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I'm always excited when FreeCAD comes up in some way here. I haven't learned any CAD software yet but I'm really eager to learn FreeCAD. It may be clunky in com

by _def 4y ago

I'm always excited when FreeCAD comes up in some way here. I haven't learned any CAD software yet but I'm really eager to learn FreeCAD. It may be clunky in comparison to it's competitors now but I feel like it's worth putting some time into it. Reminds me a bit of learning basics of GIMP back then, which I've been using for many years now.

IshKebab 4y ago
You should try SolveSpace or just pirate SOLIDWORKS. Trying to learn CAD with FreeCAD will be an exercise in frustration. I experienced the same thing trying to learn PCB design with gEDA and Kicad. I gave up and only managed to learn years later when I discovered Designspark PCB. CAD and PCB design are not complicated at all. But these open source programs (except SolveSpace) have really terrible UX so you really need to already know what you're doing to use them.
- app4soft 4y ago
  > You should try SolveSpace I may recommend use both SolveSpace & FreeCAD together[0]: 1) SolveSpace app for preliminary design & export to STEP-file; 2) FreeCAD app for final touches on this STEP-file (fillets, chamfers, etc.). [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3LJMeqUDrU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3LJMeqUDrU
  - nelsonic 4y ago
    Looks like a great pairing. Subscribed for more! :-)
- kramerger 4y ago
  That was some really odd advice. I belive fusion 360 is free for personal use and much more popular than solidworks. Solvespace has a non existing UX. I would very much advise against using it. People have gone from zero to first commercial PCB in 1-2 weeks using kicad.
  - ur-whale 4y ago
    Good luck trying to reuse your work in 10 years. Or export it to a non-autodesk ecosystem today, for that matter. Autodesk designs its software to maximize customer lock-in. The whole notion that you own your work and should be able to do what you want with it, especially work on it further in an non-autodesk environment is strictly against their corporate religion.
  - IshKebab 4y ago
    > I belive fusion 360 is free for personal use and much more popular than solidworks. It was, and I would have recommended it then, but they pulled the rug a while ago. > Solvespace has a non existing UX. I would very much advise against using it. Yeah it's rubbish compared to commercial options but it's still by far the best FOSS option. It has a much better UX than FreeCAD. > People have gone from zero to first commercial PCB in 1-2 weeks using kicad. 1-2 weeks full time is a lot! You could do it in a day or two with better designed programs. PCB design is really simple conceptually.

by _def 4y ago

IshKebab 4y ago

You should try SolveSpace or just pirate SOLIDWORKS. Trying to learn CAD with FreeCAD will be an exercise in frustration. I experienced the same thing trying to learn PCB design with gEDA and Kicad. I gave up and only managed to learn years later when I discovered Designspark PCB. CAD and PCB design are not complicated at all. But these open source programs (except SolveSpace) have really terrible UX so you really need to already know what you're doing to use them.

app4soft 4y ago
> You should try SolveSpace I may recommend use both SolveSpace & FreeCAD together[0]: 1) SolveSpace app for preliminary design & export to STEP-file; 2) FreeCAD app for final touches on this STEP-file (fillets, chamfers, etc.). [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3LJMeqUDrU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3LJMeqUDrU
- nelsonic 4y ago
  Looks like a great pairing. Subscribed for more! :-)
kramerger 4y ago
That was some really odd advice. I belive fusion 360 is free for personal use and much more popular than solidworks. Solvespace has a non existing UX. I would very much advise against using it. People have gone from zero to first commercial PCB in 1-2 weeks using kicad.
- ur-whale 4y ago
  Good luck trying to reuse your work in 10 years. Or export it to a non-autodesk ecosystem today, for that matter. Autodesk designs its software to maximize customer lock-in. The whole notion that you own your work and should be able to do what you want with it, especially work on it further in an non-autodesk environment is strictly against their corporate religion.
- IshKebab 4y ago
  > I belive fusion 360 is free for personal use and much more popular than solidworks. It was, and I would have recommended it then, but they pulled the rug a while ago. > Solvespace has a non existing UX. I would very much advise against using it. Yeah it's rubbish compared to commercial options but it's still by far the best FOSS option. It has a much better UX than FreeCAD. > People have gone from zero to first commercial PCB in 1-2 weeks using kicad. 1-2 weeks full time is a lot! You could do it in a day or two with better designed programs. PCB design is really simple conceptually.