I want to make really cool 3d prints and post them on MakerWorld, but I want to know what CAD I should use. I don’t want to spend any money on it.
You didn’t say what kind of cool models you are interested in making. Unless you are talking about animals like dogs, cats, fingerines, or any other organic-shaped models, I would recommend Fusion.
7 Likes
Fusion is a cult
Solidworks is King.
https://www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-makers
OnShape is also a great choice
you mean you would Not recommend fusion…right?! XD
in my experience fusion is not made for organic modeling but more made for accurate engineering, i mean sure you can create anything and everything on fusion but it would take x100 the time you could take on sculpting software (organically speaking).
you could do a basic animals and figurines with basic spheres and cubes, but not as organically detailed as sculpting.
1 Like
If you like code and version control more than camera-editing, OpenSCAD is gonna be your best friend!
2 Likes
King maybe, but definitely not the Emperor. 
Btw. the OP was asking for a free tool.
Let’s try to shed some light on the matter. I recommend two programs. They are both free.
Blender - Organic shapes such as animals and figures
Autodesk Fusion - Everything that is more technical and practical shapes
Autodesk Fusion is free for personal use. Just make sure you choose the right one.
They both look complicated, but there are countless YouTube videos that explain everything step by step. Here, you will learn skills that you can always use, whether for your hobby or even your job. With other programmes, you often encounter the problem of learning things ‘wrong’. This means that there is no sustainability.
Since both programs are free, you can take your time testing them out. As I said, don’t get overwhelmed. You definitely don’t need all the features. Be sure to watch the tutorials.
7 Likes
We were faced with the same decision. We opted for Fusion 360 Personal (it also depends on what you want to create). We’re completely satisfied with it for now, and you can find plenty of helpful videos on YouTube. We’re very happy with our first designs.
2 Likes
I highly recommend onshape.
5 Likes
No ■■■■. I can read.
Free tools come with so many drawbacks. Look at the comparision that retrosharky posted. Everything on the cons list doesnt exist in SW Maker.
Is it really to much to ask for someone to pay the price of a moderately expensive dinner for 2 in exchange for a professional modeling software?
2 dollars a month if you shop smart. Is that really too much?
2 Likes
Depending on what kind of models you want to create, my personal choice would be Onshape for geometrical and Meshmixer for organic shapes. Blender has more possibilities but is more difficult to learn. I would suggest you search YouTube for instructional videos of how to use the different programs.
Free tools for modeling parametric models: FreeCAD.
Opensource, no cloud, no closed files, no need to share your designs…
7 Likes
As said, for non-organic shapes, I recommend Fusion. For organic shapes, something else like Blender.
I thought we have moved away from the kings era 
These are just tools. The user is the king, if there has to be one. We look for a tool that is fit for the purpose. So there isn’t a univeral best tool for everything.
I don’t want to write a comparison between Fusion and Solidworks, so I asked Google (A)) to do it:
Key Fusion Advantages
- Integrated Workflow: Combines CAD, CAM, CAE, PCB, and rendering in one platform, reducing reliance on expensive add-ins common with SolidWorks.
- Cloud-Based Collaboration: Features cloud version control, commenting, and sharing (often standard vs. subscription in SW).
- Built-in Tools: Includes native Generative Design, advanced simulation (airflow/thermal), and Electronics (ECAD) without extra-cost extensions.
- Cross-Platform: Works on both Windows and macOS (SolidWorks is Windows-only).
- Faster, More Agile Modeling: Often described as a faster workflow with a component-based approach and less strict history reliance.
- Automated Features: Includes automated modeling and setup probing tools.
Key SolidWorks Strengths (for comparison)
- Maturity/Assembly Design: Deeper experience and broader features for complex mechanical assemblies.
- Customization: Higher degree of feature/function customization.
- Industry Standard: More entrenched in specific traditional manufacturing sectors.
2 Likes
It all depends on what it’s value is for a person.
I played with FreeCAD a bit, and for a free tool it is at least a solution.
Fusion is a step up, and still for free for personal use. Fusion is classified as a mid-range engineering CAD system, and even seems to have some free CAM capabilities.
SolidWorks is in my opinion on the same level of Fusion, give or take the different strengths and weaknesses.
SW is only CAD, and definitely no CAM included.
SW is also classified as a mid-range CAD system.
If you know your way around SW, the costs should not stop you.
SolidEdge is comparable with SW and is also classified as mid-range, and runs on the same Parasolid-kernel as SW.
There is also a free/student version available.
If you really want to go to further, but then personal use is not really the case anymore, you get into systems like NX or Catia.
Those are high-end CAD/CAE/CAM systems that are can basically do anything you want with a CAD model.
I am lucky due to my occupation to have access to one of the high-end systems which was the reason to reference the “emperor” 
All of the above are nice for engineering parts.
If you want to get into figurines kind of modeling, those systems are not really optimized for those designs, though “Realize Shape” in NX comes pretty close.
1 Like
Never
That is a good take. I just like to see the ceiling be set as high as it can.
The need to get everything for free is not a question of value. It is a question of greed. Most paid options cost very little for the value you gain.
That is wrong.
(The standard version does not have these add ins, but the Maker and the Student Versions are equivalent to SW Premium)
Catia is a great software. I used Catia V5 at my time at Ford. Though it is overkill if you are just using it for this hobby. NX is on the mid-range, I don’t care how they market it.
Blender is the only exception to the cost argument. It is on its own tier.
Fusion for personal use is what I prefer.
I really appreciate how easy it is to make automations in it with python scripts.
One use of scripts is to export different versions of components to stl files.
Just make a dialog in a script with parameter choices in dropdown lists / text boxes / check boxes and a save button.
I would not want to call it greed. Surely paid software is usually better, but I don’t see anything wrong in people choosing open source software because they only use it now and then.
Sorry, wasn’t aware of that one.
I would have said the same 28 years ago, when I was working in Automotive also. And that was mainly because I wasn’t aware of the capabilities of other systems.
Yes! Catia is/was a top product, but since V6, they are losing more and more customers to other CAD vendors.
Your vision on NX is definitely not based on first hand experience. Otherwise you would not have made that statement.
Btw. Solidworks runs on the same kernel as NX. And guess who owns and develops the Parasolid kernel?
Most of the people like the system they work with the most, because they know it the best.
I use Creo 11 at work but it´s not free. I told my friends to use fusion 360 because it´s free. A good solution.
I have used NX extensively. It was my first CAD software that I learned at uni.
NX is a powerful software, but it is not optimized well to use its abilities. The only thing that I can say it does better is its Class-A surfacing capabilities.
1 Like
I tried downloading Fusion 360, but it keeps trying to have me pay for it. I thought it was free?
1 Like