Learn: The Getting Started page on is a good place to get familiar with the software.

It is also still in active development, so some new features may still have bugs that need to be ironed out. You'll be doing most of your learning directly from its text-based manual. Con: FreeCAD doesn't have the robust learning support network that accompany software like Fusion 360 or Blender.FreeCAD is open source, so you're welcome to use it however you want, without restrictions. Finding a fully-fledged CAD software that doesn't lock features behind a paywall or make you sign a restrictive license agreement can be tough. Pro: The best feature of FreeCAD is right in the name.FreeCAD:FreeCAD is a 3D modeling software that uses history-based design to allow you to make changes to an object by editing a the parameters of its components. Learn: Access with your PPLD library card and search for the SketchUp 2017 Essential Training course.You are also reliant on experimental plugins in order to unlock some functions that would otherwise be standard in a software like Fusion 360. Con: Careless use of SketchUp can sometimes lead to models that exhibit glitches and errors when it comes time to 3D print.There are also various community-developed plug-ins that you can install to customize your experience and enable more advanced functions.

Pro: SketchUp can represent a comfortable middle ground between Tinkercad and Fusion 360 in terms of difficulty and functionality.SketchUp comes in two versions: the free SketchUp Make, and SketchUp Pro, which offers additional features for a price. SketchUp:Developed by Trimble, SketchUp is an easy-to-use 2D and 3D Drawing tool that excels at architectural drawings, but can handle a variety of other geometry as well. Like Fusion 360, these tools are best for creating objects based on measurable dimensions and geometrical parameters. On this page, we'll list some of our favorite freely available options, as well as some pros and cons to help you decide whether these tools are right for you. There is a wide variety of other software out there, and some of it may be better suited to the specific project you have in mind. You don't have to limit yourself to Tinkercad and Fusion 360 as your only 3D Modeling tools.

Freecad cad 3d printing