naming problem introduce performance regressions. Various user interface and workbench improvements.[37][38] | |
| Latest version:1.0 | November 18, 2024 | Addressed the topological naming problem. New integrated Assembly workbench, integrated BIM workbench, new material system, and many new features in Sketcher, FEM, PartDesign, and other modules, as well as overall UI improvements.[39][40] | |
| Future version: 1.1 | Not yet determined | Development version with weekly builds.[41] | |
Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | |||
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