Free CAD for Makers in Woodworking, 3d printing, CNC and laser cutting

[@Trooper266]

Thanks for the video. FreeCad definitely needs more love from KZbin makers.

[@WayofWood]

I could not agree more. Some more thoughts on the topic here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXu9dpZ7mrx0j9k

[@CarlYota]

As a furniture maker I’ve been using sketch up 2017. But now that I’m getting into selling my work I need an option that allows commercial use. I don’t mind paying but I hate the expensive subscription based model that is normal now. I use it just to design show the pictures to customers and get cut lists. I don’t need anything fancy like making gcode . I’ll have to give freeCad a try.

[@WayofWood]

Great. FreeCAD is definitely a good replacement for SketchUp and it will allow you to reflect customer requirements in the parametric design much easier...

[@stevenewbank]

A great summary and very clearly explained. Thanks for your time spent in making the video.

[@WayofWood]

Steven Ewbank Thanks for the kind comment.

[@erwinwaldherr2126]

Very nice video. For CNC projects I started to learn Freecad, for 3D printing I work with Openscad, for 2D drawings I have Qcad (costs a small amount). Now I'm want tor try Rhino3D even it is expensive, but has a lifetime license (how long?). Then I hope to do all my work with one software only. Will see.....

[@WayofWood]

Interesting. What are the features you are missing in FreeCAD that Rhino is offering?

[@erwinwaldherr2126]

Rhino 3D does offer competent 2D Drafting capabilties

[@WayofWood]

Got it. For me the Sketch workbench in FreeCAD was good enough so far.

[@adamtalat2165]

I really don't know how to thank you for this video Its super super useful

[@WayofWood]

Thank you!

[@warrenking1815]

I like the way you did this, good video with great comparison. I think you sold me on freecad and blender!

[@WayofWood]

Thank you. Have a look at some of my other videos if you want to get started with FreeCAD.

[@Omobilo]

Nice. Wonder what is suitable today for designing kitchen cabinets and then CAD software (assume this is the CAM module) generating the panels (i.e dimensions and list of items) for cutting?

[@WayofWood]

I have a series of videos on what is possible with FreeCAD in that direction. However if you want to run a production shop you might rather want to spend some money for a commercial solution.

[@spencer5028]

Blender with CAD Sketcher is becoming a nice way to do precision modeling. You have to adapt to the Blender workflow with modifiers to maintain psuedo parametric designs but it is very rapid if you are an experienced Blender user.

[@WayofWood]

👍 Agree !

[@samlenlap]

very well explained, the way you categorised the video was very important. I had the same doubt about fusion 360 while designing I never want to get too comfortable with fusion as they can pull the plug any time.haven't tired free cad yet will definitely give it go thanks

[@WayofWood]

amit kotecha Give FreeCAD a try. It’s a quite powerful solution once you get used to it.

[@samlenlap]

@@WayofWood the only thing that is keeping me with fusion is 'Slicer' as I use it a lot for my laser cutting projects and can't find an alternative for it. do you know any alternative for SLICER FOR FUSION 360?

[@WayofWood]

amit kotecha I think what you are looking for can be found under a google search for slic3r svg output

[@solosailor222]

FreeCAD replaces Fusion360 in 2020 for most parametric uses (truly open source multi platform in active development with 3rd party python modules ) FreeCAD even has Cad to Cam with Adaptive tool path simulation for milling

[@WayofWood]

Fully agree. However there are some features missing - Rest machining is one of them ... ;-)

[@gavindavis8188]

Hell of a video bud. Extremely helpful info that’s saved me TONS of time. Cheers man! Keep ‘‘em coming 🤙🏼

[@WayofWood]

Thanks a lot!

[@tS-gh9dj]

Absolute gold mine

[@WayofWood]

Thanks a lot!

[@davidprock904]

When will freecad be able to replace fusion 360? A question of more importance is what if I was to make a very unusually designed 6 or more axis CNC milling machine, how would I make those software work with it, and which one would be easier to adapt my machine to?

[@WayofWood]

The question is what you want to do with FreeCAD. The CAM module of FreeCAD is working well for 3 axis, there are first prototypes for 4 axis but it’s quite a way to go till it might support 5 axis. On the other hand open source has the big advantage of being easy to change. If Fusion doesn’t support your 6axis out of the box I would try my luck with adoption FreCAD or PyCAM.

[@RalFingerLP]

5:26 you use blender to cut your videos? that freaked me out :P

[@WayofWood]

It’s quite efficient and has the big advantage that you can customize it via Python to your liking ... and as I don‘t want to install Windows on my Linux machine there are not that many viable alternatives.

[@RalFingerLP]

@@WayofWood didn´t even know, your channel is full of suprises and good content, keep it up! :)

[@WayofWood]

Thank you!

[@WayofWood]

Carbyne Interesting. What do you like about it?

[@bobmirror7164]

I totally agree. I am not useing software that only works online and steals you're drawings. Thank you reading the user agrements. Still like the 2014 version of Sketchup, however Windows 10 graffic card drivers made it a pain to use. So, irrr Space Claim version of Design Sparks Mechanical, is the other CAD program, kind of like sketchup, that had a free version. However they seam to have "handcuffs" on their programs as well.

[@WayofWood]

It’s somehow by design that the „free as in beer“ software always comes with handcuffs...

[@Modi7903]

this is great Video , thanks alot , i was comparing but you already shortcut it and give me final result , one question left , could you tell me difference between free cad and Solidworks and which you recommend and why ?

[@WayofWood]

I would recommend using FreeCAD - especially for furniture design. One of my last videos is avoid advantages from free software. The comparison between Fusion and FreeCAD is more or less identical for Solidworks. Also look on my channel for some detailed videos on FreeCAD for woodworking.

[@topcks]

Extremely helpful

[@WayofWood]

Thank you!

[@eddiesanders2719]

I've been using Design Spark for CNC designs in titanium. I need to purchase their add-on to convert STL to STEP for my CNC people. I'm open to comments, suggestions, and advice, for better solutions, or what ever.

[@WayofWood]

Converting STL to STEP is difficult. FreeCAD has a workbench that supports a manual conversion process but there is no free automatic conversion module that I would be aware of.

[@eddiesanders2719]

@@WayofWood Thank you for your prompt response! One can purchase the add-on modules here: www.rs-online.com/designspark/introducing-the-new-designspark-mechanical-add-on-modules. My main question was, is there any info, or, reviews on the add-ons. Is it a good investment? Just curious.

[@AlxMair]

Great video thank you. Every informative and well throughout 👍👍👍

[@davidchristiansen9213]

Very instructive summary, thank you. What are you using for the CAM part? Say you want to use bigger steppers with driver modules and addressed via parallel breakout board? Thks in advance, David C.

[@WayofWood]

I am currently using FreeCAD to generate gcode from the CAD model and send the code to the CNC with UGS. I do however plan to transition to LinuxCNC going forward...

[@Modi7903]

and please advice which is more better for furniture Modeling ( Rhinocesor VS Blender ) ? thank you

[@WayofWood]

I would go for FreeCAD. Have a look at some of my recent videos on that topic.

[@skyhawk1256]

Thanks,was a very great help

[@WayofWood]

Glad that the video was helpful for you!

[@amanda1729]

Extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@TheGuardianofAzarath]

Well....I was thinking of giving Fusion another look for getting into cad/parametric modeling, but seeing how much they nerfed the free version, that may be a no-go for me. I'm also looking to get a spacemouse soon, and at the moment, those don't support freecad, plus you said in the video that freecad doesn't really seem to do assemblies all that well (going by this video), something that's kind of needed for a model with multiple parts.

[@WayofWood]

FreeCAD supports the spacemouse: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faLNc2aslNKbeLM

[@WayofWood]

Assembly also improved since the release of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHrZYmiejZt8qdk

[@fhuber7507]

Looking for something that will just convert STL or other solid model file to a 2.5 C CNC G gode. Like a 3D printer but cutting away what I don't want. I'll deal with designing the objects so it doesn't try to make something hollow.

[@WayofWood]

F Huber Using the Path workbench in FreeCAD might be an option. You can import the STL into FreeCAD and then run a 3d adaptive toolpath on the object. Still requires some manual work but it’s the only option I could think of...

[@niravpatel2405]

Nice video, are you aware of any open source CAM software for 5 axis tool path? Explored freecad but only supports 3 axis...

[@WayofWood]

There are experiments to introduce 4 axis in FreeCAD but I am not aware of a free solution that would support 5 axis

[@blueskyvideos9798]

Use Design Spark Mechanical. Good alternative too

[@WayofWood]

What do you like about it?

[@blueskyvideos9798]

@@WayofWood the spped you perform a model using direct modeling instead a parametric modeling centered tool such freecad.

[@WayofWood]

Sounds interesting. I will have a look at it.

[@MustafaBirsoz]

Great job.Thanks

[@WayofWood]

🙏🙏🙏

[@DoItProjects]

How have I been following you this long on IG and not been subscribed to you on YT? Well, that’s fixed! 😉 This is a great video. I bet it clears things up for a lot of people. Nice job.

[@WayofWood]

Do It Thank you. For quite some time I‘ve been testing different solutions and thought it would be beneficial for others to share some thoughts on the pros and cons.

[@brianmosse]

Turbo cad is amazing I learned it to where I could design plenty of useful drawings in a few weeks. I have been with it for ten years now.

[@WayofWood]

Brian Mosse Interesting. If I understand it correctly Turbocad is not free but priced quite moderately compared with other solution.

[@brianmosse]

@@WayofWood I am an independent wood work company that has no reason to recommend any cad software , I just believe in good value. sometimes free is a fools paradise, Turbo cad is "CAD's best kept secret.

[@WayofWood]

@@brianmosse I took a look at it and it really looks very sweet. It seems to be a pragmatic solution for woodworking. It's not for me however as I don't run Windows on any of my computers. :-) In the meantime I got quite comfortable using FreeCAD for my woodwoorking projects (we have a separate video on this topic). While it's not perfect and I would not use it in a professional woodworking context it gets the work done for me.

[@brianmosse]

@@WayofWood Turbocad has a mac program I don't know how good it is but it's worth a look I bet. I am going to subscribe to your channel, If you ever want any input let me know I can send you stuff in pdf or dwg. at 64 I have little left to prove. I have had a lot of people that have gone on to great things after working with me and the projects I have been involved with, cheers guys.

[@paulreader1777]

@@brianmosse Sadly Turbocad is not available on Linux, which is where many of us are situated. All the software mentioned by WayofWood except Fusion 360 (and SketchUp) runs natively on Linux. Fortunately in the 3D world FreeCAD is under active development which may soon make it suitable for professional woodworking (it already suits architectural and engineering design quite well). LibreCAD is slowly improving as a result of dedicated work by a small number of developers.

[@plazmax]

and fusion updated licence types too lol, can u make new ver this :)

[@WayofWood]

plazma The recent update goes very much in the anticipated direction. They lower the boundaries for free commercial usage, only exclude these that provide free marketing for them. If you don’t consider this as a warning signal to think about alternatives I cannot help... 😏

[@DanielDiaz-xw6cu]

Thanks a lot for this video ! :D

[@WayofWood]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@TriskelionHellion]

As predicted Fusion 360 is now $495 /year

[@WayofWood]

No surprise that they want to make money with it...

[@dangelep]

Fusion is free for user level. For bussines level is normal to pay something. And let's be honnest, Fusion can do a lot for so small price.

[@WayofWood]

At the end it‘s a personal decision. What I don’t like is the fact that the boundaries between user and business are continually adjusted. Suddenly the fourth axis is „business“ while it used to be free. I prefer investing in a software with a growing rather than a shrinking feature set...

[@kossisossou8345]

Thank you very much

[@ralphsimpsion6692]

Thank you

[@WayofWood]

Welcome. :-)

[@GeraldTrost]

I missed 3DOrchard and Meshlab How about these ?

[@WayofWood]

Meshing is not a real CAD program but rather an editor - still a useful tool. I don’t know 3DOrchard. What do you like about it?

[@GeraldTrost]

@@WayofWood the intro videos from 3dorchard look very promising

[@TheVincent0268]

You can add a software to your list: Solid Edge Community Edition

[@trivender007]

Very Nice

[@WayofWood]

Thank you!

[@warrenking1815]

I like the way you did this,good job. I think that you sold me on freecad and blender.

[@venkatm1339]

Hi is there any Mac version?

[@WayofWood]

Which software do you mean?

[@venkatm1339]

@@WayofWood Inkscape, Sketchup and FreeCAD.

[@WayofWood]

For FreeCAD and Inkscape there are Mac versions available. For Sketchup I don‘t know...

[@mihailazar2487]

Blender No, really It's the fastest to work with and you get sublime looking renders in real time, right inside your viewport YEAH, that's right : you can EDIT while rendering ! you can also use Blender's UV texture packer to optimize the cutting area without having to export it into cumbersome web apps As of 2020 you can use the MeasureIT-ARCH to create dimensions right in your viewport and export any kind of drawing from any angle or even overlay the dimensions onto the photoreal rendering in real time Blender IS usually used with a highly destructive workflow, but that doesn't mean it can't be fully parametric You can parametrise anything using modifiers, drivers and empties (most people will tell you Blender's parametric capabilities are limited because they only look at the modifier stack and don't realize you can combine modifiers with drivers and empties to get truly unlimited power, albeit with ONE MAJOR caveat: they're gonna be polygonal. You can alter the resolution to get as accurate or as simple a model as you want, and be able to easily edit every parameter, BUT you can never export your model to a CAD software because fundamentally, it's still a mesh and not a NURBS solid. This makes Blender absolutely excellent for hobbyist makers because it's an absolute joy to use, it's the fastest and least buggy out of all of them, completely free and you can use it for everything and not need anything else : draft modelling, parametric designing, 3D & 2D animation, sculpting, rendering, video editing, VFX, just the entire production pipeline in one software (also BlenderCAM is a bit old but it's comparable to FreeCAD's path workbench) whatever you do, be it laser cutting, CNC, 3D printing, just whatever you do, if YOU do it then please learn Blender and thank me later, but if you need to design your stuff and then send it off to somebody, you're screwed unless an .STL file would suffice

[@0LoneTech]

While they're largely neglected, Blender does have nurbs. It's the Surface category of objects. However, the modifiers and such are largely designed for mesh, so once you start manipulating with booleans and such the advantages are lost.

[@mihailazar2487]

@@0LoneTech Blender's NURBS objects don't count because they lack core functionality such as trimming. If you can trim NURBS you can do anything. You can manually implement literally any solid modelling operation. But with no trimming, you're out of luck, and won't be able to make something as simple as a cylinder with a hole cut out of it's side

[@Skyliptor]

All you told about license of Fusion 360 has happened

[@WayofWood]

Open source is really the only "free" software where you have a guarantee to use it for the years to come. And at the end there is good free software for all maker-related tasks (see kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXu9dpZ7mrx0j9k for more examples)

[@ericseidel4940]

HAHAHA this moment is now cult : "Now you might argue that it is pure paranoia. Why would a respected company such as Autodesk offer a solution for free, build up a community, invest in the product just to dicontinue it or charge money for it ?" YES, they can !

[@WayofWood]

Haha - it was somehow predictable. Glad that there are alternatives such as FreeCAD.

[@MarcosMendezQuintero]

Wayofwood Just won a subscriber

[@WayofWood]

🙏🙏🙏

[@phil57chev]

need help my dvd is in chinese ?anyone got a free copy ?

[@WayofWood]

All of the software in this video is free to download...

[@leeroyescu]

I took the advice of this flowchart called *Which 3D software for 3D printing?* ( go.gliffy.com/go/publish/5271448 ) and tried *DesignSpark Mechanical.* The experience is good, it's powerful and easy to use. It seems to be a freeware subset of SpaceClaim with RS Components parts library. Here's a table comparing it to SpaceClaim Engineer: www.spaceclaim.com/en/Products/DesignSparkMechanical.aspx Only one concern has cropped up with the latest update: the software package has suddenly become much larger (2GB+) and a bit slower (more power hungry). Poking around in the files it looks quite messy, I wouldn't call the craftsmanship elegant. Which makes me wonder about the platform's future health. Also you have to register to use, if I recall correctly. Have you tried it? If so what did you think of it?

[@WayofWood]

I have not used DesignSpark. If I would use a freeware (ie non-open source) for 3d modelling I would use Fusion 360. It's damn powerful, has a great UI and a very active community.

[@dusbus2384]

08:00 that day is Oct. 1 2020. they nerfed the shit outa the free version

[@WayofWood]

Thea are reducing the functionality of F360 to a point where the gap between FreeCAD and Fusion becomes marginalized...

[@guritche]

Very good video. I don't really trust Autodesk products. They are here one day then gone tomorrow. I love blender but it is hard to do any precise work in it. I agree that opensource is the only thing that gives us hobbyists any hope.

[@WayofWood]

Mario Westphal Thank you. From my point of view it’s inevitable that Autodesk one day will charge money for Fusion. Their ultimate goal has to be shareholder value - so in the moment when the fact that they are giving it away for free no longer acts as marketing tool they will be forced to monetize it.

[@clementclarisseclemen3d708]

You do a big mistake to include Inkscape as CAD software because it's not one of these, it's a vectorial graphic drawing software. Even if you can import SVG in FreeCAD by example, that's FreeCAD which convert it into shapes that can be printed/routed, Inkscape don't do more once the SVG file saved and imported in the CAD software. So Inkscape IS NOT CAD SOFTWARE, be warned everybody, you can't create functionnal designs with it, nor export STL from this...

[@WayofWood]

CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. So every software that helps you to create a design on the computer is a CAD software. If you would watch the video you would see that I distinguish between 2D and 3D systems. 2D systems such as LibreCAD or Inkscape can naturally not export STL - which is a 3d format. Nevertheless you can create quite functional designs also in 2D: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZvJdIF6jd6fpck

[@jonathancervantes2703]

Well, that assumption about Fusion360 aged well.

[@WayofWood]

It was unfortunately very easy to predict...

[@brucewelty7684]

Fusion is no longer free.

[@WayofWood]

When it used to be "free" it also wasn't. It was free as in free beer but not free as in freedom. :-) And honestly I can't blame Autodesk. They have a responsibility for their shareholders to earn as much money as possible. Whenever the marketing effect of giving the software away for free is smaller than the potential income they could generate by charging licenses they will do so. Using FreeCAD is sometimes painful and some functionalities such as the CAM part are far less mature than Fusion - but for me this is a worthwhile invest in my freedom of choice.

[@PixelOutlaw]

I do a lot of my woodworking projects in LibreCAD and QCAD on Linux. I wish they had Lisp support like AutoCAD does. OpenSCAD was a total failure for me because it's not meant to produce measured drawings and lack of snap modes is a crime. Total garbage for drafting. If you want to pretend you're a C++ programmer who never really got interactive CAD it's the perfect software to play in that cat turd filled sandbox.

[@WayofWood]

Very true.

[@Dude_Slick]

Fusion360 has an easy user interface? Are you out of your mind? That is the least intuitive program ever.

[@dangelep]

If you play with Fusion a week, you will use to be. FreeCad has worse interface. I used them both.

[@WayofWood]

I would agree that the Fusion Interface is more discoverable and in some parts more powerful. But I am pretty sure that FreeCAD is going catch up over the coming years...

[@retiredsearge]

Fusion 360 is no longer free.

[@WayofWood]

It never was really free. 😏

[@brandondonovan8402]

I use paint 3d noobs

[@WayofWood]

Do you mean these pyramids for painting?

[@kivylius]

Thank you

[@WayofWood]

👍