Great free software that has room to improve.
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
FreeCad is a free-to-use 3D computer-aided design suite that has improved over the last few years. At my organization, I use FreeCad mainly for the analytics it offers, which are awesome. I have compared its results with those of SW to find that they are very close. I don't use FreeCad for modeling or designing as I feel there are better tools for that, namely Onshape, SolidWorks, or Inventor.
Pros
- Finite element analysis.
- Being free.
- It is very flexible and customizable with Phyton.
Cons
- Overall, the UI feels very old and non-polished.
- There are some quirky behaviors, like being unable to select a plane by having the cursor over it; it has to be over the edges of the plane.
- It's overwhelming having those many modules and options for doing things that appear to be similar.
Likelihood to Recommend
I see FreeCad as the perfect solution for a startup with limited resources that want to save as much as possible and doesn't mind using non-standard 3D CAD software, i.e., it's not required by customers to use specific software for compatibility. It's perfect for hobbyist use and makers who don't care about brands and pay monthly fees. I see it as very well suited for small businesses that need FEA (finite element analysis) and can't/don't want to pay huge amounts of money for it, just like us. I see FreeCad as less appropriate for big corporations or well-established businesses that need standardized solutions, compatibility with clients or good version management. Don't get me wrong, it can get the job done, but it will be much slower than state-of-the-art CAD systems.
