I also have this question. What is so different about the workflow between FreeCAD and other 3D CAD software? If you can do one, you can do the others.
Comment on Fusion 360 increasing annual price by $190 USD
rustyriffs@lemmy.world 6 months agoI wish I could wrap my head around freecad, but we’re just not there yet and we may never be.
May I ask why it is that you say this?
VandalFan77@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 6 months ago
The learning curve is steeper mostly due to tools not having as intuitive names and ui layout.
I dove into fusion 360 last year and was making functional and nice parts within the first couple of hours. Since moving to Linux I’ve tried freecad and while I can eventually find the tools that do the same things, it is less intuitive to get there.
Additionally, when I run into a roadblock in fusion 360, I can usually find quick and easy explanations or tutorials for it, and just have not had the same luck with freecad. I can usually get the hurdle crossed with the tutorials but I find I have to look up the same stuff often as it doesn’t stick.
This is all nebulous as all hell, I admit. And I can vaguely tell that it does all the same things similarly to fusion 360, but it’s just different and obscured enough that I feel useless and obtuse using it and spend more time searching for tutorials and answers than I do designing.
I want to learn it. I want to use it. But I still find myself in fusion 360 when I need to get a part designed sooner rather than later - it took less effort and faffing around to get fusion 360 working in proton ge than getting to a stable point using freecad.
Halvdan@sopuli.xyz 6 months ago
Well put. I have the exact same experience.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 6 months ago
FreeCAD is a strange mix of over-designed and unfinished.
There’s like three different workflows for doing parametric CAD, plus a drafting workflow for an AutoCAD architectural experience, plus workbenches for meshes, NURBS, etc. Occasionally a tool you need will be in another workbench. There is no official assembly workbench included. It’s not exactly obvious how workbenches work together. A lot of shortcuts which have become Just How You Do Things in other CAD software aren’t present, so you have to do things an awkward long way. Add-ons and macros can help…but are poorly documented if at all.
sj_zero 6 months ago
I've got an IQ of 87. So far, tinkercad is basically the best 3d modelling program for me so I can make stuff by using arrow keys to move around basic shapes.
rustyriffs@lemmy.world 6 months ago
XD
Well at least you’re honest
MMNT@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Rhino 8 is very easy to use now with a new option like in sketchup for push/pull. They have a perpetual license so no subscriptions.