avoCADo - an open source 3D modelling software

Avocado is an open source software for 3D modelling, 3D rendering and visualisation. Target users for this software are engineers and artists. Improvements in the latest version include a revolve tool to build menu; you can now reference arcs by unique IDs or sketch new faces after a build operation or select material. It also includes lots of CSG debugging features and an updated graphics.


Avocado has its own wiki, which can be viewed at http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/avocado-cad/index.php?title=Main_Page. This wiki is basically a tutorial which explains how to use the software. Further, it explains the basic requirements to start the development for the software. Also, source code for the software is available here. The software has been built for cross-platform usage, hence it runs on Linux and Mac OS. For more information visit http://avocado-cad.sourceforge.net/

Open Cascade - The 3D graphics developer

Open Cascade, a software development platform for 3D CAD, CAM and CAE, is supported by Open Cascade S.A.S. It can be used by industries, research institutes, universities or individuals. The fundamental functionality of the Open Cascade technology is modelling data. Any object can be created in 2D or 3D geometry using this software. There are other features too, using which you can create chamfers, draft and offset shapes. An interesting feature of this software is visualisation, which lets you view an object in different modes.


Open Cascade also gives you the freedom to adapt, modify and enrich the code as per your requirements. The software comes with a complete support, for which the user has to pay a nominal fee. But the fee is charged for support, not licence. The software finds applications in various industrial domains, aeronautics and space, automotive, shipbuilding, etc. BMV and TATA Motors use this software in the automobile industry and CIRTES in the medical sector. The minimum system requirement for the software is 256MB, 500MB memory space and OpenGL graphics library. For more information visit http://opencascade.org/

BLENDER-THE ULTIMATE 3D GRAPHICS DESIGNING APPLICATION

Blender is a 3D graphics designing application. This software offers features like modelling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, shading, rendering, particles and simulations, non-linear editing, imaging and compositing, animation, Python scripting, 3D game creation, etc.

Blender has been used in production of animated movies like Elephant Dreams (2005), Big Buck Bunny(2007) and Yo Frankie!(2008). It runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. The minimum hardware requirement of this software is 300MHz CPU, 128MB RAM, 20MB free hard disk space and Open GL graphics card with 16GB RAM. For more information on the software visit http://www.blender.org/