This page is also available in Dutch: Mechanisch ontwerp & productontwikkeling.
Mechanical design is my trade. Everything comes together here: parametric modelling, assemblies, technical drawings and the road to production, with open-source tools I use myself every day.
What I am asked for most
- Setting up a design process that does not get stuck on the limits of the tool
- Migrating existing models and libraries without redrawing everything
- Automating repetitive drawing work with scripts and AI/MCP connections
- Honest advice: which tool fits your parts, your tolerances and your batch size
Tools I work with
| Tool | What it is, and how I use it |
|---|---|
| FreeCAD | Fully parametric: my workhorse choice. Feature trees, assemblies, TechDraw drawings, CAM and a complete Python API. |
| SolidCraft | Parametric, written in Rust: a modern desktop, web and CLI approach with a built-in MCP server, interesting for AI-driven workflows. |
| CADRS | Onshape-like: feature-based work on the OpenCASCADE kernel, with MCP and technical drawings. Still early. |
| OpenCADStudio | A 2D/3D hybrid: native DWG/DXF, a fast GPU viewport and headless batch conversion. |
| SolveSpace | Lightweight parametric: fast constraint solving and STEP export for simpler parts. |
| OpenSCAD | Script-based: code-first and reproducible, ideal for parametric series and generative design. |
Which of these I recommend depends on your product and your team, not on a ranking. I would rather work that out together with you.
What sits underneath
Behind the modelling sits real mathematics: constraint solvers, B-rep topology and NURBS geometry. That is exactly where tools can get in each other’s way, and in yours. If you want to know how that works and where the limits sit:
- NURBS & modeling kernels: the engines under CAD, with pros and cons
- Tests & Benchmarks: how I test tools in practice
Get in touch?
Are you stuck in your current CAD flow, or do you want to explore what open source could mean for your designs? Book a no-obligation introduction.