[grufkork]

Haven’t tried FreeCAD, but it kind of sounds like OpenSCAD (openscad.org). There you only use scripts to generate models which is nice, but a bit too clunky and slow to iterate. The lack of direct visual feedback makes for a less intuitive interface. FreeCAD seems a lot better in that aspect, and in difference to say Fusion360 you can use your models for commercial purposes!

[dekhn]

No, OpenSCAD and FreeCAD aren't similar. OpenSCAD is functional CSG, FreeCAD includes a module to do that (with a interactive GUI), and more importantly, FreeCAD includes OpenSCAD as a workbench- write an openscad program, get the geometry output and then use it FreeCAD for further steps.

[jstanley]

Why do you say it sounds like OpenSCAD? It's not very much like OpenSCAD.

[grufkork]

Ah, right, I was under the impression that scripting was an integral part of the workflow, but with more graphical options for manipulating shapes after basic generation. But I might very much be mistaken, I haven’t had the chance to try it yet :)

I will definitely soon though, I am working on making a parametric trumpet mouthpiece model for 3D printing, which what I have gathered so far FreeCAD seems great for. The most difficult part is really finding accurate measurements for sizes and curves, most tables and info only uses relative sizes like “large” or “thin”. But I can just trace some splines from cross-sectional sketches.

I have made a model in Fusion which is pretty nice once you get the concept of constraints. But then there is the massive price tag, the free tier does as mentioned not allow commercial use. Nobody has to know though...