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Top 10 Free CAD Software You Should Use
Computer-Aided Design (commonly referred to as CAD) has become an integral factor that moves the world forward. CAD lets you design everything from tiny pieces of electronic equipment to large buildings, dams, and more. Naturally, CAD programs have become expensive as most professionals use them to design things. And if you are a student or a freelancer, buying expensive CAD software becomes a distant dream. But there is nothing to worry about as we have curated a list of the top 10 free CAD software which are as good as the paid ones. So without any delay, let’s check out the best free CAD software in 2022.To get more news about free 2d cad drafting software, you can visit shine news official website.
Here, we have compiled a list of the top 10 free CAD software you can use in 2022. The list includes two kinds of software – the free ones and the Student’s edition of premium software. The latter will be useful when your institution uses a particular tool, and you need to use that too.
1. FreeCAD
FreeCAD, as the name suggests, is a free and open-source CAD software, and it’s a top choice among both beginners and professionals. If you are well-versed with CAD modeling basics, then this software would be the best pick for you. An educator or programmer can also get the best out of FreeCAD, given its multi-purpose behavior and intuitive interface.
2. Tinkercad
Suppose you’re at your friend’s home and get a call to design a simple 3D Model. Now, your friend’s PC does not have any CAD software installed in it, but you do have a powerful internet connection at hand. In such cases, you have a solution in Tinkercad. It is an online solution for 3D Digital Designs. The best thing about Tinkercad is that it does not require any previous experience, and it’s free to use.
The program is not as feature-packed as other CAD software. But, if you want a simple platform to design models, especially for 3D printing, then Tinkercard is the best solution out there. Also, Tinkercard is part of the Autodesk family, so you get all kinds of integration and file format support.
3. LibreCAD
Unlike other CAD software in this list, LibreCAD is a 2D modeling software for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is an open-source and free CAD software that you can use for both personal and commercial use. LibreCAD uses some of the libraries from another CAD program called BRL-CAD.
It offers interactive geometry design, ray-tracing for rendering and analysis, benchmark suite, and more. You can create geometric 2D designs, circuit boards, mathematical figures, etc., in a highly customizable interface, which is nice. Further, it supports both DWG and DWF file formats, so you can easily import your saved projects from AutoCAD or other CAD applications.
4. OpenSCAD
If you are okay with using a textual description language to create 3D CAD Objects, you may find OpenSCAD to be an effective free CAD Software. There are several scenarios where you might need such an interface, especially when you are in a professional field. You will have to be as specific as you can when you model things, and you can find how useful OpenSCAD is in such cases.
The software comes with an extensive document that tells you about the parameters to be kept in mind when you give descriptions. It offers an impressive level of documentation that will help in the long run, especially if you are just starting out.
5. ZBrushCoreMini (Earlier Sculptris)
ZBrushCoreMini is another free CAD Software that focuses on 3D Sculpting & 3D Modelling. It is made by one of the industry leaders named Pixologic. The tool has a professional User Interface and can be learned by anyone in a lesser time-period, given that you know the basics of creative designing.
6. SketchUp
SketchUp is a professional-grade software used for 3D Modelling in several industries such as interior design, architecture, engineering, video game design development, etc. As you may have guessed, SketchUp is a paid tool, but it offers a free tier for personal users and students. The free service, however, is only available on its web platform.
7. Fusion 360
For the unaware, Fusion 360 is a CAD software developed by Autodesk. It is available free of charge to make computer-aided designing accessible to students, creators, and even hobbyists. As such, it’s one of the best apps for students as well. Fusion 360 stresses on building the concepts first, making it an excellent tool for learning. You will have to go through all the basics of 3D Design & Modeling, Simulation, Generative Design, and more.
8. AutoCAD
When it comes to 3D Modelling, AutoCAD does not need much introduction since it has been an industry standard for many years. It’s a premium program, but you can get this CAD software for free through a one-year student license. If you did not know, AutoCAD is also part of the Autodesk family, and it is super expensive, such that no student can afford it. However, the company also knows that if students cannot use AutoCAD, they won’t learn it. And that will hurt the sales in the future when those students become graduates and professionals.
9. Onshape
Onshape is modern-age CAD software that is known for its excellent design repository and assemblies. Unlike other software programs that are standalone desktop applications, Onshape is a cloud-based design platform. You can create complex solid and surface models just from a browser and without any fear of losing your design progress.
10. nanoCAD
While nanoCAD is not entirely free, it is a lot cheaper than its competitors. And that is why I have included it in this list. It is an inexpensive CAD software, which offers advanced tools for drawing and creating 2D and 3D designs.
It does not matter which industry you belong to– architecture, manufacturing, or mechanical engineering– this tool offers you all the drafting and drawing extensions. The best part about nanoCAD is that it’s completely compatible with the DWG file format. So in case, if you want to move your project elsewhere in the future, this feature will have your back.