Also check out modelrift.com which is based on openscad foundation. See the dynamic customizer which allows to edit any model parameter, re-render and get .stl: https://modelrift.com/models/customizable-liquid-funnel - it works _completely_ in your browser by using WASM
(I seem to be cast in the role of FreeCAD advocate on HN these days, but here goes!)
For years I agreed with you - I tried FreeCAD multiple times, different versions, always sucked.
Then I watched this video [0] and discovered that v1.1 is different - and that it's good enough for solid reliable hobby usage. It's still a touch frustrating in a few areas (text, for example) but I've now switched over to it completely.
I agree. freeCAD has become a tool that I just use without thinking about it. Earlier versions always made me question my choice and try out other software.
To echo others' comments: FreeCAD has improved significantly since v1.0, so I'm hoping this attracts quality & stability-minded develeopers, and a frequent release cadence.
> Its not often you see 'fillets and chamfers' are tip-line features in the readme for CAD packages.
Well the readme states the following:
Solvespace on the other hand gets the workflow part right, but falls short by not importing STEP and the geometry kernel not supporting chamfers and fillets.
Code-based
- CadQuery - https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery/
- build123d - https://github.com/gumyr/build123d
- OpenSCAD - https://openscad.cloud/openscad/
GUI (browser-based)
- Cadmium (abandoned, cool idea) - https://mattferraro.dev/posts/cadmium
SolveSpace - https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
Awesome because you can build a model, expose the parameters, and allow web users to generate a model to fit their parameters.
For years I agreed with you - I tried FreeCAD multiple times, different versions, always sucked.
Then I watched this video [0] and discovered that v1.1 is different - and that it's good enough for solid reliable hobby usage. It's still a touch frustrating in a few areas (text, for example) but I've now switched over to it completely.
[0] https://youtu.be/VEfNRST_3x8
(1) agile Product Management,
(2) Product Design & continuous user-research,
(3) Improvements to test-driven development (TDD),
(4) transparent & open outcome-based roadmap,
(5) a vision to make the application easy to use for newbies in a maker-space, and (this is specific to my use-case),
(6) Improvements to the CAM module to make it easy to use this for CNC routers, and designing objects with sloped/curved surfaces.
- FreeCAD site: https://www.freecad.org/
- FreeCAD code: https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD
- FreeCAD forum: https://forum.freecad.org/
To echo others' comments: FreeCAD has improved significantly since v1.0, so I'm hoping this attracts quality & stability-minded develeopers, and a frequent release cadence.
Well the readme states the following:
Solvespace on the other hand gets the workflow part right, but falls short by not importing STEP and the geometry kernel not supporting chamfers and fillets.
So I assume that's where that comes from.
Source: been there, done that.