CAD Programs for Linux

Often, when I ask why users don’t adopt Linux, I am met with the response “There are no CAD (Computer Aided Design) applications. Now I will confess that I know next to nothing about CAD, so I thought I would take a moment to highlight some of the CAD applications available for the Linux , show how they are installed and started, highlight their features, and then let those that know CAD well report on how successful (or not) they are. Sort of a user-generated showdown if you will.

Believe it or not, there are a number of CAD applications for Linux. Some of those applications are far too basic for the professional-level CAD user. Some, however, are just as feature-rich and complex as the insustry standard AutoCAD. So hopefully, within this article, you will find a CAD application that will meet your needs.

So, let’s get our Linux CAD on!

Installing

All of the software listed below can be installed on Ubuntu Linux by following these steps:

1. Open up the Add/Remove Software utility
2. Search for “CAD” (no quotes)
3. Select the software you want to install
4. Click Apply

QCaD

QCaD is a powerful 2D CAD application that began in 1999 as a fragmentation of another application (CAM system for engraving and LASER cutting). QCaD includes DFX standard file format and supports HPGL format. QCaD’s biggest advantage over many other CAD applications is its ease of use. Most CAD applications are overly complex. QCaD, on the other hand, has a user interface that is clean and easy to use.  QCaD features:

• Layers
• Figure 1

  Blocks

• 35 included CAD fonts
• Metric and Imperial unit support
• Print to scale
• 40 Construction tools
• 20 Modification tools
• Construct/Modify points, lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, splines, polylines, texts, dimensions, hatches, fills, raster images
• Entity selection tools
• Object snaps
• Measuring tools
• 4800 parts library
• Scripting interface
• and much more

QCaD is modular with extensibility being its focus. As you can see, in Figure 1, the interface is very well thought out and easy to use.

Misfit Model 3D

Misfit Model 3D is an OpenGL-based 3D modeling application for Linux that uses triangular-based models. Misfit features:

• Figure 2

  Multi-level undo

• Skeletal animations
• Simple texturing
• Batch processing (via command line)
• Plugin system for adding new model and image filters
• Create rectangles, cubes, ellipsoids, cylinders
• Translation, rotation, scaling, and shearing
• Multiple skins for models
• Frame animations
• and much more

Misfit does not have the best support available and doesn’t seem to support the largest amount of file formats.

SagCAD

Figure 3

SagCAD is another 2D designer for Linux. Upon opening SagCAD, your first thought will most likely be “Whoa, where do I begin?” SagCAD was not created for the inexperienced user. With SagCAD the interface is filled with clickable buttons and no menus. Unless you are familiar with CAD you will look on at the array of buttons and finally have to mouse over each button to know what it does. And to make matters worse, all support is in Japanese! Does this make SagCAD a bust? Only the well-versed CAD user will be able to tell. The good news for SagCAD users is that it is has been around for some time and is still developed and supported. Just make su

Wings 3D

Figure 4

Wings 3D is a 3 dimensional subdivision modeller that has outstanding support and features.  Wings 3D is available for Linux, OS X, and Windows and features support for numerous import/export formats. Wings 3D has yet to reach version 1 so it is very much in beta. But that does not mean Wings 3D is not already quite usable. Take a look at the small gallery of images created by Wings 3D.

Wings 3D offers a users manual and tutorials for those who aren’t sure where to begin.

Blender

Blender is probably one of the most popular of all the CAD applications for Linux. Blender features:

• A revolutionary UI
• Figure 5

  Rigging

• Modeling
• Rendering
• Animation
• UV Unwrapping
• Shading
• Physics and particles
• Imaging and compositing
• Realtime 3D game creation
• Numerous file format support
• Multiple platform support

If you take a look at the Blender Gallery you will see many reasons why Blender is on of the most popular CAD applications in Linux. I should make mention, however, that Blender does not work well in Linux when full desktop effects are turned on. There are issues with the UI and unless you turn off desktop effects, you will have a lot of trouble using Blender.

Author: Jack Wallen