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“Code-cad” as they put it clearly appeals to a lot of people, and more CAD is good. But as a long time mechanical engineer and robotics engineer what I really w

“Code-cad” as they put it clearly appeals to a lot of people, and more CAD is good. But as a long time mechanical engineer and robotics engineer what I really want is a completely open source parametric cad program that is as good as Solidworks or OnShape. FreeCAD is an impressive project but clearly needs more resources to ever compete. Solvespace seems cool and I want to play with it more, but I can’t comment on how good it is as I have only tinkered. I do wish the Solvespace UI was more akin to tools I am familiar with (OnShape or Solidworks).

gundmc 5y ago
How is your experience with OnShape? I find the web-based approach really appealing but have been concerned it would be more limited than desktop counterparts like Creo or SOLIDWORKS, and potentially more painful to integrate with PLM systems.
- erikw 5y ago
  OnShape is definitely more limited, even compared to Fusion 360. However, I've moved to it as my main CAD tool, since it works on Linux and Fusion 360 licensing is so problematic. Fusion 360 also has a web interface, but it doesn't support Linux, and even on Windows doesn't work very well. The only thing I've needed to go back to Fusion 360 for is thread modeling.
- TaylorAlexander 5y ago
  Aside from the fact that is is proprietary and cloud based, I love OnShape. It does have some limitations, like operations that logically should make sense but will just fail, but this is what makes CAD very hard even for a large experienced team like OnShape. But I like that I can run it in Linux because it is browser based, tho I would prefer a local native app. Onshape is hard to use on a slow connection. But I use it to design all kinds of complex robots and it is great.
syntaxing 5y ago
I'm guessing you've been fortunate enough to have never used Catia. I used to think FreeCAD was super meh because I was extremely familiar with Solidworks (I've used Inventor, NX, and Creo as well professionally). I learned and use Catia recently and finally understand why FreeCAD is made the way it is.
- benhurmarcel 5y ago
  I find Catia a lot better than FreeCAD. It's not my preferred interface but on the other hand it can handle anything, including projects so large and complex that Solidworks/Fusion/FreeCAD can't even be considered.
- twarge 5y ago
  What is that way in your mind?
sreevisakh 5y ago
Competing with those proprietary mcad will take a much better CAD kernel. FreeCAD uses OpenCASCADE. It's going to take a lot of time and effort to create a new one. There are a few projects around. I hope that one of them will catch on and get enough developer attention.
- walrus 5y ago
  What are some limitations of OpenCASCADE that are holding back CAD tools built on it?
  - aaaaaygug 5y ago
    Help as well documentation needs a lot of work. It is very difficult to even start using it. Even class names seem out of place sometimes.
  - wiz21c 5y ago
    I second that question. I'd like to know...
  - ur-whale 5y ago
    > What are some limitations of OpenCASCADE To name one: Booleans on NURBS are fare less robust in OpenCASCADE than their equivalent in commercial offerings.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
- enginoor 5y ago
  As a long time CAD user I was surprised to learn that a CAD kernel exists as a concept and that the same kernel is licensed and used in competing CAD packages. Solidworks, Siemens NX, and OnShape all use the Parasolid kernel. Inventor and Fusion360 use the ShapeManager kernel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_modeling_kernel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_modeling_kernel
mhb 5y ago
I think that a non-open source, native desktop, sane license, competitor for Solidworks/Inventor/Fusion would do well too. Solidworks is on a path to subscription-only / in the browser where Fusion and Inventor already are. Jetbrains?
fps-hero 5y ago
I love solvespace, the UI is quick, minimal and easy to come up to speed with. I use it as a 2D parametric sketch pad, for 2D designs for laser cutting, making 3D models for kicad, and a few basic 3D printed fixtures, but it is in no way a replacement for even Freecad. The constraints are feature complete, but minimal. Some basic geometry is often a pain to get setup. Once you hit 3D you’ll realise that your basically limited to extruding and revoking sketches. Still a powerful tool but not suitable for serious mechanical design. What world really needs is for FreeCad to be as usable is it’s paid equivalents. I don’t understand why free software always neglects the UI. How hard is it to even simply copy the time tested work flows in proprietary software. Once you learn Solidworks, Inventor, or Fusion 360, you can pickup any other parametric modeller. Code as CAD as an idea I believe is flawed. It doesn’t solve any of the hard problems of mechanical design. Designing physical objects requires good visualisations and iterative feedback. I.e changing this dimension solves this interference in a complex assembly. Besides, most mechanical engineering are not proficient coders.
- chrisshroba 5y ago
  Woah thanks for the rec! I’ve been frustrated with the tools I’ve tried for making laser cutter designs and something free and parametric is just what I’m looking for!
- adastra22 5y ago
  > How hard is it to even simply copy the time tested work flows in proprietary software. A straight copy would be sued out of existence.
- rapsey 5y ago
  > Code as CAD as an idea I believe is flawed. It doesn’t solve any of the hard problems of mechanical design. Designing physical objects requires good visualisations and iterative feedback. I.e changing this dimension solves this interference in a complex assembly. Besides, most mechanical engineering are not proficient coders. I mean there is no reason why a visualization of the code could not be produced? It could visualize it in realtime after every save of the code.
FpUser 5y ago
>"...what I really want is a completely open source parametric cad program that is as good as Solidworks or OnShape..." I will sign this with my blood. Why on Earth every free solution is trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to proven and ergonomic UI is beyond my comprehension.
IshKebab 5y ago
I agree. OpenSCAD is good for very few things - fasteners, gears, art, that's about it. For 99% of CAD you want something like Solidworks. The only open source program I've tried that comes anywhere close is Solvespace, but it's still not in the same league. FreeCAD is rubbish. Fusion 360 was a reasonable free, legal but proprietary option until recently, but they changed the terms of the deal. Now I just pirate Solidworks.
- brianhorakh 5y ago
  Openscad is rough around the edges. The object libraries aren't well assembled or documented, lacking a good packaging tool.
l33tman 5y ago
Would you want this because its open or because it is free? I've always found SW amazing and intuitive with great help and assist, and sure it's expensive for a hobbyist but for a company it's not a big deal.
cweagans 5y ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 was posted a couple weeks ago. Curious if that's sort of along the lines of what you're looking for. It's not exactly free software, but maybe it's open enough?
- TaylorAlexander 5y ago
  No because it is a NURBS modeler and not parametric CAD, so it is not at all the right kind of CAD, but also because it is not really open source (uses an expensive closed kernel) and will be less open source soon. What I want is a project that is open source like Blender is open source. One that intends to be open source forever and also knows how to raise funds to manage a real engineering team.

gundmc 5y ago

How is your experience with OnShape? I find the web-based approach really appealing but have been concerned it would be more limited than desktop counterparts like Creo or SOLIDWORKS, and potentially more painful to integrate with PLM systems.

erikw 5y ago
OnShape is definitely more limited, even compared to Fusion 360. However, I've moved to it as my main CAD tool, since it works on Linux and Fusion 360 licensing is so problematic. Fusion 360 also has a web interface, but it doesn't support Linux, and even on Windows doesn't work very well. The only thing I've needed to go back to Fusion 360 for is thread modeling.
TaylorAlexander 5y ago
Aside from the fact that is is proprietary and cloud based, I love OnShape. It does have some limitations, like operations that logically should make sense but will just fail, but this is what makes CAD very hard even for a large experienced team like OnShape. But I like that I can run it in Linux because it is browser based, tho I would prefer a local native app. Onshape is hard to use on a slow connection. But I use it to design all kinds of complex robots and it is great.

syntaxing 5y ago

I'm guessing you've been fortunate enough to have never used Catia. I used to think FreeCAD was super meh because I was extremely familiar with Solidworks (I've used Inventor, NX, and Creo as well professionally). I learned and use Catia recently and finally understand why FreeCAD is made the way it is.

benhurmarcel 5y ago
I find Catia a lot better than FreeCAD. It's not my preferred interface but on the other hand it can handle anything, including projects so large and complex that Solidworks/Fusion/FreeCAD can't even be considered.
twarge 5y ago
What is that way in your mind?

sreevisakh 5y ago

Competing with those proprietary mcad will take a much better CAD kernel. FreeCAD uses OpenCASCADE. It's going to take a lot of time and effort to create a new one. There are a few projects around. I hope that one of them will catch on and get enough developer attention.

walrus 5y ago
What are some limitations of OpenCASCADE that are holding back CAD tools built on it?
- aaaaaygug 5y ago
  Help as well documentation needs a lot of work. It is very difficult to even start using it. Even class names seem out of place sometimes.
- wiz21c 5y ago
  I second that question. I'd like to know...
- ur-whale 5y ago
  > What are some limitations of OpenCASCADE To name one: Booleans on NURBS are fare less robust in OpenCASCADE than their equivalent in commercial offerings.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
enginoor 5y ago
As a long time CAD user I was surprised to learn that a CAD kernel exists as a concept and that the same kernel is licensed and used in competing CAD packages. Solidworks, Siemens NX, and OnShape all use the Parasolid kernel. Inventor and Fusion360 use the ShapeManager kernel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_modeling_kernel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_modeling_kernel

mhb 5y ago

I think that a non-open source, native desktop, sane license, competitor for Solidworks/Inventor/Fusion would do well too. Solidworks is on a path to subscription-only / in the browser where Fusion and Inventor already are. Jetbrains?

fps-hero 5y ago

I love solvespace, the UI is quick, minimal and easy to come up to speed with. I use it as a 2D parametric sketch pad, for 2D designs for laser cutting, making 3D models for kicad, and a few basic 3D printed fixtures, but it is in no way a replacement for even Freecad. The constraints are feature complete, but minimal. Some basic geometry is often a pain to get setup. Once you hit 3D you’ll realise that your basically limited to extruding and revoking sketches. Still a powerful tool but not suitable for serious mechanical design. What world really needs is for FreeCad to be as usable is it’s paid equivalents. I don’t understand why free software always neglects the UI. How hard is it to even simply copy the time tested work flows in proprietary software. Once you learn Solidworks, Inventor, or Fusion 360, you can pickup any other parametric modeller. Code as CAD as an idea I believe is flawed. It doesn’t solve any of the hard problems of mechanical design. Designing physical objects requires good visualisations and iterative feedback. I.e changing this dimension solves this interference in a complex assembly. Besides, most mechanical engineering are not proficient coders.

chrisshroba 5y ago
Woah thanks for the rec! I’ve been frustrated with the tools I’ve tried for making laser cutter designs and something free and parametric is just what I’m looking for!
adastra22 5y ago
> How hard is it to even simply copy the time tested work flows in proprietary software. A straight copy would be sued out of existence.
rapsey 5y ago
> Code as CAD as an idea I believe is flawed. It doesn’t solve any of the hard problems of mechanical design. Designing physical objects requires good visualisations and iterative feedback. I.e changing this dimension solves this interference in a complex assembly. Besides, most mechanical engineering are not proficient coders. I mean there is no reason why a visualization of the code could not be produced? It could visualize it in realtime after every save of the code.

FpUser 5y ago

>"...what I really want is a completely open source parametric cad program that is as good as Solidworks or OnShape..." I will sign this with my blood. Why on Earth every free solution is trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to proven and ergonomic UI is beyond my comprehension.

IshKebab 5y ago

I agree. OpenSCAD is good for very few things - fasteners, gears, art, that's about it. For 99% of CAD you want something like Solidworks. The only open source program I've tried that comes anywhere close is Solvespace, but it's still not in the same league. FreeCAD is rubbish. Fusion 360 was a reasonable free, legal but proprietary option until recently, but they changed the terms of the deal. Now I just pirate Solidworks.

brianhorakh 5y ago
Openscad is rough around the edges. The object libraries aren't well assembled or documented, lacking a good packaging tool.

l33tman 5y ago

Would you want this because its open or because it is free? I've always found SW amazing and intuitive with great help and assist, and sure it's expensive for a hobbyist but for a company it's not a big deal.

cweagans 5y ago

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 was posted a couple weeks ago. Curious if that's sort of along the lines of what you're looking for. It's not exactly free software, but maybe it's open enough?

TaylorAlexander 5y ago
No because it is a NURBS modeler and not parametric CAD, so it is not at all the right kind of CAD, but also because it is not really open source (uses an expensive closed kernel) and will be less open source soon. What I want is a project that is open source like Blender is open source. One that intends to be open source forever and also knows how to raise funds to manage a real engineering team.