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[[File:Icon_FreeCAD.png | FreeCAD]]

FreeCAD is an open-source, extensible, parametric 2D and 3D modeler primarily designed for mechanical engineering but which can be used in many different fields like machining, CNC routing, 3D printing, static and thermal finite element analysis, and of course, architecture and construction. Parametric modeling allows you to modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters.

* License: GPL-2.0-only
* Website: https://www.freecadweb.org
* Wiki: https://wiki.freecadweb.org/
* Source: https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD
* Donate: https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Donate

FreeCAD uses the [https://dev.opencascade.org/ OpenCASCADE Technology (OCCT)]  modelling kernel for the creation of 2D and 3D shapes, and is divided into "workbenches" that provide tools for specific domains.
* Part and PartDesign Workbenches provide tools for the creation of generic 3D models.
* [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Sketcher_Workbench Sketcher Workbench] provides tools to create mathematically constrained 2D sketches that can be used for extrusion in Part and PartDesign.
* [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Draft_Module Draft Workbench] provides tools to create parametric 2D objects in a plane.
* Arch Workbench builds on top of Draft, to create parametric 3D solids used in architecture, like walls, pillars, rebars, windows, doors, and roofs.
* [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/TechDraw_Module TechDraw Workbench] provides tools to create 2D projections of arbitrary 3D bodies in order to create technical drawings and documentation that can be exported as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF PDF].
* [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Reinforcement_Workbench Reinforcement workbench] is an external workbench that provides tools for Reinforcement Generation and Detailing. This workbench provides an interface and presets for the creation of common rebar types. 

The base program can be extended by custom macros and workbenches programmed in Python, which allows defining new parametric objects as well as more complex tools for working with the model.
* The [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/BIM_Workbench BIM Workbench] builds on top of Draft and Arch, and provides even more tools for building modelling.
* The Reinforcement Workbench extends the rebar tools of the Arch workbench to create even more complex rebar patterns.

There are also tools for computational fluid dynamics based on [[OpenFOAM]] [https://github.com/jaheyns/CfdOF CfdOF] and a lees active fork [https://github.com/qingfengxia/Cfd Cfd].

There is also development of integration with nodes for visual programming with [[Sverchok]], [https://dynamobim.org/ Dynamo] (using [[DynFreeCAD]]) and [[PyFlow]].

The FreeCAD project is under constant development, and it has a community of users and developers who discuss and help each other in the [https://forum.freecadweb.org FreeCAD forum].

= See also =

* [[Architecture 3D models created in FreeCAD|Featured projects]]
* [[BlenderBIM Add-on]]
* [[Sweet Home 3d]]

= External pages =
* [https://yorik.uncreated.net/blog/2020-010-freecad-bim-guide FreeCAD BIM migration guide]
* Main website: https://www.freecadweb.org
* Documentation wiki: https://wiki.freecadweb.org
* Community forum: https://forum.freecadweb.org
* The [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/BIM_Workbench BIM Workbench]
* [https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Arch_Module Architectural modelling with FreeCAD] from the FreeCAD wiki
* [https://yorik.uncreated.net/blog/freecad FreeCAD BIM development news] is a blog by [[Yorik Van Havre]], one of the main developers of FreeCAD and author of the Draft, Arch, and BIM workbenches, detailing the progress of the BIM tools in FreeCAD
* About [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Cascade_Technology OpenCasCade Technology]
* FreeCAD user Thomas-Neemann has a [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVcztV5hHKE8J03GgKekj_g/videos YouTube channel] showing FreeCAD for [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uJ5vhYb6gU point clouds], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHZx5WwquvA steel] & [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1hPNeygr3k wood frame] buildings

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