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this post was submitted on 07 May 2025
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Fusion 360 and before that Google Sketchup
Ah, ok. I've been using NX since it was still Unigraphics, so I am admittedly biased. I haven't tried any of the newer things like Fusion or Sketchup. Might I ask what industry you use FreeCAD for at a professional level? Just curiosity. I'm automotive interiors tooling, so I'm pretty dependent on strong surfacing tools. Lots of A-surface stuff.
Also, how would you model this up in FreeCAD? This took me about 15 minutes in NX, with one sketch and some offset curves. I was making a 3D printed tag for my daughter.
I tried for over two hours in FreeCAD, but only got this far. I could not extrude individual bodies from one sketch, I had to make separate sketches for each shape. Offset curves didn't appear to be a thing, and I couldn't find any form of synchronous modeling tools. So, making those raised outlines was a whole other challenge. I ended up having to extrude a sheet taller than the main body, then thicken it. I couldn't figure out how to select face edges for use in other commands, either. I ended up giving up.
I use freecad for mainly functional 3D Prints, many of which I sell on Etsy and eBay. You can see my designs here: https://www.printables.com/@16bitvirtual/models
As for how to do yourbunny. For the most part, you are falling into the biggest hurdle for FreeCAD. FreeCAD has constructing geometry which cannot interfere with the model. But it also means that if you aren't very specific with your design it will fail. For example with the Bunny you need to define in your sketch what you'd like to pad or pocket out.
Then you work on adding details
The constructor lines are why I love FreeCAD since in other software I had to be very specific on what I can add without voids being accidentally added into my model.
Yeah, constructor/construction lines rock. That's something relatively new in NX, too. I think with release 1921 or something. Hugely beneficial.
The lack of intersecting geometry is a big hindrance to the way I model things. Pads and pockets are something I haven't dealt with since probably NX 7.5, back around 2012. I'm not sure if I can change at this point.
For 2D things, I really like to make primary sketch for all my features. Maybe a second sketch for holes and slots. And my 3D models mostly start with customer data, and I extract surfaces from there. I define parting lines with shadow curves, and split my slides out with sheets normal to the target surface. I then extrude surfaces out along a vector to outside the envelope of the tool, trim them, and use a bounded plane to close it up. Sew into a solid body, and it's a slide. No sketches at all sometimes. But tons of intersecting geometries until the end. Then, adding vacuum, water, air, mounting holes. Seal grooves. Those usually take sketches.
I'm obviously not trying to do my job in FreeCAD, my company uses NX. But I dont think I can easily change my workflow just to do my personal stuff with it, since it is so radically different.
I like your models. It's nice you have a cohesive design for all your handheld display stands, so they'll all look good together.
How long did the bunny take in FreeCAD?
The bunny 20-30 minutes since I don't use Eclipses too much, and how to do Eclipse arcs to make a solid outline. I'd say if I was more familiar it should take less time. Since this Bunny looks way rougher than I intended too, but it was a proof of concept.
The interception geometry issue was the biggest learning hurdle for FreeCAD for myself. However since moving I've grown to prefer it since it avoid voids being created by tiny intersections which are difficult to see. For example for the skatch bellow, if you are not careful you may miss the middle and create a random hole in your model. Had this on many of my earliest designs and spent a lot of time trying to fix it since the software wouldn't render out the shape right.
I also I love how FreeCAD changes the color of a sketch's lines green and a brighter green when everything is contained. I see it like a game and it forces me to think about how the shape should be rather than what's close enough to what I need.
That said, while I was like you and worked with a single sketch and padded, pushes and constrained my way to make the model I needed. FreeCAD does like you import existing geometry into a design. In the current BETA they are allowing that geometry to even be constructor geometry to make modeling easier. So you can continue to base your current sketch upon the previous one, and it'll update as you move along.
While it's not in a single sketch, I found doing it this way makes it much easier for myself to maintain a model and go back into it to fix parts of it when needed.
I also know FreeCAD isn't for everyone, and there are hurdles to move to it. But I personally found it works with my workflow, and not being tied to yearly licenses is a relief for me.