Top 10 Open Source Computer-Aided Design Softwares

CAD software is beneficial to developers/designers in need of increasing their productivity and improving the quality of their designing. Pretty appealing CAD software exist that eases the life of designers. Below tools are among them

Table of Contents

1 Archimedes
2 Blender
3 Calculix
4 Code Aster
5 FreeCAD
6 LibreCAD
7 MeshLab
8 QCad

Archimedes

Archimedes also known as Arquimedes as a (CAD) computer-aided design program is developed with input fro architecture firms and architects. Through this philosophy, developers expect to develop software that is better suitable to architecture compared to the currently commonly used AUTOCAD as well as other CAD software.

Blender

This is an open source and free 3D computer graphic application used to create animated films, art, visual effects, video games, models printed in 3D, and interactive applications in 3D. Features in this tool include UV unwrapping, 3D modeling, texturing, skinning and rigging, raster graphics editing, particle simulation, smoke and fluid simulation, match moving, sculpting, rendering, compositing, soft body simulation, animating, video editing and camera tracking. Apart from modeling features, Blender incorporates game engine.

Calculix

This open source and free application useful in finite element evaluation that employs same input format in Abacus. Calculix incorporates explicit and implicit solver (CCX) developed by Guido Dhondt as well as a post and pre processor (CGX) that Klaus Wittig developed. Pre processor elements in Calculix are able to produce grid data useful in computational Fluid dynamics programs duns, OpenFOAM and ISAAC. Moreover, it is able to produce input data useful for business FEM programs, Ansys, Abacus, and Nastran.

Code Aster

This open source and free software package is useful in structural and civil engineering, numerical simulation within structural mechanics and finite element evaluation. Code Aster has 1,500,000 lines in its source code many of which are in Python and FORTRAN and is constantly updated, upgraded and developed using fresh models.

FreeCAD

This general purpose application is a 3D parametric CAD modeler. FreeCAD is a free application under LGPL and GPL License. The application focuses on product design and mechanical engineering although it fits in various uses associated with engineering like architecture or even other specialties in engineering. FreeCAD is now in beta level of development.

LibreCAD

This CAD application is useful in 2D design. LibreCAD functions in Mac OS X, MS Windows, and GNU/Linux and UNIX operating systems. The application was designed like a fork in QCad Community Edition. GUI in LibreCAD relies on Qt4 library to ensure it function in various platforms in a similar manner.

MeshLab

This superior 3D processing application is highly acknowledged in many technical fields in 3D development as well as data handling. This application being open source and free is subjected to requirements of GNU General Public License (GPL) second version or later and is useful as a full package as well as library propelling other applications.

QCad

This free CAD application is useful in 2D design as well as drafting. QCad is available in Apple OS X, Linux, MS Windows and UNIX. GUI in QCAD relies on Qt framework. The application is distributed under GNU general Public License.