LibreCAD is a perfect free CAD software if you are a beginner looking for a program to start creating your 2D project and CAD drafting. It is an open-source CAD software available with Mac Windows and Linux. It is an easy program to get started with 2D design as it doesn't require any subscriptions or license costs. There is, however, a second option: free alternative CAD software. We have done the legwork and looked for the 10 CAD software that you can try for free now to design your next 2D drawing or 3D modeling project. Here are but just 10 of this software, and the links to download them for whichever operating system you are currently on.
Mechanical engineering encompasses industrial design, biomedical engineering and automotive design. Planning as well as designing mechanical pieces is what mechanical engineers do. Whether they're producing motor or engine parts or concepting devices such as robots and refrigerators, they at some point need to use a CAD software.
CAD (short for Computer-Aided Design) is a methodology focusing primarily on the use of computer software to design real world objects. Since the inception of computers, CAD has been used in various engineering fields; In particular mechanical engineering relies mostly on this kind of software to hugely facilitate a task that was once extremely diffcult to accomplish by hand : Mechanical Design.
Premium CAD software package such as CATIA help mechanical engineers complete their tasks by assisting them in creating preliminary designs and spotting the faults prior to production, saving resources and time, however such type of software is very costly and not accessible to everyone in the field, that's why we tried to compile the best 10 free alternatives you can download and use to accomplish your mechanical design tasks (visualization, simulation, 3D printing and much more).
- Best Free CAD Software for Mechanical Engineers
Best Free CAD Software for Mechanical Engineers
#1. SelfCAD
SelfCAD is a self-proclaimed leader in the world of online 3D slicing and modeling software'. Certainly, this 3D CAD software has the complete design-to-print workflow in a smartly presented package. At its core the SelfCAD offers a strong 3D CAD modeling and app that enables the users to design complex as well as 3D printable designs and objects.
Download SelfCAD
#2. TinkerCAD
TinkerCAD is well known browser-based CAD software for mechanical engineers. You can start using the software and get started to build 3D modeling projects. TinkerCAD is an excellent preface to 3D software, which just perfect for educational purposes. If you don't have any 3D modeling experience then this is for you as it put life to your great ideas.
You can place the blocks separately to build any object that you need to finish your project. The user-friendly interface of the software makes it easier and simple use of 3D tools and creates your 3D modeling project.
Download TinkerCAD
#3. Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is a fantastic CAD software for mechanical engineers. Students, hobbyists, and startups can use this software for free. It offers a range of motion studies, simulation, and assembly modeling tools. You will love using the robust collaboration tools.
Download Fusion360
#4. FreeCAD
It is 100% open source and is specially designed for product design and mechanical engineering design uses, yet it could also be used for engineering industry that depends on a number on parametric 3D modeler.
Even though it is free and open-source, FreeCAD is keeping pace with other well-known CAD software because of its ability to build real 3D solids, 2D drafting, support for meshes, and right-hand coordinate framework in addition to a lot more amazing features.
Download FreeCAD
#5. OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is free software program for producing solid 3D models. Unlike TinkerCAD or Blender, OpenSCAD mainly focuses particularly on mechanical dimensions as well as the properties of CAD models rather than their creative properties. It's perfect for creating detailed mechanical models and machine parts.
OpenSCAD allows the user to create models by compositing solid geometry or from 2D outlines, as in a number of premium software. You can export the files in common file formats as well as it supports STL for the 3D printing process.
Download OpenSCAD
#6. SketchUp
SketchUp is free 3D design software. It has a library full of free 3D models which any person could use and to which any person could contribute. The Layout feature of SketchUp allows you to convert 3D models into realistic drawings in no time. After that these can be exported in a range of different file types.
Download SketchUp
#7. QCAD
QCAD is free CAD software that mechanical engineers should use in case you are planning to build technical drawings be it for mechanical parts, structures or even diagrams and schematics. Since it's open-source software, it focuses on extensibility, portability, and modularity.
Download QCAD
#8. NanoCAD
Here is another free CAD software for experienced users. It is a free drafting software giving advanced CAD tools. It has a powerful table editor offering a ton of new possible outcomes. This 2D CAD software is available for windows. If you want to enjoy advanced features of the software, then you should download NanoCAD plus or NanoCAD pro version; however this free version is the right choice.
Download NanoCAD
#9. LeoCAD
LeoCAD is a simple and easy to use CAD software which could be valuable for educational reason for mechanical engineering students. It is appropriate for huge models with different parts.
It is open-source CAD software, which means that anybody can add to it and include new features.
Download LeoCAD
#10. LibreCAD
LibreCAD is an excellent CAD modeling software for mechanical engineers. It is easy and simple to use software which offers impressive features. Some of the features that LibreCAD is offering to its users include: usage of layers, snap to grid for drawing, measurements within the drawing, and several other features to make your life hell a lot easier when you are completing your task on this CAD software.
Download LibreCAD
Adobe reader update version free download. This is a list of free and open source 2D CAD (computer-aided design) software packages.
- FreeCAD - Draft workbench
- About FreeCAD
The Draft Workbench allows you to draw simple 2D objects, and offers several tools to modify them afterwards. It also provides tools to define a working plane, a grid, and a snapping system to precisely control the position of your geometry.
The created 2D objects can be used for general drafting in a way similar to Inkscape or Autocad. These 2D shapes can also be used as the base components of 3D objects created with other workbenches, for example, the Part and Arch Workbenches.
FreeCAD is primarily a 3D modelling application, and thus its 2D tools aren't as advanced as in other drawing programs.
- LibreCAD
LibreCAD is a free Open Source CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux. Support and documentation is free from our large, dedicated community of users, contributors and developers.
- Solid edge 2D drafting
With a familiar user interface, easy-to-use tools that comply with the most popular drafting standard capabilities to simplify your experience, Solid Edge 2D Drafting has everything you need to quickly and easily create 2D documentation. Solid Edge 2D Drafting offers simple drawing layout, diagramming, annotation, and dimensioning controls that automatically comply with drafting standards, including the International Standards Organization (ISO), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and British Standards Institution (BSI), among others.
Start your drawing from scratch, or easily import existing .DWG files. An optional step-by-step wizard allows you to preview the drawing, including each individual layer, and control background color, drawing size, line type, font, and more.
When you're finished, you can save your file as either a Solid Edge or .DWG format, allowing you the flexibility to collaborate with customers, peers, and partners, and to easily open your 2D CAD files in nearly any 3D CAD program.
- NanoCAD
NanoCAD is an easy-to-use 2D CAD application that delivers a great user experience by providing high performance, full capability, a classic interface and native .dwg format support. NanoCAD has been built to deliver design and project documentation for all industries. nanoCAD includes a full suite of basic and advanced tools, for creating industry-standard DWG-compatible CAD files. NanoCAD provides innovative, collaborative and customizable features to enhance your efficiency. nanoCAD includes several APIs, allowing anything from routine task automation to complex CAD application development. All for free.
- QCAD Community edition
Free Cad Programs 3d
QCAD is a free, open source application for computer aided drafting (CAD) in two dimensions (2D). With QCAD you can create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts or schematics and diagrams. QCAD works on Windows, macOS and Linux. The source code of QCAD is released under the GPL version 3 (GPLv3), a popular Open Source license.
Free Cad Programming
QCAD Application WindowQCAD was designed with modularity, extensibility and portability in mind. But what people notice most often about QCAD is its intuitive user interface. QCAD is an easy to use but powerful 2D CAD system for everyone. You don't need any CAD experience to get started with QCAD immediately.
