After a year of development, the release of the open system parametric 3D modeling FreeCAD 1.1 has been published. This version is distinguished by flexible customization options and increased functionality by connecting add-ons. The interface is built using the Qt library, and add-ons can be created in Python. FreeCAD supports saving and loading models in various formats, including STEP, IGES, and STL. The FreeCAD code is distributed under the LGPLv2 license, using Open CASCADE as the modeling kernel. Ready-made assemblies are prepared for Linux (AppImage), macOS, and Windows. For more information, visit here.
FreeCAD allows users to experiment with different design options by changing model parameters and evaluate their work at different stages of model development. It can serve as a free alternative to commercial CAD systems like CATIA, Solid Edge, and SolidWorks. While FreeCAD is primarily used in mechanical engineering and new product design, it can also be applied in other fields such as architectural design. For a detailed list of changes in FreeCAD 1.1, click here.
- The user interface now includes support for three-point lighting to enhance the rendering quality of 3D models.
- A panel has been added to the configuration system search.
- A new theme editor has been added, and options for changing the style sheet have been expanded.
