About FreeCAD: Difference between revisions

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'''FreeCAD''' is a general purpose parametric 3D [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''] modeler, whose development is completely [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open source] ([https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.en.html LGPL License]). FreeCAD is aimed directly at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering mechanical engineering] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_design product design] but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture, finite element analysis, 3D printing, and other tasks.
'''FreeCAD''' is a general purpose [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open source] parametric 3D [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''] modeler licensed under the ([https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.en.html LGPL License]). FreeCAD is aimed directly at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering mechanical engineering] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_design product design] but, being very generic, also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture, finite element analysis, 3D printing, and other tasks.


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FreeCAD features tools similar to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CATIA CATIA], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidworks SolidWorks] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_Edge Solid Edge], and therefore also falls into the category of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_Lifecycle_Management '''PLM'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAx '''CAx'''] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-aided_engineering '''CAE''']. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_feature_based_modeler feature based parametric modeler] with a modular software architecture which makes it possible to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.
FreeCAD features tools similar to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CATIA CATIA], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidworks SolidWorks], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_Edge Solid Edge] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Revit Revit], and therefore also falls into the category of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_Lifecycle_Management '''PLM'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAx '''CAx'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-aided_engineering '''CAE'''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling '''BIM''']. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_feature_based_modeler feature based parametric modeler] with a modular software architecture which makes it possible to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.


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As with many CAD modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch planar shapes or create production drawings. However, direct 2D drawing (like [https://inkscape.org/ Inkscape] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD#AutoCAD_LT AutoCAD LT]) is not the focus, neither are animation or mesh editing (like [https://www.blender.org/ Blender], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(software) Maya], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3ds_Max 3ds Max], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CINEMA_4D Cinema 4D]). Nevertheless, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD might become useful in a much broader area than its current focus.
As with many CAD modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch planar shapes or create production drawings. However, direct 2D drawing (like [https://inkscape.org/ Inkscape] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD#AutoCAD_LT AutoCAD LT]) is not the focus, neither are animation or mesh editing (like [https://www.blender.org/ Blender], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(software) Maya], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3ds_Max 3ds Max], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CINEMA_4D Cinema 4D]). Nevertheless, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD is useful in a much broader area around its base feature set.


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FreeCAD is maintained and developed by a community of enthusiastic developers and users (see the [[contributors|contributors]] page). They work on FreeCAD voluntarily, in their free time. They cannot guarantee that FreeCAD contains everything you might wish, but they will do their best! The community gathers on the [http://forum.freecadweb.org FreeCAD forum], where most of the ideas and decisions are discussed. Feel free to join us there!
FreeCAD is maintained and developed by a [[contributors|community of enthusiastic developers and users]] and is built by the patient work of hundreds of contributors, some regular, some occasional. Most work on FreeCAD voluntarily. The [http://forum.freecadweb.org FreeCAD forum] is where most of the ideas and decisions are discussed, and the [https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD GitHub repository] is where the code is being kept, shared, discussed and worked on. Anybody is [[Help FreeCAD|welcome to participate]].

=== About the FPA ===

The FreeCAD project is also supported by a non-profit organization, the [https://fpa.freecad.org FreeCAD project association (FPA)]. The FPA is an independent body created by some FreeCAD veterans in 2021 to collect [[donate|donations]] and other resources to support the project and its community, to help protecting that community and allowing it to continue developing in the best conditions, and to represent the project against other bodies such as companies and institutions.


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Revision as of 13:41, 31 July 2023

FreeCAD is a general purpose open source parametric 3D CAD modeler licensed under the (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but, being very generic, also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture, finite element analysis, 3D printing, and other tasks.

FreeCAD features tools similar to CATIA, SolidWorks, Solid Edge or Revit, and therefore also falls into the category of CAD, PLM, CAx, CAE and BIM. It is a feature based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture which makes it possible to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.

As with many CAD modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch planar shapes or create production drawings. However, direct 2D drawing (like Inkscape or AutoCAD LT) is not the focus, neither are animation or mesh editing (like Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, or Cinema 4D). Nevertheless, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD is useful in a much broader area around its base feature set.

FreeCAD makes heavy use of open-source libraries that exist in the field of scientific computing. Among them are Open Cascade Technology (OCCT), a powerful CAD kernel; Coin3D, a toolkit for 3D graphics development compatible with Open Inventor; Qt, the world-famous user interface framework; and Python, a modern scripting language. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.

FreeCAD is also multi-platform, and currently runs on Linux/Unix, Windows, and macOS systems with the same look and functionality on all platforms.

For more information about FreeCAD's capabilities, take a look at the feature list, the latest release notes, and the getting started articles, or see more screenshots.

About the FreeCAD project

The FreeCAD project was started as far back as 2001, as described in its history page.

FreeCAD is maintained and developed by a community of enthusiastic developers and users and is built by the patient work of hundreds of contributors, some regular, some occasional. Most work on FreeCAD voluntarily. The FreeCAD forum is where most of the ideas and decisions are discussed, and the GitHub repository is where the code is being kept, shared, discussed and worked on. Anybody is welcome to participate.

About the FPA

The FreeCAD project is also supported by a non-profit organization, the FreeCAD project association (FPA). The FPA is an independent body created by some FreeCAD veterans in 2021 to collect donations and other resources to support the project and its community, to help protecting that community and allowing it to continue developing in the best conditions, and to represent the project against other bodies such as companies and institutions.