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this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2024
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Which Linux CAD software do you use? My needs are very simple, but pretty much everything I've tried is either unintuitive or lacking in some aspect.
While I wear the sackcloth and ashes of FreeCAD, it is a full 3D modeling suite and is perhaps more than you need.
For something free and fairly simple in 3D modeling you could try TinkerCAD. This is a cloud based CAD that just runs in your browser and is often a gateway into more complex modeling for 3D printing. Many people find it all they need for the basic modeling they want for 3D printing. They do have some tutorials to get you started. I have taught it to 4th grade students using iPads for very simple 3D models they could 3D print.
Another easy to access program is OnShape. This is another cloud based, run in a browser 3D CAD solution. While it is aimed for commercial paid usage, they do offer a restricted free hobby licence. This is a "real" 3D modeling program and the interface and tools reflect that. But they do offer free modeling tutorials and videos to learn with. And their help search is very extensive and written in plain language to follow. I have taught OnShape to high school students because it would easily run on their school issued education Chromebooks. The most difficult part was getting the kids to use a mouse - they are all about touch pads and screens these. And CAD software ain't made for that.
As far as being "Intuitive" well, when you are learning ANY new thing, it's going to seem like that at first. You need need to learn how to think before you can do something with a new tool. And mastering CAD software means you need to learn how to think about design before you can worry too much about where the buttons are. And you learn how to think by doing and failing - often repeatedly. But if you pay attention to what you are doing and try to remember how things worked, you will start to learn how to think.
So pick a piece of software that works on Linux. Do a bit of google and find some tutorials for your choice of CAD and then do the tutorials. Do them more than once! Do them until YOU are comfortable with the process. And then keep practicing. I have been using various CAD softwares for 30 years and I still need to practice. Otherwise I lose the skills.
You can do this!
Heh, no problems here using a CAD software it's just that am always hunting for options. Currently am set on SolveSpace and OpenSCAD for simpler models. SolveSpace is good enough for pretty much all of my needs. It's a bit more of manual work instead of clicking an option, chamfers being one example, but I come from machine engineering high school so that way of work suits me just well as we use to draw everything by hand, so I am no stranger to planning ahead anyway.
So far I have avoided cloud solutions but I guess that has evolved a lot by now. How do they fair with more complex shapes with more restrictions?
Having tested OnShape years ago, where it already appeared very feature rich and smooth, I have no doupt one can for sure realize complex multi-part assemblies with it. For me the interesting part, in a professional environment, would be the software's capabilities of its drawing module. Full digital workflows seem to gain track, but for me detailed technical drawings are still the bread and butter application of a CAD.