Dune 3D — The Complete Guide: A New Parametric Modeller Built on Constrained Sketching
Dune 3D is a parametric CAD tool written from scratch, with a strong constraint solver and the OpenCASCADE geometry kernel. Its approach is close to SolveSpace but with a full feature tree, and it suits medium-sized mechanical parts particularly well — brackets, joined bodies and mechanisms.
Dune 3D
Dune 3D Project
A new parametric 3D modeller built around constrained sketching.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Constrained sketching — in 2D and in 3D.
- A feature tree — change a dimension and the whole model updates.
- Chamfers and fillets — built on the OpenCASCADE kernel.
- STEP and STL — STEP import, and STEP and STL export for printing and manufacture.
- Linux and Windows — open source, no registration and no licence key.
Who it suits
Anyone who likes fast constraint-driven work and wants a modern, clean tool. What is missing: the project is under active development and not yet complete, it lacks the breadth of FreeCAD, and there is no support for large assemblies. Worth watching; for daily work, FreeCAD is still the choice.
Related tools
For a full project with drawings, assemblies and FEM — FreeCAD. For quick small parts — SolveSpace. For modelling in code — CadQuery.
FreeCAD
FreeCAD Project
Open-source parametric 3D modeller with workbenches for solid modelling, FEM, drafting and BIM.
Get it from the vendorSolveSpace
SolveSpace Project
Lightweight parametric modeller with a strong constraint solver, for mechanical parts and mechanisms.
Get it from the vendor
CadQuery
CadQuery Project
Parametric CAD scripted in Python, on a proper solid-modelling kernel.
Get it from the vendor
OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD
Code-based 3D modelling where every dimension is a real parameter. Popular in 3D printing.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
Dune 3D is one of the most interesting projects in open CAD. For single parts it is already useful; for large projects it is still early.