[HN Gopher] Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application
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       Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application
        
       Author : luu
       Score  : 69 points
       Date   : 2026-03-22 08:06 UTC (1 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (github.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (github.com)
        
       | idiotsecant wrote:
       | Its not often you see 'fillets and chamfers' are tip-line
       | features in the readme for CAD packages. But good on you for
       | building something.
        
         | magicalhippo wrote:
         | > Its not often you see 'fillets and chamfers' are tip-line
         | features in the readme for CAD packages.
         | 
         | Well the readme states the following:
         | 
         |  _Solvespace on the other hand gets the workflow part right,
         | but falls short by not importing STEP and the geometry kernel
         | not supporting chamfers and fillets._
         | 
         | So I assume that's where that comes from.
        
         | Sakthimm wrote:
         | Well, implementing fillets and chamfers is no easy task, so
         | it's well deserved to be there.
         | 
         | Source: been there, done that.
        
       | mountainriver wrote:
       | FreeCAD is the worst. Thanks for building this!
        
         | mft_ wrote:
         | (I seem to be cast in the role of FreeCAD advocate on HN these
         | days, but here goes!)
         | 
         | For years I agreed with you - I tried FreeCAD multiple times,
         | different versions, always sucked.
         | 
         | Then I watched this video [0] and discovered that v1.1 is
         | different - and that it's good enough for solid reliable hobby
         | usage. It's still a touch frustrating in a few areas (text, for
         | example) but I've now switched over to it completely.
         | 
         | [0] https://youtu.be/VEfNRST_3x8
        
           | elaus wrote:
           | I agree. freeCAD has become a tool that I just use without
           | thinking about it. Earlier versions always made me question
           | my choice and try out other software.
        
         | uberduper wrote:
         | Recent freecad is pretty decent. My main complaint these days
         | is the performance of the geometry engine.
        
         | dv35z wrote:
         | FreeCAD would benefit from effective
         | 
         | (1) agile Product Management,
         | 
         | (2) Product Design & continuous user-research,
         | 
         | (3) Improvements to test-driven development (TDD),
         | 
         | (4) transparent & open outcome-based roadmap,
         | 
         | (5) a vision to make the application easy to use for newbies in
         | a maker-space, and (this is specific to my use-case),
         | 
         | (6) Improvements to the CAM module to make it easy to use this
         | for CNC routers, and designing objects with sloped/curved
         | surfaces.
         | 
         | - FreeCAD site: https://www.freecad.org/
         | 
         | - FreeCAD code: https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD
         | 
         | - FreeCAD forum: https://forum.freecad.org/
         | 
         | To echo others' comments: FreeCAD has improved significantly
         | since v1.0, so I'm hoping this attracts quality & stability-
         | minded develeopers, and a frequent release cadence.
        
       | jetter wrote:
       | Also check out modelrift.com which is based on openscad
       | foundation. See the dynamic customizer which allows to edit any
       | model parameter, re-render and get .stl:
       | https://modelrift.com/models/customizable-liquid-funnel - it
       | works _completely_ in your browser by using WASM
        
       | Evidlo wrote:
       | Some other open source 3D CAD tools:
       | 
       | Code-based
       | 
       | - CadQuery - https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery/
       | 
       | - build123d - https://github.com/gumyr/build123d
       | 
       | - OpenSCAD - https://openscad.cloud/openscad/
       | 
       | GUI (browser-based)
       | 
       | - Cadmium (abandoned, cool idea) -
       | https://mattferraro.dev/posts/cadmium
        
         | RobotToaster wrote:
         | Brl-cad https://brlcad.org/
        
         | gmueckl wrote:
         | FreeCAD: https://freecad.org
        
         | wlesieutre wrote:
         | Cadova - https://github.com/tomasf/Cadova
         | 
         | SolveSpace - https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
        
         | kennywinker wrote:
         | JSCAD (formerly OpenJSCAD) https://openjscad.xyz/
         | 
         | Awesome because you can build a model, expose the parameters,
         | and allow web users to generate a model to fit their
         | parameters.
        
         | dr_win wrote:
         | vcad was started in 2026 and has great ambitions:
         | https://docs.vcad.io
        
         | autumn-antlers wrote:
         | libfive - https://libfive.com
         | 
         | guile scheme, bindings in Rust and Python
         | 
         | personally exited to check it out for real constructive-solid
         | modeling, as opposed to emulating that workflow over
         | OpenCascade's (fickle but otherwise lovely) BREP modeling (ie.
         | edges & faces) via build123d (which has been great but is
         | increasingly vibe-coded :/)
         | 
         | discussed previously:
         | https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12319406
         | 
         | a real constructive solid library (as opposed to emulation via
         | modeling), with
        
         | tosti wrote:
         | KiCad - https://www.kicad.org/
        
       | reconnecting wrote:
       | Without context, it sounds like an FPS adaptation of a Dune game.
        
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       (page generated 2026-03-23 23:00 UTC)