1. Main Features
- Support for IGES, STEP, OBJ, DXF, SVG, and STL formats
- 2D components for sketching 2D shapes
- Built-in Python console
- Undo and Redo framework
- Customizable GUI
- Extensibility through plugins
2. Software Overview
FreeCAD is a parametric 3D modeler used to design real-life objects. The program dates back to 2001 and is maintained and developed by a community of developers.
The program supports a large amount of standard industry formats such as IGES, STEP, OBJ, DXF, SVG, STL, and DAE. FreeCAD provides various modules including a robot simulation module for studying robotic movements, a drawing sheets module for putting 2D views of a 3D model on a sheet, and a rendering module for exporting 3D objects for rendering with external renderers. The program also features Sketcher, a tool that utilizes 2D components for sketching 2D shapes and creating 2D production drawings from a 3D model.
FreeCAD is primarily used by mechanical engineers, architects, and product designers. It supports many of the most prominent industry formats and gives you a quality set of tools. FreeCAD is a powerful free application that will prove useful to CAD users, especially those in the mechanical engineering field.
3. Supported File Types
| # | File Extension | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | .FCSTD | FreeCAD Document |
| 2 | .FCSTD1 | FreeCAD Backup Document |
| 3 | .IGS | IGES Drawing File |
| 4 | .STEP | STEP 3D Model |
| 5 | .STP | STEP 3D CAD File |
Updated: March 22, 2019