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CAD
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- Anatomy of a CNC Router
- Antmicro · Antmicro’s Open Hardware Portal - opening the hardware design process with KiCad and Blender
FAQ
What tool to use for CAD?
On blender
The main reason Blender isn’t widely used for CAD is that it serves fundamentally different purposes from dedicated CAD software. Here’s why:
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Different modeling paradigms:
- Blender: Mesh-based modeling (polygons)
- CAD: Parametric solid modeling (mathematically precise)
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Key CAD features missing in Blender:
- Parametric design: Changes propagate throughout the model
- Constraint-based modeling: Precise dimensional relationships
- History/feature tree: Editable construction history
- Engineering precision: Exact measurements and tolerances
- Manufacturing outputs: Native STEP/IGES files for machining
While add-ons like CAD Sketcher add some parametric capabilities to Blender, professional CAD tools (Solidworks, Fusion 360, Inventor) are purpose-built for engineering and manufacturing workflows. https://www.cadsketcher.com/
FreeCAD is gaining traction as an open-source alternative, but for professional engineering work, purpose-built CAD software remains the standard.
FreeCAD vs Fusion360 vs OnShape
- Fusion360 has some limitations
- FreeCAD is good but not there yet
- Onshape
3D Printing
See 3D Printing