this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2025
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FreeCAD
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Your own 3D parametric modeler.
FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters.
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In cases where you can know ahead of time your part is going to have a lot of repeated dimensions, i.e. it is symmetrical in one or more axes, or you know all the screw holes are going to be X diameter, or whatever, abuse the hell out of the equality constraint. That's what I do.
Select a bunch of lines and hit E. Now all those lines will always be the same length. Constrain just one of them to whatever length you need; all of them automatically follow suit.
Select a bunch of circles and hit E. Now all those holes will always be the same diameter. Constrain one, you get the idea.
This makes the task of, "Oh crap, I changed one tiny parameter and now I need to find it and change it again 3/7/15/etc. more times" evaporate instantly.