Free 3D CAD Software

[EddyP]

Hi All,

I've got to make a couple of 3D models for some spacers that I want to 3D print, its basically an oval with a hole in the middle and two touting holes (throttle body trumpets for those in the know)
I've tried to do it on tinkercad but it doesn't seem that simple, ideally I'd like a bit of software where I can draw a 2D profile and extrude it. Any recommendations for a free one that can do this please?

Thanks

 

[PhillipM]

Fusion 360, you can even loft the profile through controls if you want tapers and still have a controlled straight entry into the head, etc.

 

[skotl]

+1 for fusion 360. The learning curve is huuuuuuge but the bang for buck is insurpassible

 

[tigdlo]

I prefer Onshape, learned it before Fusion 360 though, that could be why. I dont like the timeline in Fusion so use it without and find it is good for modelling multiple components, easily copying them and moving them around in the same workspace, so I sometimes use it if I want to do that.

For what you want, either would do and take about the same to learn.

 

[daedalusminos]

Something like this - took just 90 seconds in F360...

 

[Dr.Al]

Another +1 for Onshape. Much better than Fusion in my opinion.

 

[EddyP]

Something like this - took just 90 seconds in F360...

View attachment 381617

Yep bang on!

Thanks guys I'll give both a try. For some reason I thought you had to pay for F360 now.

 

[Anguz]

They try to make you pay.. but the hobby licence is free, just hard to locate on their website

 

[Agroshield]

There is a fairly long-running thread here that discusses most aspects of all the options:

Free CAD software for 3D printing

What CAD programs are you folks using to draw items for 3D printing? I used to have access to AutoCAD 2016 for 2D (used 2d AutoCAD for years) and Solidworks 2013 for 3D which I was just starting to learn. Unfortunately I lost access to that about a year ago and not really looked at getting...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[ukracer]

Something like this - took just 90 seconds in F360...

View attachment 381617

For you maybe but not us mere mortals

 

[Dr.Al]

For you maybe but not us mere mortals

It sounded implausibly fast to me, so I decided to have a quick go in OnShape and time it. Took me 82 seconds (excluding exporting it or anything like that), so fairly similar all things considered. Might even have been marginally quicker if I had a mouse here rather than having to use a laptop touchpad. I'm sure it would have been marginally slower if I was having to refer to another document with dimensions rather than just making them up as I went along.

It's one of those things that gets easier the more you do. Like so many things in life: keep practising!

 

[Mart63]

For you maybe but not us mere mortals

I could do it in 90 seconds. If I can then anyone can.

 

[mike os]

Onshape for hobby or occasional use ... its original dev team came from solid works and it's very capable.

All 3D cad has a steep learning curve, you will not be proficient in 10 minutes ... I use it pretty much every day and sometimes 60 plus hours a week for weeks at a time, and I still learn something new pretty much every day.