SolidWorks!

* SOLIDWORKS Subscription * Technical Support * Certification * Downloads * API Support * System Requirements * Getting Started Kit * 3D CAD Support

SolidWorks alternatives

  • FreeCAD

  • FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties.FreeCAD features tools similar to Catia, SolidWorks or Solid Edge, and therefore also falls into the category of MCAD, PLM, CAx and CAE. It is a feature based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture which makes it easy to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.As with many modern 3D CAD modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch 2D shapes or extract design details from the 3D model to create 2D production drawings, but direct 2D drawing (like AutoCAD LT) is not the focus, neither are animation or organic shapes (like Maya, 3ds Max, Blender or Cinema 4D), although, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD might become useful in a much broader area than its current focus.FreeCAD makes heavy use of all the great open-source libraries that exist out there in the field of Scientific Computing. Among them are OpenCascade, a powerful CAD kernel, Coin3D, an incarnation of Open Inventor, Qt, the world-famous UI framework, and Python, one of the best scripting languages available. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.FreeCAD is also fully multi-platform, and currently runs flawlessly on Windows and Linux/Unix and Mac OSX systems, with the exact same look and functionality on all platforms. »

    tags: 3d-engine 3d-engineering bim cad cad-environment
  • LibreCAD

  • LibreCAD (originally QCad then CADuntu) is an open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux. It is based on Qt, which is a leading cross-platform application and UI development framework.

    tags: Portable cad construction-layers draft drawing
  • Autodesk AutoCAD

  • AutoCAD is a software application for both 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting — available since 1982 as a desktop application and since 2010 as a mobile web- and cloud-based app, currently marketed as Autocad 360.

    tags: 3d-cad 3d-printing architecture batch-plotting cad
  • Autodesk Inventor

  • Autodesk® Inventor® products offer a comprehensive, flexible set of software for 3D mechanical design, product simulation, tooling creation, and design communication. Inventor takes you beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping by enabling you to design, visualize, and simulate your products.

    tags: 3d-design 3d-engine mechanical-design parametric-modeler product-simulation
  • Onshape

  • Onshape is a professional CAD system – Parts, Assemblies, Drawings – with version control and collaboration built in. Each Onshape plan (Free, Professional & Enterprise) gives you all of the CAD and data management functionality with no time limit.

    tags: 3d-cad assembly cad cloud-sync customizable
  • Autodesk Fusion 360

  • Autodesk Fusion 360 Is an Integrated Form, Function and Fabrication Experience

    tags: 3d-cad 3d-design cad cae cam
  • SolveSpace

  • SolveSpace is an Open Source 2D and 3D CAD (computer-aided design) program. It is a constraint-based parametric modeler with simple mechanical simulation capabilities. It is developed by Jonathan Westhues.

    tags: Portable 2d-cad 3d-cad constraint-solver mesh-generation
  • Designspark Mechanical

  • DesignSpark Mechanical is a 3D modeling software reported to be easy to use so that all engineers will be able to create and share models.Designs can be linked directly to RS/Allied off-the-shelf components for automatic bill of materials generation, part numbers, and costs for included components.DesignSpark Mechanical can export to DXF, SketchUp, ECAD, OBJ, STEP, and STL formats. Since the software is free, designs can be shared in native electronic form for providing 3D models to your customers and sharing with other engineers and management involved with the project. Designs can be sent directly to rapid prototyping/3D printer devices for quick prototyping. »

    tags: 3d-design 3d-modeling electronics engineering
  • nanoCAD

  • nanoCAD is a pro-grade 2D CAD system with native DWG support and full customizability. It is totally free, for business, professional, or personal purposes. It is fast, lightweight, capable, and , unlike most free CAD programs, completely uncrippled. nanoCAD includes:1. Classic CAD interface. Any engineer could easily master nanoCAD since everything is in their right places: menu, button icons, panels, command line, and the commands theirselves are easily recognizable. This makes nanoCAD easy to migrate to since enterprise needs no time to retrain its engineers.2. Native *.dwg support. The world’s most popular file format for technical documentation - *.dwg – is the nanoCAD native file format. Project created using nanoCAD and saved as *.dwg file could be easily opened and edited in any CAD application supporting *.dwg which in turn makes nanoCAD perfect tool for project collaboration and sharing.3. Ultimate design tool. nanoCAD includes all necessary tools required for basic design and allows creating and editing 2D and 3D vector primitives, texts, tables, blocks, graphical technical documentation display and print settings using either a model or a sheet. »

    tags: 2d-cad cad dwg dwg-support professional-cad
  • Bricscad

  • A powerful CAD platform, with features familiar to you from native .dwg applications. BricsCAD® unifies advanced 2D design with the intelligence of 3D direct modeling. For Windows, Linux, and Mac.

    tags: 3d-modeling cad rendering engineering architecture
  • NaroCAD

  • NaroCAD is a fully fledged and extensible 3D parametric modeling CAD application.The goal of this project is to develop a fully fledged and extensible 3D CAD software based on the concept of parametric modeling of solids, comparable to well known solutions.These functionalities are interrelated through Model Associativity and are exposed through a GUI. The general usability specifications like saving, importing are described in General functionality specifications . The software can be extended through Plugins and programming interface. »

    tags: Discontinued 3d-cad 3d-engine 3d-engineering 3d-modeling
  • PTC Creo

  • Creo Elements/Pro – formerly Pro/ENGINEER – is the standard in 3D product design, featuring state-of-the-art productivity tools that promote best practices in design while ensuring compliance with your industry and company standards. Integrated, parametric, 3D CAD/CAM/CAE solutions allow you to design faster than ever, while maximizing innovation and quality to ultimately create exceptional products.

    tags: cad 3d-engine structural-analysis cam 3d-design
  • pCon.planner

  • The professional furnishing 2D-/3D-tool for everybody: The pCon.planner is a cost-free application allowing you to comfortably and professionally create complex furnishing concepts and to visualize them in a photo-realistic quality. File Formats: dwg, dxf, 3ds, skp, ...Languages: English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish;

    tags: drawing cad architecture drafting dwg
  • Shapr3D

  • Shapr3D is a revolutionary 3D modeling software created exclusively for your iPad Pro and your Apple Pencil.

    tags: 3d-cad 3d-engineering 3d-modeling 3d-print-models 3d-printing