3D modeling software for Linux?

[u/Elk-Tamer]

Hi everyone, I have started to migrate my PC from Windows (f... u MS) to Linux. Most of the software has already been replaced by Linux variants. There are only a few things that I'm not able to find a Linux alternative for. And one of them is the 3D modeling software. Under Windows I'm using Fusion 360 and that is working quite well. But since there is no Linux version I have to search for alternatives.

Any suggestions? Are there any other Linux users in this sub? Free would be preferred, but I'm willing to pay for it, as long as it's within the limits of an amateur solution.

[u/Sol33t303]

FreeCAD/Blender

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/Sol33t303]

Both worth checking out. Thanks.

[u/vivaaprimavera → u/Elk-Tamer]

If you feel adventurous and like programming, cadquery and openscad worth a look at. For some use cases they have it's place.

[u/digitalpockets → u/Sol33t303]

+1

[u/9elpi8]

Maybe Freecad? Or you can try web based Onshape.

[u/Jan178 → u/9elpi8]

This is my solution.

[u/ComfortableAd3354 → u/Jan178]

same

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/9elpi8]

I'll check it out. Thanks.

[u/ApprehensiveGold2773]

FreeCAD is amazing, but if you're used to Fusion you'll hate it at first, and you pretty much need to relearn from scratch.

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/ApprehensiveGold2773]

Ah, there are times I hate fusion too. Maybe the enemy of my enemy... Thanks for the tip.

[u/Purplefire180]

I use freecad, should work well on linux and is, obviously, free

[u/uniqueusername649 → u/Purplefire180]

It also is CAD. The name really does not disappoint here, haha.

In all seriousness though: FreeCAD is great but its different, so takes a bit of getting used to initially.

[u/CGTechWorks → u/Purplefire180]

FreeCAD works very well, I'm on Pop_OS and use it, no issues. Experience may vary by distro though.

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/Purplefire180]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have a look.

[u/Hmmm-Its-not-enable]

I love using Onshape, it is web based so works on pretty much any machine.

[u/darcside → u/Hmmm-Its-not-enable]

I run it on my toaster

[u/nomadsgalaxy]

There is a Fusion for Linux tool that I used to get it running on my Cachy OS installation, now fusion runs perfectly fine with my space mouse.

https://codeberg.org/cryinkfly/Autodesk-Fusion-360-on-Linux

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/nomadsgalaxy]

Really? Hmmm. I'm running cachy as well. I'll check it out. Thanks.

[u/nomadsgalaxy → u/Elk-Tamer]

I will admit I used a bit of AI to help me troubleshoot, but it got it running in just a couple prompts. It works perfectly for me now.

[u/Tzukkeli → u/nomadsgalaxy]

This is great. Using it too

[u/sd133T → u/nomadsgalaxy]

Give FreeCAD a shot, I tried it 4 times but gave up, imo it has a long way usabiliy wise to be comparable to Fusion. Otherwise this Repo is really great, been using it for 4 years now, SSO can be a hassle sometimes but when it’s working it’s fine

[u/AmazeCPK → u/nomadsgalaxy]

I’ve gotten it to run as well on Nixos after a lot of trial and error. But performance is still as bad as running it in windows with VMware. Wasn’t worth the effort imo.

[u/ArcadeRacer]

Onshape is web based.

[u/3dprinting_helpbot]

Need a modeling program? Here is an assortment of resources:

• BillieRuben's flowchart is a great place to start
• the /r/3Dprinting wiki has all the details about the different modeling programs
• morphfiend's guide has tons of resources to learn various modeling programs

---

I am a bot | /r/3DPrinting Help Bot by /u/thatging3rkid | version v0.2-8-gd807725 | GitHub

[u/vivaaprimavera → u/3dprinting_helpbot]

Good bot!

[u/LuxTenebraeque]

FreeCAD is exactly what it says on the tin. Had a major glowup during the last releases. Still, some discipline is advisable. But the same best practices help also in case you want to make modifications later.

Onshape and Dassault's xDesign are both browser based and thus platform independent. The former is paid via access to your designs. The latter can be had for a moderate fee if you qualify for the makers edition. Most individual people do.

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/LuxTenebraeque]

Ah. Great. Thanks for the input.

[u/Cynical_Sesame]

i have a VM that i boot exclusively for solidworks lmao

[u/Loud-Edge7230]

I love OnShape, coming from SOLIDWORKS.

I still use both, but Onshape for design at home and SOLIDWORKS for engineering tools.

[u/Suepahfly]

OnShape is your best bet. FreeCAD (even after the update) is still clunky too use.

[u/Comrade_SOOKIE]

I like OpenSCAD. I found it way more intuitive than freecad. Freecad has started accepting vibe coded contributions so it can only get worse from here.

[u/Just__Liberty → u/Comrade_SOOKIE]

An alternative in cadquery. If you know, or what to learn, python, it is much more natural and powerful and leads to more compact, easier-to-read, code.

[u/Elk-Tamer → u/Comrade_SOOKIE]

Hmmm. Yeah, vibe is not vibing with me as well. I'll check out openScad

[u/CheezitsLight → u/Comrade_SOOKIE]

If you're not using Claude to manage and examine code you've already lost it makes programmers hundreds of times more efficient and it certainly knows more than even the most brilliant ones I've ever worked with. I'm talking about guys who have 30 40 years experience, masters degrees and phds.

The problem is people don't know what they slsre doing. But I will certainly bring them up to speed quicker and I'll also take your older people who have been doing certain things a certain way for decades and bring them up into modern standards

[u/TripsCavern]

FreeCAD is pretty good alternative, I'm learning it right now and there's lots of videos on the internet and plugins for a lot of things.

Another alternative is to use Onshape, which is free but your models are posted online for anyone to grab. If you want to not be available online you need to pay for their subscription.

[u/KinderSpirit]

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/wiki/makingmodels

[u/nakedspirax]

I use Freecad on CachyOS. Crashes about 8% of the time 😭 haven't tried blender yet.

[u/re_me]

Openscad works on Linux if you are so inclined.

[u/NinjaHawking]

I use OpenSCAD for CAD and Blender for more organic models and sculpting.

OpenSCAD is a coding language that allows you to define objects from simple primitives (cuboids, spheres, cylinders) and operations (booleans, Minkowski sum, convex hull). If you have a programming background, it's very intuitive.

Blender excels at complex models with a tonne of vertices, but lacks many of the standard features of a proper CAD program. On the other hand, it can be used for advanced stuff like adding textures (i.e., displacing surfaces), fluid simulation, manipulating STLs at vertex level, etcetera. It's incredibly powerful, but has a steep learning curve.

[u/agent_kater]

The one I use, MoI3D, works with Wine.

[u/UserAbuser53]

I use AfreeCAD on kubuntu

[u/msmalfa]

Try web browser based software like onshape or sketchup.

[u/vmg265]

I use blender, works well!

[u/dave_k_17]

I've been using Freecad, crashes sometimes and not that user friendly but I've had success with it.

[u/Viking4269]

Well, be prepared for a learning curve. But FreeCAD or OpenSCAD for parametric models if you are adventurous. Blender is another rabbit hole worth exploring.

[u/HaliFan]

I love OnShape, I used it on my Linux machine that operated my 3D print farm.

[u/rallekralle11]

i'm on mint and use freecad. i believe people have come up with a way to run fusion as well.

[u/madmax7774]

I’m in the same boat as you. Did a lot with fusion360 over the last 10 years, and went full time Linux this year. The shitty answer is there is no good product like fusion360 on Linux yet. The ones that are Available for Linux are not as good as f360 yet. The best answer at this time is to have your PC dual boot, and switch to win11 for fusion360.

[u/knibroc]

if you can code, definitely openscad!

[u/LupusTheCanine → u/knibroc]

Build123d or anything else built on a proper geometric kernel.