CAD Sketcher 0.24.0 Update | CAD Modeling In Blender 3.2

Learn how to do and see how I do CAD-like modeling in blender 3.2 using CAD Sketcher. This is pretty much a brand new parametric precision modelling workflow for blender. CAD Sketcher is very much still in early development but things are looking very promising and growing quickly.
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0:01 -

[@Niyachelowick]

It's still in development, and it's actually easier to learn than other cad softwares that I've tested.

[@ThantiK]

Yep, in just a few months it's become wildly more usable than FreeCAD.

[@atnfn]

I wish rhinoceros (the only decent cad program I know of that doesn't require monthly/yearly payments) had these sketch functions. Too bad you can only make mesh objects in blender, and that's probably not something that ever will change.

[@josef-c-6126]

​@@ThantiK Imposible. FreeCAD is not perfect (and sometimes buggy), but it has so many modules and functions that never going to work in Blender. For example importing CAD file types or working with assemblies. CAD Sketcher is nice project, but I can't imagine to design something seriously in Blender.

[@gwentarinokripperinolkjdsf683]

@@josef-c-6126 Well let's just look at the history of blender and where it started, and where it's come. Clearly the rate of progress of blender is enough to dismiss your claims.

[@josef-c-6126]

​@@gwentarinokripperinolkjdsf683 I know blender since 2.63 version and I agree, it's amazing what has changed over the years. But it is mainly the modeling/rendering software for artists and not for engineers. Blender is not design to work with solid geometry that could be exported in STEP format. And this will never change.

[@mjs28s]

Pretty slick tool! That is the kind of add-on that will scalp people from using pure cad that are using to precise modeling with constraints and editable dimensional control. Hats off to the people behind CAD Sketcher

[@glomerol8300]

I am hoping to finally jump the corporate proprietary AutoCAD shipwreck very soon after being shackled in its lower hull for ages. Hats off indeed. CAD Sketcher's a lighthouse on an already-welcoming, well-set-up Blender landscape. Land ahoy!

[@OwenIverson]

This is just mind-blowing to me. As an Autodesk hater, I can't praise this enough. At some point, I'll have to donate some cash, but I really can't stand CAD (I'm a CAD Manager for 20 years now).

[@DudeWithADrone]

I used to be a CAD draughtsman around 30 years ago. Back then we had a tablet based package I think it was called PowerCAD. It used relative design so you would click on a line in the tool pallet then click "relative" then click on "Intersection" or "midpoint" or "endpoint" or "center" then on the point on the drawing that you wanted the line relative to (which would set your datum point). Then you would throw in your X,Y coordinates for the start of the line relative to that point and then the X,Y for the length etc. It was surprisingly natural and quick not using the origin point for measuring. It made sense. Then they moved to Autocad and I hated it. It was harder, used a mouse instead of a tablet and seemed to make you have to keep using mental arithmetic (not my strongest subject) to keep an eye on the start and end points of objects you had drawn. This CAD Sketcher seems more similar to PowerCAD or whatever it was called. Looking forward to learning it.

[@andrewkelley7062]

One of these things I have found in a cad program that made things so much more convenient was a spreadsheet reference. Free cad has one. With it you can change all the things you have referenced by just changing the sheet. You do have to reset the parent of the sketch but it is still easier when your part switches barrings or the size of a rod your using.

[@cekuhnen]

Yeah that is very true The parameters are handy to setup and use in your design

[@neversinkmakes]

^ +1. Yes - being able to reference variables and having a place where you can easily change those (for instance, changing tolerances, thread sizes, etc.) is absolutely key. We need this for CAD Sketcher to be useful (even though it seems very promising already).

[@andrewkelley7062]

@@neversinkmakes It is very promising indeed. You can go a bit further with a reference spreadsheet though especially if it can reference back to the spreadsheet in the spreadsheet. I do alot of prototyping on things with fluid flows to complex to practically simulate. So, there is alot of variation to sizes and shapes that needs to be done in order to optimize. I just write up a spreadsheet now and I don't even use numbers on the model I just type in the name of the measurement. Then poof when I want to tweak something poof to the spreadsheet type it in and the model changes.

[@neversinkmakes]

@@andrewkelley7062 yes, I 100% agree, which is why I stated we need this for CAD Sketcher to be useful. I’m not going to be using CAD Sketcher (despite being a big fan of Blender) until I can easily tweak dimensions in one central place. In fact, I had made the same point in a comment to an earlier video a few days ago. My proposal had been to use a node tree instead of a spreadsheet, with all the input nodes on the left and all the output nodes on the right, and math nodes in between. This could potentially allow you even greater flexibility. But I currently use the spreadsheet function in FreeCAD and would be happy with that too.

[@Gormadt]

I use parameters all the time in Fusion 360, it's so convenient. I'd love to see it brought to this Blender add-on.

[@rendra1996]

it's really cool addons, finally a CAD for blender

[@EatRawGarlic]

I'm impressed by the speed of the development! The cut/extrude operations still look a bit convoluted, but in this pace, I'm sure someone will develop a more elegant solution for it in no time.

[@FuriousImp]

And did they?

[@raphaelrichter6950]

I just discovered your addon. Blender was missing that. I bought it straight away and I'm thrilled. Many Thanks.

[@JC-oo8ix]

Progress is looking great!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Wow lots of progress right there, congrats! 🥳

[@galdocstutorials]

Woah. Dude, this is amazing. I had no idea this even existed. Thank you so much for this! I just started going through and learning a bunch from your videos. Very helpful!

[@Space-O-2001]

Look forward to getting to the point where clicking on a RAD for example (or any element) prompts entering a dimension for it. Also, contextual menus based on selection so you don't have to remember yet more keyboard shortcuts. Coming along well!

[@snilloconator]

You have made me love blender! Thank you for the amazing tutorials. They are easy to follow along and you have a great attitude! TKs.

[@omidmohammadmoradi2795]

So happy about the update.

[@wobblyjellyman69]

really cool features

[@marcusdeimos]

Trim tool very nice.

[@j.m5888]

Oh man, I love you guys! It's a shame you can only give videos one 'like'!

[@kennmacintosh2627]

Love the 4K playback settings on your videos!!!!!

[@NC700_68]

i have been wanting this for a looooooooong time. hopefully, the development will be even further at the end of this year when i hopefully get a new 3D printer instead of the crappy Creality i had.

[@Xraller]

I use Fusion 360 professionally for manufacturing....I have to say this is coming along nicely.

[@jamesray9009]

Fusion 360 is all that I have managed to get ok with, I'm wonder what the learning curve is gonna be .. my timelines look like they done by Alfred Hitchcock

[@DraftID]

Amazing development progress. I need to put some time into this.

[@RomashkiPower]

you the best man

[@YaroslaffFedin]

Great progress so far! It's really interesting to be able to do sketch drawing in Blender. Although non-destructible workflow In blender leaves a lot to be desired in Blender unfortunately, it is a little bit hard for me to see if the gap between this state and something like basic Solidworks features can ever be closed having Blender as a foundation. It does look pretty amazing already though. Great job!

[@cekuhnen]

SOLIDWORKS Is nurbs blender is polygon !

[@YaroslaffFedin]

@@cekuhnen yeah I have limited experience using both. Solidworks workflow felt more intuitive but blenders seems to yield better polygon meshes. I hope the middle ground is possible somehow

[@zeeshan-yb7wb]

Please add offset tool also.

[@HP-jl5ts]

@@cekuhnen Excuse me. Did you say SOLIDWORKS is nerds Blender? I really like solidworks but it does not really exist if you have no access to it.

[@cekuhnen]

@@HP-jl5ts SW is Nurbs based - Blender is polygon based. That should settle the CAD question.

[@arkoprovo1996]

Wow, this is fantastic!! ♥

[@mohamedwissemlandolsi2568]

Good job 👍

[@oootoob]

Would like to see the option to reuse parts of sketches that have already been used - in the example in the video, creating a hole from the centre circle of the pipe should be possible without making a new sketch referencing the first one.

[@aeiounix]

Amazing.

[@nedbazzvictoria6948]

Johnathan, yet again, GREAT STUFF!! WOW, hasn't Cad Sketcher come a long way, just FANTASTIC: I too HATE Autodesk _ I made/invented the AutoCAD Hardware Lock in Australia - Boy, did hat peeve them (and it cost me a lot of money in legal fees, but it cost them HEAPS more! - sweet satisfaction). I just love this progress. Cheers, p.

[@detrix42]

making holes is very easy with HardOp/Boxcutter plug-ins. HardOps with some CAD sketches is very useful.

[@Gameplayer55055]

Finally CAD without reactoe control panel like interface

[@jesperkped]

Perhaps not the right place to ask - but will it support named constraint dimensions and calculations? So you can write in a dimension something like: = OtherDimension - 40mm

[@abdul0mar]

check the latest CAD sketcher video he made something similar

[@slayerofgodrip651]

Trying to make a soft you hear in your head co to life might be the hardest part starting out but I guess that requires so solid

[@darrennew8211]

Nice! I think you messed up the links in your description. The "download cad sketcher" goes to the lesson 2 plans, and the "exercise" link goes to the lesson 1 plans.

[@Keep-Making]

Updated! Thanks for the heads up!

[@dioxhawken1551]

It would be very usefull if show how to do make custom case. I know how to do frame, but no idea how to make bottom face with custom thiknes. Imagine whats gonna be in ver 1.0 :) Great work.

[@DudeWithADrone]

These tuts are awesome mate. How do you get nice thick lines because mine are hairline all the time. I had to change the colour of them just to see them. I'm not new to CAD (used to be a draughtsman in CAD around 30 years ago so I'm old school) but I am new to Blender and CAD Sketcher. Sorry to sound dumb!

[@zhenzhang3451]

Awesome!!!!

[@michaelsmusicinstruments9980]

well done

[@PolskiJaszczomb]

Is there a way to increase beveled edges resolution, so corners would be smoother? Currently it's a real let down for 3D printing purposes.

[@bill392]

I assume by this that you mean the number of faces automatically generated to form curved surfaces. I would like to see a feature to set the value of this as well. Objects sometimes look a little too chunky/faceted for my preference.

[@PolskiJaszczomb]

@@bill392 Precisely.

[@loicverniers4429]

Nice video you should have more subs and vieuws thank you!

[@harrisondawes5922]

How can you sweep a bend across 2 axis like on the top pipe there if you were to add a smooth radius transition to the top plate?

[@uekihunter752]

Can you make an Architectural and structural discipline using it?

[@etopowertwon]

Downloaded the drawing and tried doing it (successfully, yay). The thoughts 1) Don't like hotkeys. It forgot it's a blender and not a solverspace. 'x' is delete, not del. It was nbd in 0.1, but considering additions of hotkeys, it doesn't seem it will be fixed. 2) Speaking of hotkeys. It's frustrating that distance is Alt-something, all others are Shift-something. 3) No copy paste. I did left bottom thingy first (the one looks like ▛▜ ), Copying it manually was an exercise in a frustration and hiding constraints. I never hid constraints in other CADs. I suspect here I do it because in the theme lines are black, barely visible over gray background, and constraints are pink, much more visible 4) Escape cancels too little. I constantly added geometry because I finished a line,pressed escape and clicked on a point to move. 5) Several times I wanted "Split line by point" operation, instead I had to delete a line, add two new lines and make of them construction. [ETA -- seems trim tool will do the job, I didn't know about it when was doing the model] 6) Delete is not strong enough. Several times I wanted to box select and delete large amount of entities. It was impossible. Instead I had to delete them one by one in specific order. 7) Operation cancelling is too strong: if I select two points and 'L'ine them, it creates a line. If I click anywhere after that, the line is deleted I have to press escape additionally. 8) You can't change several lines to construction lines, at least with mouse; if you select 4 lines of rectangle, click right click - construction, only one will change, under the cursor, not all selected. 9) I can't tell what's not being constrained. For all I know there is a accidentally added point floating somewhere with 2 degree of freedom, 10) Since it's 3d view, sometimes it confuses sketch's Horizontal and Vertical: my horizontal is solver space's vertical and vice versa. Overall I did it in ~1 hour and had 0 crashes. I had one Exception error when I first time selected two circles and made them Equal, but it went away and I couldn't reproduce it. ETA: The trim looks fantastic! Arcing without it was a pain

[@kennmacintosh2627]

I'm using Ver 0.25.0 At time mark 05:24 you mention that the trim tool sometimes leaves some extra coincidence points that we need to deal with. How do you deal orphan coinc (vert) points when they share the same point in space and you can only see one of the points? BTW, Kudos to who ever put that Shortcut sheet together. Got that sucker taped to my monitor.

[@christiansariol5018]

is there a link to "dealing with coincident point" I can't get Blender 3.5.1 to work with CAD sketcher 0.27.2. it always make coincident points when I cut. Intense vids, lots to learn! thank you!

[@CryptoniteChannel]

That's cool but can we make a Draw as well based on the 3d model?

[@Gengh13]

This is awesome.

[@nams37]

Thank you sir

[@LoveandKindness_Z]

Thank you for the helpful tutorial. Could you tell me how to fix it when I just finished the previous sketch, and when I created a new one, the other one disappeared. How to make them all stay visible?

[@norbertmichael7158]

nice

[@frankpaynter6536]

Got stuck again at 9:37, after completing the first sketch. Successfully used the 'add workplane to mesh' tool, but when I clicked on 'Add Sketch', the solid model from the first sketch disappeared - sigh

[@rodolflum3444]

i think you can get a good idea using the bolean on jmesh tools it also free but the bolean is integrated to jmesh add on.

[@frankpaynter6536]

Can't get anywhere on the demo. None of the hotkeys on my system are the same as those demonstrated, and can't find a way to add dimensions to a line as shown at 3:58. Don't know what I'm doing wrong, but it is very frustrating!

[@ErenTal]

I'm new to CAD Sketcher, and I was trying to do it on Mac. But when I try this horizontal constraint thing, it just gives a bunch of error messages. Can someone help me resolve the problem please?

[@metr0p0Iitain]

Really nice add-on! Is there a way to enhance the draw quality of curves? When using big radii the curves are looking pretty angular and inaccurate...

[@frankpaynter6536]

Making another run through this tutorial after having gone through lessons 1-5 of your wonderful paid course. I ran into several occasions where the 'tangent' (SHIFT-T) command did not work. The 'tangent' constraint symbols showed up, but depicted in red, with an 'unknown failure' message. It appears there are some 'constraints' (pun intended) on the geometry on which 'Tangent' command is successful, but it wasn't real obvious what the limits are. It's a real pain to go through all the work of creating the lines, adding the circles, and trimming all the unneeded parts away, only to have the 'Tangent' command fail for no apparent reason. Thoughts?

[@f-man3274]

same problem, write please if you found answer. For now, I use the old way with creating archs instead

[@glomerol8300]

Might there be a Blender CAD Sketcher forum where users can help each other while the dev(s) work on the project? Wordpress?

[@user-po9hq3dh8t]

This is driving me mad. The add-on works great don't get me wrong but my lines are neither horizontal or vertical. How do you get yours so perfect? In other vector based apps on my machine if I hold the shift key when drawing a line it snaps to the horizontal or vertical and I can pull it in set degrees but in Blender it seems to want to rubber band totally freeform and as a result I can never get horizontal lines of straight ones of lines at specific angles to the baseline or whatever.

[@oooooooorange]

Use notebook, how to press Ctrl + [+]? I try to use Shift + Ctrl + [+], doesn't work.

[@kashgarinn]

How do you solve the problem of inaccurate results from only having access to single precision fp accuracy?

[@EliSpizzichino]

trim tool doesn't seems to be working anymore with 0.25.0

[@MinhTran-jx8zw]

I want to render or export a 2D drawing including dimensions, how do I do that?

[@crimso1313]

where to get a list of all hotkeys

[@bill392]

Go into the description and look for "Shortcut Sheet" link. Other way, hover over menu items and the pop-ups should reveal the key for each one and you can write your own list.

[@EDITMODE]

is there a link somewhere to a pdf that will show all the shortcuts?

[@pieralessi7426]

Hi, could I make a loft or fill grid from lines? Thanks

[@RuneRelic]

The real time saver will be product number catalogues as simple spreadsheets. The beautiful thing about a spreadsheet, is not only can you use it a list of dimensions for a specific design, you can also use mutiple columns/rows as a catalogue. That is where the real time saver is. You dont have to physcilly model 100s of versions or keep changing many parameters mutiple times. Just make slight changes to a few cells in a few columns with a different product number and then select that columns user defined model number for the specific manufacturer/product. Why keep remodelling, when you only have to change parametric values once and then simply swap preset product number listings (as a group of per model parametric presets). Would be nice to auto generate these spreasheets from json parameter lists actually, then a simple file rename + geometry association, could be the new manufacturer+product+type. Then you can have files for physical 3d printing and files for the virtual 3D realm.

[@_d_b_]

PIP is not available and cannot be installed, please install PIP manually

[@tszabon]

👍💪👏

[@Key_Capz_]

It would be cool to add an unfold mode after designing your 3d model for plasma cutting or cnc cutting.

[@claws61821]

Can't you use Normals or UV Maps for that? Those are already built into base Blender

[@Key_Capz_]

@@claws61821 yeah but it unfolds uneven and apart. Not only would it unfold but an option to add tabs in between the folding sections.

[@claws61821]

@@Key_Capz_ Ah. Thank you. Hmm... There may be an existing Blender plugin for "pepakura" or "papercraft" that could do what you want... Let us know!

[@3DRabbitHole]

The tangent just don't work for me like this. It shows the tangent symbol but the curve line don't adjust

[@glomerol8300]

I previously wrote this: "Hi All... While this should be obvious, I'll say it anyway just in case it isn't: For those who have questions, comments or bug reports or whatever specific to the project, consider referencing the manual if there is one (even helping out with that yourself), contacting the project directly (assuming they have any time for a global user-base of potentially thousands or more) or even getting involved with it-- self-/community-empowerment and all that-- in helping it grow and expand, thus helping many more in the process and making the project broader, flexible and stronger. This is just a YT video comment section and as we know, it can be hit or miss, especially where the devs are far too busy with the actual software. Thanks!"

[@aliaali615]

Is there a quick way if I want to make a lot of holes like a colander for example

[@aeiounix]

Array modifier.

[@aliaali615]

@@aeiounix The problem with ِArray is that it gives us regular shapes, sometimes we need scattered shapes

[@bill392]

@@aliaali615 I guess you could create a cutting tool object, then use geo nodes to distribute points across your surface, then realize the points with the cutting tool object, then cut that object from the surface and there's your random distribution of holes.

[@glomerol8300]

Hi All... While this should be obvious, I'll say it anyway just in case it isn't: For those who have questions, comments or bug reports or whatever specific to the project, consider referencing the manual if there is one (even helping out with that yourself), contacting the project directly (assuming they have any time for a global user-base of potentially thousands or more) or even getting involved with it-- self-/community-empowerment and all that-- in helping it grow and expand, thus helping many more in the process and making the project broader, flexible and stronger. This is just a YT video comment section and as we know, it can be hit or miss, especially where the devs are far too busy with the actual software. Thanks!

[@fernandoantoniobasocolopez9804]

I would like this addon to be similar to CATIA, since I love CATIA xd

[@Training4ChristMedia]

which program do you use to record the screen with the clicks?

[@MH_99f]

I can't download it says this is not available in your country. I follow you from Iraq. How can i download cad please help me

[@MrScottyTay]

as a newcomer to both this and blender itself, I have no idea how to even get started, none of the shortcuts seem to work as intended for me. Is there not a way to get buttons or a toolbar for these functions?

[@glomerol8300]

Unsure if or how often a one or two person dev team monitors external-to-the-project forums like You Tube comment sections, so maybe consider a more direct and/or self-empowered approach. It's a new, free, libre, open source and, in a very real sense, community, project and, as such, does well with community involvement and self-directed self-empowerment, such as from its user-base. As such, it will get better.

[@user-kv2jk8vc1l]

Can I import my softs into soft soft and process without using a mic

[@glomerol8300]

Did you look at Blender, Blender CAD Sketcher's site? User forum?

[@LWJCarroll]

06:03. Getting to that radioused corner wouldnt make any sense to me. I thought the prior shaps were what being sought….just weird to me…Laurie.

[@ChrisDaleArt]

Have you given up on explaining what you're doing or did I miss a previous video that explain, so I'm able to figure out what is wrong when what you do does not work for me

[@FunFunnyStudio]

OH!!! it is very new and may be revolutionary for Blender but this function exist in Maya and Max since the time of the dinosaurs. But Max and Maya it is a b///st and Blender is fantastic! Such opinion of blender funs!

[@chronokoks]

Ah it has too many steps when you're building the solids and booleaning. Maybe they should have implemented a nurbs solid engine from the beginning. I'd still far rather use Freecad than his.

[@glomerol8300]

Things like this take time of course. That you're even commenting here might insinuate something positive. Freecad has been around for awhile. I tried it briefly, but only briefly as perhaps I have been overconditioned by The AutoCAD Way™. Pity me. At the same time, it might help to realize that CAD Sketcher is built on an already-powerful modeller, Blender3D. So the potential seems already quite vast. Maybe it's worth learning Blender now if only to be prepared for what may come.

[@YoutubeSupportServices]

Just for the record; The acronym "A.C.E.S" stands for "Adobe/Autodesk. Can. Eat. Sh!t!"... Ya know if ANYONE needs to name something within this Cad Sketcher!

[@glomerol8300]

My thumb up... I just wrote this under another comment: "I am hoping to finally jump the corporate proprietary AutoCAD shipwreck very soon after being shackled in its lower hull for ages. Hats off indeed. CAD Sketcher's a lighthouse on an already-welcoming, well-set-up Blender landscape. Land ahoy!"

[@YoutubeSupportServices]

@@glomerol8300" FREEDCAD ORG" IS ALL I USE ANYMORE. Within reason! Somethings, Need a little"extra".. Blender's great for everything else I "dabble-in"!.. IF Blender's "CAD" element "falls-into-place" in time, and "WE" get along, EVEN BETTER!

[@glomerol8300]

@@KZbinSupportServices Agreed!

[@StephenBoyd21]

Just curious whether anybody actually uses this tool? Whilst it is quite impressive, it is still nowhere near as usable as fusion360.

[@ukPreTzeL]

I have just started using blender with this addon and I'm suitably impressed. I've been using the sketcher + slicer addon to design projects for my laser cutter.

[@paulkahler6373]

The constraint solver comes from Solvespace, which has thousands of users (10s of thousands I believe). This approach is extremely useful and will eliminate commercial CAD from many Blender users toolbox.

[@moonspill9424]

finally do that fucking fillet

[@Keep-Making]

I hope you don't think I'm in control of this beautiful beast... At the end of the day It's an open source project... Who knows what 0.25.0 might bring 😅

[@alaahmad6511]

Why this great addon not available for all users?!

[@jessicaskov6400]

maybe i have a slow mind but every toturial i see about blender and much other its peopel who hav ADHD and not think on peopel who not know anything much about blender !! this cursor run around on screen and show the guy who make the toturial know all 100% and more and just like to be finish before ?? maybe get payed more for lest time the take on youtube ??? am i realy alone about think that ???