About FreeCAD/en: Difference between revisions

From FreeCAD Documentation
No edit summary
(Updating to match new version of source page)
(15 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
<languages/>
{{Docnav
|[[Online Help Startpage|Online Help Startpage]]
|[[Feature list|Feature list]]
}}

[[Image:Freecad default.jpg|1024px|center]]
[[Image:Freecad default.jpg|1024px|center]]


'''FreeCAD''' is a general purpose parametric 3D [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''] modeler. The development is completely [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source Open Source] (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering mechanical engineering] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_design product design] but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties.
'''FreeCAD''' is a general purpose parametric 3D [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''] modeler, whose development is completely [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open source] ([https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.en.html LGPL License]). FreeCAD is aimed directly at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering mechanical engineering] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_design product design] but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture, finite element analysis, 3D printing, and other tasks.


FreeCAD features tools similar to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catia Catia], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidworks SolidWorks] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_Edge Solid Edge], and therefore also falls into the category of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''MCAD'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_Lifecycle_Management '''PLM'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAx '''CAx'''] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-aided_engineering '''CAE''']. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_feature_based_modeler feature based parametric modeler] with a modular software architecture which makes it easy to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.
FreeCAD features tools similar to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CATIA CATIA], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidworks SolidWorks] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_Edge Solid Edge], and therefore also falls into the category of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD '''CAD'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_Lifecycle_Management '''PLM'''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAx '''CAx'''] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-aided_engineering '''CAE''']. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_feature_based_modeler feature based parametric modeler] with a modular software architecture which makes it possible to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.


As with many modern 3D [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD CAD] modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch 2D shapes or extract design details from the 3D model to create 2D production drawings, but direct 2D drawing (like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD#AutoCAD_LT AutoCAD LT]) is not the focus, neither are animation or organic shapes (like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(software) Maya], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3ds_Max 3ds Max], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_%28software%29 Blender] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CINEMA_4D Cinema 4D]), although, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD might become useful in a much broader area than its current focus.
As with many CAD modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch planar shapes or create production drawings. However, direct 2D drawing (like [https://inkscape.org/ Inkscape] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD#AutoCAD_LT AutoCAD LT]) is not the focus, neither are animation or mesh editing (like [https://www.blender.org/ Blender], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(software) Maya], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3ds_Max 3ds Max], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CINEMA_4D Cinema 4D]). Nevertheless, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD might become useful in a much broader area than its current focus.


FreeCAD makes heavy use of all the great open-source libraries that exist out there in the field of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_Computation Scientific Computing]. Among them are [http://OpenCascade.org OpenCascade], a powerful CAD kernel, [http://www.Coin3D.org Coin3D], an incarnation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Inventor Open Inventor], [http://www.qtsoftware.com/ Qt], the world-famous UI framework, and [http://www.python.org Python], one of the best scripting languages available. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.
FreeCAD makes heavy use of open-source libraries that exist in the field of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_Computation scientific computing]. Among them are [http://OpenCascade.org Open Cascade Technology (OCCT)], a powerful CAD kernel; [https://github.com/coin3d/coin/wiki Coin3D], a toolkit for 3D graphics development compatible with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Inventor Open Inventor]; [http://www.qt.io/ Qt], the world-famous user interface framework; and [http://www.python.org Python], a modern scripting language. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.


FreeCAD is also fully [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-platform multi-platform], and currently runs flawlessly on Windows and Linux/Unix and Mac OSX systems, with the exact same look and functionality on all platforms.
FreeCAD is also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-platform multi-platform], and currently runs on Linux/Unix, Windows, and Mac OSX systems with the same look and functionality on all platforms.


For more information about FreeCAD's capabilities, take a look at the [[Feature_list|feature list]], the [[Feature_list#Release_notes|latest release notes]], and the [[Getting_started|getting started]] articles, or see more [[Screenshots|screenshots]].
За повече информация за възможностите на FreeCAD's вижте страниците [[Feature list|Списъка с способности]], the [[Getting_started#What's new| последно добавените инструменти]] или [[Getting started|"Как да започнем"]], or see more [[screenshots]], или вижте още [[screenshots|скрийншот-и]].


===За проекта FreeCAD===
===About the FreeCAD project===


Проектът FreeCAD е започнат през 2001. Историята му е описана [[history|тук]].
The FreeCAD project was started as far back as 2001, as described in its [[history|history]] page.


FreeCAD is maintained and developed by a community of enthusiastic developers and users (see the [[contributors|contributors]] page). They work on FreeCAD voluntarily, in their free time. They cannot guarantee that FreeCAD contains everything you might wish, but they will do their best! The community gathers on the [http://forum.freecadweb.org FreeCAD forum], where most of the ideas and decisions are discussed. Feel free to join us there!
FreeCAD се поддържа и развива от общност от ентусиасти програмисти и портребители (вижте страницата [[contributors|contributors]] за списък). Те работят върху FreeCAD на доброволни начела в свободното си време. Те не могат да гарантират че FreeCAD съдържа или ще съдържа всичко което ще желате, но ще направят всичко възможно по въпроса! Общноста се събира на [http://forum.freecadweb.org FreeCAD форум-а], където се обсъждат идеи и се взимат решения. Каним ви да се присъедините към нас!


{{Docnav
{{Docnav|Online Help Startpage|Feature list}}
|[[Online Help Startpage|Online Help Startpage]]
|[[Feature list|Feature list]]
}}


{{Userdocnavi{{#translation:}}}}
[[Category:User Documentation/en]]

<languages/>

[[Category:User Documentation{{#translation:}}]]

Revision as of 14:42, 24 September 2021

FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler, whose development is completely open source (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture, finite element analysis, 3D printing, and other tasks.

FreeCAD features tools similar to CATIA, SolidWorks or Solid Edge, and therefore also falls into the category of CAD, PLM, CAx and CAE. It is a feature based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture which makes it possible to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.

As with many CAD modelers it has many 2D components in order to sketch planar shapes or create production drawings. However, direct 2D drawing (like Inkscape or AutoCAD LT) is not the focus, neither are animation or mesh editing (like Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, or Cinema 4D). Nevertheless, thanks to its wide adaptability, FreeCAD might become useful in a much broader area than its current focus.

FreeCAD makes heavy use of open-source libraries that exist in the field of scientific computing. Among them are Open Cascade Technology (OCCT), a powerful CAD kernel; Coin3D, a toolkit for 3D graphics development compatible with Open Inventor; Qt, the world-famous user interface framework; and Python, a modern scripting language. FreeCAD itself can also be used as a library by other programs.

FreeCAD is also multi-platform, and currently runs on Linux/Unix, Windows, and Mac OSX systems with the same look and functionality on all platforms.

For more information about FreeCAD's capabilities, take a look at the feature list, the latest release notes, and the getting started articles, or see more screenshots.

About the FreeCAD project

The FreeCAD project was started as far back as 2001, as described in its history page.

FreeCAD is maintained and developed by a community of enthusiastic developers and users (see the contributors page). They work on FreeCAD voluntarily, in their free time. They cannot guarantee that FreeCAD contains everything you might wish, but they will do their best! The community gathers on the FreeCAD forum, where most of the ideas and decisions are discussed. Feel free to join us there!