4 ms·

Maybe I'm not enough of an evangelist, but I just want a good, non-subscription local-first CAD package. I've recently moved over to Alibre Atom3D, which, whil

Maybe I'm not enough of an evangelist, but I just want a good, non-subscription local-first CAD package. I've recently moved over to Alibre Atom3D, which, while not open-source, costs $200. Once. Then (as long as your host OS doesn't change too much) you can access your designs forever. It runs on the ACIS kernel. "Browser first" and (from the readme) "Beyond that, I will try to monetize by offering a hosted version of the software as a paid product." reads to me like this project is doomed to either fizzle or to grow and transform into an open-core, subscription-requiring product, accumulating more complicated dependencies to install and "security features" that make it harder and harder to run in truly local fashion.

spookie 2y ago
Feel the same way. Honestly I think there's more money to be had going open source than competing in a sea full of sharks. But hey, that's probably wishful thinking from my part.
- freeone3000 2y ago
  But that open-core subscription model is the way open source makes money! Not enough people pay for software out of the goodness of their hearts to make a living off of it.
  - jonathankoren 2y ago
    All subscription software is just a protection racket. Nice files you got there. It would be a shame if they suddenly become unreadable, eh? Even the so called "open" core is a joke. Just try to add anything useful. It will get rejected in favor of a paid option. The whole thing is just an offensive anathema to open source.
tverbeure 2y ago
The problem with Alibre is that it only works on Windows. I switched from FreeCAD to the free (as in beer) version of Onshape, which works in the browser and is a night and day difference over FreeCAD. Your designs are wide open for anyone to see, but I can live with that for hobby stuff.
- andybak 2y ago
  I think there's probably a vast range of use cases where having the models freely available isn't hindrance
- ajmurmann 2y ago
  I wouldn't mind having my models public, but that it SaaS is such a nuisance and the reason I am sticking to FreeCAD. I want to be able to edit offline, like on an airplane and not lose the ability to edit my stuff if some company shuts their servers down.
  - tverbeure 2y ago
    I probably spent 100 hours trying to tame FreeCAD, and ended up thinking CAD was just not for me. I then tried Onshape and found out that the problem was elsewhere.
    - ajmurmann 2y ago
      Did you do any tutorials? I've done like 10 hrs of the MangojellySolutions beginner tutorials on YouTube and after that I've been pretty much able to do what I want or only had to look up solutions to a very specific problem. I one time had an issue where I messed up and had to post on the FreeCAD forum and got two of the best responses I've gotten anywhere on the internet ever. Two people opened up my model and took screenshots highlighting where my issue was and gave me several suggestions on how to improve my model in other ways. The initial time investment was substantial and there are still a few workflows that could be smoother for me (attaching a sketch to a different face after it's been created), but that's fairly minor.
      - wdfx 2y ago
        On the flip side I spent probably 30 minutes each to get acquainted with Fusion and Onshape, and completed my first designs within a couple of hours. I've invested several hours already in trying to learn FreeCAD and achieved nothing. Its a hot mess that desperately needs a new UI.
numpad0 2y ago
Even $2k per year in 3D CAD is entry level pricing. Good CAD for $200 once is probably a prank tier idea to suitspeople, even though it's a necessity for 3D printing community.
- OvbiousError 2y ago
  BricsCAD for instance is less than that, 1600 one-time fee. And it's good.
- jononor 2y ago
  It is worth noting that what is doable/practical with entry level CAD has increased a lot over the last 20 years. Hobbyists will not feel restricted, and one can do quite a lot of commercial relevant work also.
- schmidtleonard 2y ago
  Suits gonna get Blendered, but that's a good thing :-)
- ecjhdnc2025 2y ago
  I think RS Electronics still maintains and gives away a version of DesignSpark for Windows, which is likely a smart move if it integrates with their catalogue. Alibre Atom3D is the entry level package, but the whole thing seems very much like the Affinity suite model. It looks very good.

spookie 2y ago

Feel the same way. Honestly I think there's more money to be had going open source than competing in a sea full of sharks. But hey, that's probably wishful thinking from my part.

freeone3000 2y ago
But that open-core subscription model is the way open source makes money! Not enough people pay for software out of the goodness of their hearts to make a living off of it.
- jonathankoren 2y ago
  All subscription software is just a protection racket. Nice files you got there. It would be a shame if they suddenly become unreadable, eh? Even the so called "open" core is a joke. Just try to add anything useful. It will get rejected in favor of a paid option. The whole thing is just an offensive anathema to open source.

tverbeure 2y ago

The problem with Alibre is that it only works on Windows. I switched from FreeCAD to the free (as in beer) version of Onshape, which works in the browser and is a night and day difference over FreeCAD. Your designs are wide open for anyone to see, but I can live with that for hobby stuff.

andybak 2y ago
I think there's probably a vast range of use cases where having the models freely available isn't hindrance
ajmurmann 2y ago
I wouldn't mind having my models public, but that it SaaS is such a nuisance and the reason I am sticking to FreeCAD. I want to be able to edit offline, like on an airplane and not lose the ability to edit my stuff if some company shuts their servers down.
- tverbeure 2y ago
  I probably spent 100 hours trying to tame FreeCAD, and ended up thinking CAD was just not for me. I then tried Onshape and found out that the problem was elsewhere.
  - ajmurmann 2y ago
    Did you do any tutorials? I've done like 10 hrs of the MangojellySolutions beginner tutorials on YouTube and after that I've been pretty much able to do what I want or only had to look up solutions to a very specific problem. I one time had an issue where I messed up and had to post on the FreeCAD forum and got two of the best responses I've gotten anywhere on the internet ever. Two people opened up my model and took screenshots highlighting where my issue was and gave me several suggestions on how to improve my model in other ways. The initial time investment was substantial and there are still a few workflows that could be smoother for me (attaching a sketch to a different face after it's been created), but that's fairly minor.
    - wdfx 2y ago
      On the flip side I spent probably 30 minutes each to get acquainted with Fusion and Onshape, and completed my first designs within a couple of hours. I've invested several hours already in trying to learn FreeCAD and achieved nothing. Its a hot mess that desperately needs a new UI.

numpad0 2y ago

Even $2k per year in 3D CAD is entry level pricing. Good CAD for $200 once is probably a prank tier idea to suitspeople, even though it's a necessity for 3D printing community.

OvbiousError 2y ago
BricsCAD for instance is less than that, 1600 one-time fee. And it's good.
jononor 2y ago
It is worth noting that what is doable/practical with entry level CAD has increased a lot over the last 20 years. Hobbyists will not feel restricted, and one can do quite a lot of commercial relevant work also.
schmidtleonard 2y ago
Suits gonna get Blendered, but that's a good thing :-)
ecjhdnc2025 2y ago
I think RS Electronics still maintains and gives away a version of DesignSpark for Windows, which is likely a smart move if it integrates with their catalogue. Alibre Atom3D is the entry level package, but the whole thing seems very much like the Affinity suite model. It looks very good.