Free 3D CAD programs

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:48 am

My friend and I think it would be pretty cool to make a Warthog-like vehicle. We want to make a model of it in a 3D CAD program, but we don't have the kazillion dollars to buy a good one. Do you guys know of any good free 3D CAD programs, one that can animate stuff would be nice, but as long as we can make an assembly of the stuff it'll be fine.

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:46 am

We use Solid Edge at school to create 3D models. I think there's some free version or at least a student version out there. Not sure though.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:33 pm

Brows around autodesk.com, they might have a LE edition of AutoCAD available for download...

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:11 pm

Trials and light editions don't work for me, I need something that is just plain free for the best version (and the best version has to be at least ok).

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:25 pm

There's always Blender 3D, which is free. However it has a steep learning curve, and I don't know if it can do animation.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:46 pm

Actually, LE = Learning Edition (& AutoCAD is the DeFacto)

All they usually do is disable the ability to save a few key features or something...

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:08 pm

We use AutoCAD 2007 (For 2D and 3D) and many other programs, such as Chief Architect (Which is basicly a noob friendly house designer based on CAD programs)

AutoCAD isn't free, but you could do a free trial. Theres a few free ones out there, you just need to find 'em.

Post by **Skyone** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:22 am

Sketch-up.

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timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:48 am

i have a student version of solid edge, its fully functional and dosent expire. i could arrange to send it to you if you want

Post by **marshallh** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:28 pm

I use Anim8or for everything I do involving 3D. I used it to make the models in GTP (it's not dead BTW) and for alleycat 64. Oh, and pretty much every other game/model I've made

It's completely freeware, no strings attached. It's pretty easy to get a hang of and there's a pretty good user community.

Download:
http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html

Community Forums:
http://www.anim8or.org

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:10 pm

I use Blender3d at home and Autodesk Inventor at school. Blender is better for graphics and stuff, but Inventor is better at modeling real things. But it's not free, does anybody know of something like it (it's object based, not polygon) that is free?