In some ways, but for off axis parabolic mirrors with internal geometry Openscad seemed to work fine. Additionally, the parametric formats are fundamentally necessary when working in plastics which tend to shift around during additive manufacturing.
I like that OpenScad integrates into FreeCad, and can do more than lousy STL outputs. It is far from perfect, but can solve some problems with ease.
Most cloud based software strips one of long-term stability in the design folder (can no longer store a version snapshot of the project binary dependencies), and so poses a liability to any firm running large infrastructures.
For one-off stuff, one could argue it doesn't matter. But in someways, FreeCad beside the project files will be viewable/exportable forever.
Unfortunately, now the Solidworks offline workflow also requires the online license nag screen every 30 days. However, it is not part of Autodesks walled garden built on internet stability (a significant issue in a remote field deployment.)
OpenSCAD was a useful stepping stone for me, from programming to 3D. But I've been doing my own designs in FreeCAD for two and a half years or so.
I just think the typical groundswell of HN support for OpenSCAD is a bit misguided; it sort of relies on near-wilfully ignoring what GUI CAD -- even FreeCAD -- can do for one's designs.
Yes, it's good for simple geometry, and some more advanced mathematical geometry. But it boxes you in pretty quickly because you cannot easily compose geometry based on the outputs of previous operations.
The elephant in the room is the modular nature of FreeCAD. Unlike most cloud offerings, one can expand the capabilities with your own toolbox in a standard language like Python.
We actually recommended FreeCad as a core to a small medical device manufacturer looking for a custom solution to dynamically tweak their process. i.e. even a simple workbench plugin that takes a few variables to generate a simple manifold, and CAM to gcode in the same program... was a huge benefit for users now locked out of Autodesk and Solidworks walled ecosystems.
Right. I think if you’re not reliant on a few generalist operations where opencascade is weak —- it is not great at very marginal fillets/chamfers/thicknesses —- then FreeCAD is probably a good way to get programmatic, GUI access to OCC. It’s not the only way, of course, but it’s getting towards being stable.
I like that OpenScad integrates into FreeCad, and can do more than lousy STL outputs. It is far from perfect, but can solve some problems with ease.
Most cloud based software strips one of long-term stability in the design folder (can no longer store a version snapshot of the project binary dependencies), and so poses a liability to any firm running large infrastructures.
For one-off stuff, one could argue it doesn't matter. But in someways, FreeCad beside the project files will be viewable/exportable forever.
Unfortunately, now the Solidworks offline workflow also requires the online license nag screen every 30 days. However, it is not part of Autodesks walled garden built on internet stability (a significant issue in a remote field deployment.)
Good luck, =3