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Release notes
- Release 0.11 - March 2011
- Release 0.12 - December 2011
- Release 0.13 - January 2013
- Release 0.14 - March 2014
- Release 0.15 - March 2015
- Release 0.16 - April 2016
- Release 0.17 - April 2018
Key features
- A complete Open CASCADE Technology-based geometry kernel allowing complex 3D operations on complex shape types, with native support for concepts like brep, nurbs curves and surfaces, a wide range of geometric entities, boolean operations and fillets, and built-in support of STEP and IGES formats
- A full parametric model. All FreeCAD objects are natively parametric, which means their shape can be based on properties or even depend on other objects, all changes being recalculated on demand, and recorded by the undo/redo stack. New object types can be added easily, that can even be fully programmed in Python
- A modular architecture that allow plugins (modules) to add functionality to the core application. Those extensions can be as complex as whole new applications programmed in C++ or as simple as Python scripts or self-recorded macros. You have complete access from the Python built-in interpreter, macros or external scripts to almost any part of FreeCAD, being geometry creation and transformation, the 2D or 3D representation of that geometry (scenegraph) or even the FreeCAD interface
- Import/export to standard formats such as STEP, IGES, OBJ, STL, DXF, SVG, STL, DAE, IFC or OFF, NASTRAN, VRML in addition to FreeCAD's native Fcstd file format. The level of compatibility between FreeCAD and a given file format can vary, since it depends on the module that implements it.
- A Sketcher with constraint-solver, allowing to sketch geometry-constrained 2D shapes. The sketcher currently allows you to build several types of constrained geometry, and use them as a base to build other objects throughout FreeCAD.
- A Robot simulation module that allows to study robot movements. The robot module already has an extended graphical interface allowing GUI-only workflow.
- A comfortable new module for creating traditional drawing sheets with options like detail view, cross sections, dimensioning and others, that permit to put 2D views of your 3D models on a sheet. This modules then produces ready-to-export SVG or PDF sheets. There exist still the older Drawing module with its sparse Gui-commands but a powerful Python functionality.
- A Rendering module that can export 3D objects for rendering with external renderers. Currently only supports povray and LuxRender, but is expected to be extended to other renderers in the future.
- An Architecture module that allows BIM-like workflow, with IFC compatibility.
- Path module dedicated to mechanical machining like milling (CAM), and is able to output, display and adjust G code.
- Integrated Spreadsheet and an expression parser to drive formula-based models or retrieve data from models.
General features:
- FreeCAD is multi-platform. It runs and behaves exactly the same way on Windows Linux and macOS platforms.
- FreeCAD is a full GUI application. FreeCAD has a complete Graphical User Interface based on the famous Qt framework, with a 3D viewer based on Open Inventor, allowing fast rendering of 3D scenes and a very accessible scene graph representation.
- FreeCAD also runs as a command line application, with low memory footprint. In command line mode, FreeCAD runs without its interface, but with all its geometry tools. It can be, for example, used as server to produce content for other applications.
- FreeCAD can be imported as a Python module, inside other applications that can run Python scripts, or in a Python console. Like in console mode, the interface part of FreeCAD is unavailable, but all geometry tools are accessible.
- Workbench concept: In the FreeCAD interface, tools are grouped by workbenches. This allows to display only the tools used to accomplish a certain task, keeping the workspace uncluttered and responsive, and the application fast to load.
- Plugin/Module framework for late loading of features/data-types. FreeCAD is divided into a core application and modules, that are loaded only when needed. Almost all the tools and geometry types are stored in modules. Modules behave like plugins, and can be added or removed to an existing installation of FreeCAD.
- Parametric associative document objects: All objects in a FreeCAD document can be defined by parameters. Those parameters can be modified on the fly, and recomputed anytime. The relationship between objects is also stored, so modifying one object also modifies its dependent objects.
- Parametric primitive creation (box, sphere, cylinder, etc)
- Graphical modification operations like translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, offset (trivial or after Jung/Shin/Choi) or shape conversion, in any plane of the 3D space
- Boolean operations (union, difference, intersect)
- Graphical creation of planar geometry like lines, wires, rectangles, b-splines, circular or elliptic arcs in any plane of the 3D space
- Modeling with straight or revolution extrusions, sections and fillets.
- Topological components like vertices, edges, wires and planes (also via Python scripting).
- Testing and repairing tools for meshes: solid test, non-two-manifolds test, self-intersection test, hole filling and uniform orientation.
- Annotations like texts or dimensions
- Undo/Redo framework: Everything is undo/redoable, with access to the undo stack, so multiple steps can be undone at a time.
- Transaction management: The undo/redo stack stores document transactions and not single actions, allowing each tool to define exactly what must be undone or redone.
- Built-in scripting framework: FreeCAD features a built-in Python interpreter, and an API that covers almost any part of the application, the interface, the geometry and the representation of this geometry in the 3D viewer. The interpreter can run single commands up to complex scripts, in fact entire modules can even be programmed completely in Python.
- Built-in Python console with syntax highlighting, autocomplete and class browser: Python commands can be issued directly in FreeCAD and immediately return results, permitting scriptwriters to test functionality on the fly, explore the contents of the modules and easily learn about FreeCAD internals.
- User interaction mirroring on the console: Everything the user does in the FreeCAD interface executes Python code, which can be printed on the console and recorded in macros.
- Full macro recording & editing: The Python commands issued when the user manipulates the interface can then be recorded, edited if needed, and saved to be reproduced later.
- Compound (ZIP based) document save format: FreeCAD documents saved with .fcstd extension can contain many different types of information, such as geometry, scripts or thumbnail icons. The .fcstd file is itself a zip container, so a saved FreeCAD file has already been compressed.
- Fully customizable/scriptable Graphical User Interface. The Qt-based interface of FreeCAD is entirely accessible via the Python interpreter. Aside from the simple functions that FreeCAD itself provides to workbenches, the whole Qt framework is accessible too, allowing any operation on the GUI, such as creating, adding, docking, modifying or removing widgets and toolbars.
- Thumbnailer (Linux systems only at the moment): The FreeCAD document icons show the contents of the file in most file manager applications such as Gnome's Nautilus.
- A modular MSI installer allows flexible installations on Windows systems. Packages for Ubuntu systems are also maintained.
In development
- An Assembly module that allows to work with multiple projects, multiple shapes, multiple documents, multiple files, multiple relationships... This module is currently in planning state.
Extra Workbenches
Power users have created various custom external workbenches.