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This is neat! I didn't know this, or FreeCAD, existed. For a complete layman who wants to design a house eventually, how deep should one go with a more detaile

This is neat! I didn't know this, or FreeCAD, existed. For a complete layman who wants to design a house eventually, how deep should one go with a more detailed design in FreeCAD or similar tool? Is a rough design in something like SketchUp and getting an architect involved the way to go? In does anyone have general tips or resources for such a project?

walkingolof 8y ago
Just use Sketchup, I did the drawings for my new office in Sketchup, took it to a construction engineer who remodel it in some professional tool and I got back all the numbers I needed for my permit. I really wanted to use FreeCAD but I cant afford to spend that amount of time needed to learn to work with it....
- justinclift 8y ago
  > who remodel it in some professional tool ... One of the huge disadvantages of SketchUp, is that it doesn't create geometry which is easily (and accurately) shared with other CAD/CAM systems. :( Any kind of export/import to standard CAD/CAM model formats (STEP, IGES, even JT) would do. (Note - I last looked a few months ago, so it's possible something has changed since then. Wouldn't bet money on it though, as it seems to be "in purpose" but I'm not sure why.) FreeCAD on the other hand does use the right kind of geometry, and imports/exports the right formats natively. Your construction engineer would likely have been able to import a FreeCAD created model directly, instead of having to remodel it from scratch. Assuming the model was created decently well of course. ;) That could have saved a bunch of time.
- Something1234 8y ago
  Any idea what the history of sketchup is and how Google lost it? I loved that tool. Why couldn't they have open sourced it?
mch82 8y ago
Lots of professional architects and interior designers use SketchUp. One of SketchUp’s advantages is the library of pre-built components available for standard doors, windows, etc. Instead of designing everything from scratch, you can search for a “French door” and then place it where you want it. That way you’re choosing from standards compliant elements so when the builder goes to Home Depot to purchase a window it will be available in the desired size. FreeCAD is great (I’ve used it a lot) and people should definitely continue to invest in making it better. It’s great for 3D printing. Plus, it’s fully scriptable in Python so cool automation or parameterization things are possible.

walkingolof 8y ago

Just use Sketchup, I did the drawings for my new office in Sketchup, took it to a construction engineer who remodel it in some professional tool and I got back all the numbers I needed for my permit. I really wanted to use FreeCAD but I cant afford to spend that amount of time needed to learn to work with it....

justinclift 8y ago
> who remodel it in some professional tool ... One of the huge disadvantages of SketchUp, is that it doesn't create geometry which is easily (and accurately) shared with other CAD/CAM systems. :( Any kind of export/import to standard CAD/CAM model formats (STEP, IGES, even JT) would do. (Note - I last looked a few months ago, so it's possible something has changed since then. Wouldn't bet money on it though, as it seems to be "in purpose" but I'm not sure why.) FreeCAD on the other hand does use the right kind of geometry, and imports/exports the right formats natively. Your construction engineer would likely have been able to import a FreeCAD created model directly, instead of having to remodel it from scratch. Assuming the model was created decently well of course. ;) That could have saved a bunch of time.
Something1234 8y ago
Any idea what the history of sketchup is and how Google lost it? I loved that tool. Why couldn't they have open sourced it?

mch82 8y ago

Lots of professional architects and interior designers use SketchUp. One of SketchUp’s advantages is the library of pre-built components available for standard doors, windows, etc. Instead of designing everything from scratch, you can search for a “French door” and then place it where you want it. That way you’re choosing from standards compliant elements so when the builder goes to Home Depot to purchase a window it will be available in the desired size. FreeCAD is great (I’ve used it a lot) and people should definitely continue to invest in making it better. It’s great for 3D printing. Plus, it’s fully scriptable in Python so cool automation or parameterization things are possible.