Open Source CAD Applications

Examples

QCAD / FreeDraft

"Two open source 2D CAD packages already under development, QCAD (http://www.qcad.org) and FreeDraft (http://freeengineer.org/Freedraft/index.html). Unfortunately, Open Source solid modeling software does not exist at this time, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel. OpenCascade (http://www.opencascade.org) is a project to develop a solid modeling kernel. An open source solid modeling kernel might establish a standard file format that can be exchanged in collaborative open design projects. Until a standard file format or Open Source solid modeling exists, open design must depend on translation tools using prescribed processes [Kiani] and proprietary CAD systems." (http://www.opendesign.org/CHIRP_Open_Design_Mfg_Equipment.pdf)

HeeksCAD

"HeeksCAD is not finished, yet.

HeeksCAD is a free, open source, CAD application written by me, Dan Heeks, danheeks@gmail.com Anyone can download it from http://code.google.com/p/heekscad/

Functionality: Import solid models from STEP and IGES files. Draw construction geometry and lines and arcs. Create new primitive solids, or make solids by extruding a sketch or by making a lofted solid between sketches. Modify solids using blending, or boolean operations. Save IGES, STEP and STL. Printer plot the 2D geometry or to HPGL. Import and export dxf files; lines, arcs, ellipses, splines and polylines are supported. Use the geometric constraints solver to create accurate drawings from rough sketches.

See here for instruction how to use HeeksCAD http://code.google.com/p/heekscad/wiki/UsingHeeksCAD

HeeksCAD can be translated into any language. There are currently English, German, and Itallian translations.

HeeksCAD has been built for Windows, Ubuntu, Debian, and OpenSUSE." (http://code.google.com/p/heekscad/)

Other Tools

For solid modeling: Open CASCADE. http://www.opencascade.org

Graphical user interface, wxWidgets. http://www.wxwidgets.org

Other tools for office documents and analyses are readily available and mature. These tools include complete suites of office applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, presentations) such as OpenOffice, and numerical programming tools such as SciLab (http://www-rocq.inria.fr/scilab/) and Octave (http://www.octave.org/). Although these applications were not developed specifically for design purposes, they suit designers needs. These applications are Open Source, so the opportunity exists to adapt them to the specific needs of the Open Design community." (http://www.opendesign.org/CHIRP_Open_Design_Mfg_Equipment.pdf)