FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler

Re:FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler by devmor on Friday February 20, 2026 @02:18AM (#47084763)

KiCad is frustrating because it’s actually good enough to make a lot of models but it’s just unfriendly enough to make it take way too long to do… but it’s also still way easier than learning how to do it in a full-featured cad program.

I would kill for something like KiCad with more refined controls.

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Re:FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler by IshKebab on Friday February 20, 2026 @04:03AM (#47085492)

I can second Horizon EDA. It's not perfect, but it has the good KiCAD kernel without the abysmal UX.

FreeCAD may also be good - it's the only other one I haven't tried.

On the other hand if you're convincing EAGLE users to move they'll probably be happy with KiCAD because they're already used to an even worse UX, as if such a thing were possible.

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Re:FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler by imtringued on Friday February 20, 2026 @03:34AM (#47085296)

There's HorizonEDA. Just be prepared to spend a ridiculous amount of time setting parts up.

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Re:FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler by bschwindHN on Friday February 20, 2026 @10:03AM (#47088871)

I wish KiCad had a constraint solver built-in for defining footprints and placing some key parts of a PCB. A better library management system would also be nice. That aside, I think their interactive router is pretty great, and a huge improvement over older versions. I first tried KiCad in 2016 or 2017 and routing traces was pretty dire, especially if you had to redo them for whatever reason.

Got any specific pain points for KiCad?

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