Comparison of 3D CAD packages

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ge_rik
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Re: Comparison of 3D CAD packages

Post by ge_rik » Thu Feb 26, 2026 4:54 pm

Durley wrote: Thu Feb 26, 2026 3:08 pm Transferring models from TinkerCAD to Fusion360 looks pretty straightforward https://www.tinkercad.com/projects/Send ... Fusion-360

At least it gives the option to do most of the modelling in a familiar package and then just learn specific processes in Fusion360 such as filleting (and potentially exporting STLs).

I must admit that bevelling and especially filleting is not at all easy in Tinkercad as others have pointed out.

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GAP
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Re: Comparison of 3D CAD packages

Post by GAP » Tue Apr 21, 2026 8:34 pm

Well after a lot of trialing a couple of different programs, Onshape, Fusion and Freecad I have settled on Freecad for the following reasons;
Fusion 360; wouldn't run on my machine (not enough RAM and I'm not going to add more because I;m a cheapskate)
Onshape; comparable with tinkercad but web based and was slow because of my connection (even tinkercad can have time delays)
Freecad; this is the one that does what I want to do but now I have square eyes from watching youtube tutorials.
To think all this started by my not being able to use the ruler tool in tinkercad to position 2 holes in a model. I can modify stl's in freecad but getting them into an editable state takes a bit more effort.
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Re: Comparison of 3D CAD packages

Post by Heather@CVR » Mon Jun 22, 2026 2:19 pm

I have also found FreeCAD equal to anything I have needed for railway modelling. It gives fine detail and accuracy. Most of my rolling stock has been produced using it. There are a lot of "how to" videos on YouTube which are great provided you search for the thing you are trying to do and the version number of FreeCad you are using.
Heather
Char Valley Railway, 16mm scale, 45mm gauge.

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