Mechanical engineering encompasses industrial design, biomedical engineering and automotive design. Planning as well as designing mechanical pieces is what mechanical engineers do. Whether they’re producing motor or engine parts or concepting devices such as robots and refrigerators, they at some point need to use a CAD software.
CAD (short for Computer-Aided Design) is a methodology focusing primarily on the use of computer software to design real world objects. Since the inception of computers, CAD has been used in various engineering fields; In particular mechanical engineering relies mostly on this kind of software to hugely facilitate a task that was once extremely diffcult to accomplish by hand : Mechanical Design.
Premium CAD software package such as CATIA help mechanical engineers complete their tasks by assisting them in creating preliminary designs and spotting the faults prior to production, saving resources and time, however such type of software is very costly and not accessible to everyone in the field, that’s why we tried to compile the best 10 free alternatives you can download and use to accomplish your mechanical design tasks (visualization, simulation, 3D printing and much more).
- Best Free CAD Software for Mechanical Engineers
7.Brush: Key Features. This is the explanation of 3D industrial Animation Software ZBrush. Wings 3D, is one of the Industrial Animation software for Mechanical Engineers, an advanced subdivision. Grasshopper is an industrial design. Connect your disconnected processes with Fusion 360, 3D mechanical engineering software. Design, simulate, and manufacture all in one product development platform. FreeCAD is another free mechanical simulation software for Windows. It is actually a popular CAD software through which you can create 3D models and simulations.Using it, you can create 3D models of Ships, Mechanical Parts, Architecture, etc. Plus, you can define the movement parameters and path for created 3D models to simulate certain actions of the model.
Best Free CAD Software for Mechanical Engineers
Accessibility: Browser-based 3D software One of the many 3D software tools offered by 3D CAD software giant Autodesk, TinkerCAD is a deceptively deep tool. Though it looks fairly basic due to how easy it is to use, TinkerCAD has proved time and time again that it is up with the best 3D software out there for creating 3D models.
#1. SelfCAD
SelfCAD is a self-proclaimed leader in the world of online 3D slicing and modeling software”. Certainly, this 3D CAD software has the complete design-to-print workflow in a smartly presented package. At its core the SelfCAD offers a strong 3D CAD modeling and app that enables the users to design complex as well as 3D printable designs and objects.
Download SelfCAD
Download SelfCAD
#2. TinkerCAD
TinkerCAD is well known browser-based CAD software for mechanical engineers. You can start using the software and get started to build 3D modeling projects. TinkerCAD is an excellent preface to 3D software, which just perfect for educational purposes. If you don’t have any 3D modeling experience then this is for you as it put life to your great ideas.
You can place the blocks separately to build any object that you need to finish your project. The user-friendly interface of the software makes it easier and simple use of 3D tools and creates your 3D modeling project.
Download TinkerCAD
You can place the blocks separately to build any object that you need to finish your project. The user-friendly interface of the software makes it easier and simple use of 3D tools and creates your 3D modeling project.
Download TinkerCAD
#3. Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is a fantastic CAD software for mechanical engineers. Students, hobbyists, and startups can use this software for free. It offers a range of motion studies, simulation, and assembly modeling tools. You will love using the robust collaboration tools.
Download Fusion360
Download Fusion360
#4. FreeCAD
It is 100% open source and is specially designed for product design and mechanical engineering design uses, yet it could also be used for engineering industry that depends on a number on parametric 3D modeler.
Even though it is free and open-source, FreeCAD is keeping pace with other well-known CAD software because of its ability to build real 3D solids, 2D drafting, support for meshes, and right-hand coordinate framework in addition to a lot more amazing features.
Download FreeCAD
Even though it is free and open-source, FreeCAD is keeping pace with other well-known CAD software because of its ability to build real 3D solids, 2D drafting, support for meshes, and right-hand coordinate framework in addition to a lot more amazing features.
Download FreeCAD
#5. OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is free software program for producing solid 3D models. Unlike TinkerCAD or Blender, OpenSCAD mainly focuses particularly on mechanical dimensions as well as the properties of CAD models rather than their creative properties. It’s perfect for creating detailed mechanical models and machine parts.
OpenSCAD allows the user to create models by compositing solid geometry or from 2D outlines, as in a number of premium software. You can export the files in common file formats as well as it supports STL for the 3D printing process.
Download OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD allows the user to create models by compositing solid geometry or from 2D outlines, as in a number of premium software. You can export the files in common file formats as well as it supports STL for the 3D printing process.
Download OpenSCAD
#6. SketchUp
SketchUp is free 3D design software. It has a library full of free 3D models which any person could use and to which any person could contribute. The Layout feature of SketchUp allows you to convert 3D models into realistic drawings in no time. After that these can be exported in a range of different file types.
Download SketchUp
Download SketchUp
#7. QCAD
QCAD is free CAD software that mechanical engineers should use in case you are planning to build technical drawings be it for mechanical parts, structures or even diagrams and schematics. Since it’s open-source software, it focuses on extensibility, portability, and modularity.
Download QCAD
Download QCAD
#8. NanoCAD
Here is another free CAD software for experienced users. It is a free drafting software giving advanced CAD tools. It has a powerful table editor offering a ton of new possible outcomes. This 2D CAD software is available for windows. If you want to enjoy advanced features of the software, then you should download NanoCAD plus or NanoCAD pro version; however this free version is the right choice.
Download NanoCAD
Download NanoCAD
#9. LeoCAD
LeoCAD is a simple and easy to use CAD software which could be valuable for educational reason for mechanical engineering students. It is appropriate for huge models with different parts.
It is open-source CAD software, which means that anybody can add to it and include new features.
Download LeoCAD
It is open-source CAD software, which means that anybody can add to it and include new features.
Download LeoCAD
#10. LibreCAD
LibreCAD is an excellent CAD modeling software for mechanical engineers. It is easy and simple to use software which offers impressive features. Some of the features that LibreCAD is offering to its users include: usage of layers, snap to grid for drawing, measurements within the drawing, and several other features to make your life hell a lot easier when you are completing your task on this CAD software.
Download LibreCAD
Download LibreCAD
There are many software packages used by mechanical engineers, but there are a few that are used consistently throughout industry. The level of proficiency that is required with specific software packages is dependent on your role as an engineer. However, every mechanical engineer should have at least a basic familiarity with most of the software on this list.
Mathcad
Mathcad is possibly the one piece of software that is useful to every mechanical engineer, regardless of job function. Mathcad gives you the ability to do math within a document, as well as to add relevant images and text to explain your work. You can add plots which either read from arrays of data, or which can be linked to defined equations. The result is a beautifully formatted document containing your 'hand' calculations.
- Ability to write and evaluate equations
- Unit conversion
- Plotting
- Linear algebra -- useful for solving 3D statics problems, for solving systems of linear equations, etc.
- Symbolic equation solver -- useful for when you just don't feel like manually solving for the integral of some complex equation
- Programming -- useful for numeric analysis
Computer Aided Design (CAD) Software
A 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) package is especially useful to any engineer with a focus on design. This software allows you to build 3D models of parts and assemblies. For instance, you could model all of the individual parts of an engine, and then combine them into an assembly. This will allow you to ensure that all of the parts fit together as intended. Many CAD packages allow you to do things like allow motion of parts (i.e. to allow a shaft to rotate) and to check for interferences between parts. Most CAD packages have a drafting component that allows you to create 2D drawings of your parts so that they can be manufactured. Many CAD tools also have direct integration into an FEA (Finite Element Analysis) package so you can iterate seamlessly between design and analysis. Popular examples of 3D CAD software include SolidWorks, Unigraphics NX, CATIA, and Autodesk Inventor.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Software
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is useful to any engineer that needs to perform structural analysis. This software allows you to analyze stresses and deflections in complex structures. Popular examples include ANSYS and Nastran. Typically a structure will be modeled in a 3D CAD program and then ported over to the FEA software. Previously, the porting process involved exporting the CAD model to a file format that could then be interpreted by the FEA software, but now many FEA packages integrate directly with CAD packages to make the transition seamless. Once the geometry is built, a mesh is created to discretize the structure into elements. Forces and constraints are applied, and the model can then be solved. From the solved model you can interrogate stresses and deflections in the structure.
Microsoft Excel
Excel is probably the most versatile software used not just by mechanical engineers, but by nearly every office worker. Gear 360 mac software. Excel is useful for quick calculations, for tabulating data, for laying out ideas, for drawing with shapes, for basic programming -- the possibilities are endless.
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the programming language built into all of the Microsoft Office products. It is useful for automating Excel files, Access files, Word files, and any other files created using the MS Office suite. It can be a bit clunky and awkward to use compared to other more full-featured programming languages, but its direct integration into MS Office makes it an incredibly compelling option for implementing small scripts to perform basic automation tasks.
MATLAB
MATLAB is the programming language/environment of choice among mechanical engineers. MATLAB is essential for doing more complex numerical analysis where simple math doesn't cut it and a programming solution is required. MATLAB is especially well suited for calculations with matrices and vectors. It has an excellent plotting capability, so it is easy to run a simulation and then quickly display results. There are many additional libraries available for purchase for doing more complicated things such as optimization and control system design, among others.
Free 3d Mechanical Drawing Software
Some examples of things you might do with MATLAB include:
- Analyze heat transfer from a power bottle to the surrounding environment
- Design a control system to land a rocket on a barge
- Analyze the response characteristics of a spring-mass-damper with an externally applied force
Python
Python is a general-purpose programming language with a strong capability for scientific programming. Because of this, Python is an excellent alternative to MATLAB. Python is open-source, and many useful libraries are actively developed and maintained by the widespread Python community. Comparable functionality to MATLAB can be achieved by installing the NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib libraries. There are many other scientific libraries available such as Pandas that are worth looking into as well. Can you run it macbook pro.
One major advantage of Python (besides the price of free) is that it is a general purpose programming language -- it is not specifically tailored to scientific programming, although it is excellent for that. This means that you can use it to do many other things besides numerical analysis, such as work with your file system, manage a database, or build a website.
MechaniCalc
We couldn't write a post on the best software for mechanical engineers without at least mentioning our own software. MechaniCalc is a suite of web-based calculators focused on machine design and structural analysis. These calculators perform analysis with a level of detail and comprehensiveness that would be expected in industry while also being intuitive and accessible. Use these calculators to move through design and analysis cycles more quickly and with greater confidence.
Mechanical Engineering Design Software
MechaniCalc includes calculators for many common analysis tasks, including bolted joint analysis, lug analysis, column buckling, and more. It has a database of material properties and cross section properties that can be used within the calculators. It allows you to save your work, and to print reports for easy documentation. All of the calculators are available to try for free, so check out our full list of calculators here and get started! 3d authoring software.