Looking for a free advanced CAD 3D modeling tool? Solid Edge offers a free version.
CAD tools tend to be complex, particularly the more advanced tool that are used by industry. While some makers start with tools like Tinkercad, they soon want more capabilities to design more complex objects.
That inevitably leads them to the more advanced tools, such as Autodesk Fusion, SOLIDWORKS and others. Normally these products are quite expensive, since they’re designed for groups of engineers working in manufacturing companies that produce highly complex systems.
Most individual makers cannot afford the regular price for these tools. The good news is that many of the big companies offer some form of degraded tool at low cost or even free to makers. Autodesk has a program for community use, SOLIDWORKS has an inexpensive community edition and also a makerspace program.
But did you know that Solid Edge by Siemens also provides a community edition?
Solid Edge is very well-regarded by those using advanced CAD tools, and is often said to be easier to use than both SOLIDWORKS and Fusion. It provides not only 3D modeling capabilities, but also assemblies of multiple parts, sheet metal fabrication and more. You can generate animations of working assemblies, create exploded views of assemblies and there’s even some level of simulation available.
All of this is available in Designcenter Solid Edge Community Edition.
There are some restrictions, however, as is in the other free editions from other providers. Siemens writes:
Is available to any active maker, CAD enthusiast, or design challenge competitor interested in using CAD to bring their ideas to life
Is intended for personal use, and may not be used for commercial purposes
In addition, the files that are produced with the community edition cannot be opened in the “real” Solid Edge system, and any 2D diagram produced will have watermarks placed on them. However, 3D models may be exported and printed freely.
One more thing: Designcenter Solid Edge Community Edition runs only on the Windows OS, so if you’re using Linux or Mac OS, you are out of luck.
Via Siemens
