1. 3D CAD MODELER: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING & PRODUCT DESIGN

This CAD program is a general purpose 3D CAD modeler. The software is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties.

The software features tools similar to Catia, SolidWorks or Solid Edge, and therefore also falls into the category of MCAD, PLM, CAX and CAE. It is intended to be a feature-based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture, which makes it easy to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.

Import & Export

• Autodesk DXF (.dxf)
• CAD formats (.igs .iges .step .stp .brep .brp)
• Drawing (.svg .svgz) Image formats (.bmp .jpg .png .xpm)
• Inventor V2.1 (.iv)
• Mesh Formats (.stl .ast .bms .obj)
• Open CAD format (.oca .gcad)
• Point formats (.asc)
• Povray format (.pov .inc)
• Python (.py .FCMacro .FCScript)
• SVG as geometry (.svg)
• SketchFlat files (.skf)
• VRML V2.0 (.wrl .vrml .wrz .wrl.gz)

2. CSG CAD SYSTEM: BALLISTIC & ELECTROMAGNETIC ANALYSES

This CAD software program is a constructive solid geometry (CSG) solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) system. It includes an interactive geometry editor, ray tracing support for graphics rendering and geometric analysis, computer network distributed frame buffer support, scripting, image-processing and signal-processing tools.

Although the software can be used for a variety of engineering and graphics applications, the package's primary purpose continues to be the support of ballistic and electromagnetic analyses. In keeping with the Unix philosophy of developing independent tools to perform single, specific tasks and then linking the tools together in a package, the software is basically a collection of libraries, tools, and utilities that work together to create, raytrace, and interrogate geometry and manipulate files and data.

The software libraries are designed primarily for the geometric modeler who also wants to tinker with software and design custom tools. Each library is designed for a specific purpose: creating, editing, and raytracing geometry, and image handling. The application side of the software also offers a number of tools and utilities that are primarily concerned with geometric conversion, interrogation, image format conversion, and command-line-oriented image manipulation.

3. 2D CAD SYSTEM: AUTOCAD LT ALTERNATIVE

Existing software tools for the planning process have severe limitations: They are restricted in openness, they are dependent on the platform, they are complex to use and to program and the users have a limited exertion of influence on the further development. This software has been designed as a solution.

This software is a modular constructed software that offers lots of possibilities to integrate other functionalities. Due to this flexibility the software can easily be custom-modeled to fit individual needs. The software is programmed in JAVA and therefore compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X. This way it serves as an inexpensive alternative to proprietary CAD software.

Features

• Runs on standard hardware
• No extra software installation necessary
• Easy to use, less complex than existing software
• Easy to program (problem-orientated)
• Many input possibilities - text input, menubar, toolbar and mouse stroke (configure your own freehand symbols)
• Macro management
• Integrated scientific calculator
• Continuous UNDO/REDO (command history)
• Interruptible commands
• Coordinate spaces to avoid numerical problems
• Geometrical / graphical display - flexible window size, graphics selection via mouse click, model display / print layout of projects and digitize: mouse cursor dot, grid, pick
• Extendable views
• Graphical / drawing attributes conforming to standards
• Associative dimensioning / hatching
• Integration of other engineering applications possible e.g. FEM-models and much more.

4. CAD ARCHITECT: AUTOCAD ARCHITECTURE ALTERNATIVE

This software program has been developed with direct input from architects and architecture firms. With this design philosophy, the developers hope to create software better suited for architecture than the currently widely used AutoCAD, and other available CAD software.

Features

• Basic drawing tools - Lines, Polylines, Arcs and Circles, Editable Text, Explode and Offset
• Advanced CAD functions - Trimming, Filleting and Area measurement
• Autosave, SVG and PDF export