Blender CAD Sketcher is a plugin that aims to bring parametric modelling concepts into Blender.
Internally it uses the Solvespace 2D contrains library.
Combining sketches with modifiers (such as Solidify and Bevel) is possible to have a non-linear workflow.
Requirement notes
Multiplatform: ✅
Free / Open source: ✅
Active project: ⚠️
Blender CAD Sketcher is a recent plugin that gathered an impressive community around in very short time (4K people in Discord).
Still, there is no guarantees that the project is around in the future.
Low entry barrier: ⚠️
Using CAD Sketcher has about the same learning curve than normal Blender, but with the addition of having to understand the concept of Sketches and constrains.
Non-linear: ✅
CAD Sketcher workflow is being built around the concept of non-destructive operations, by restricting to sketches and modifiers. Even though it is not obligatory and can be still mixed with other workflows.
Fast prototyping: ⚠️
Using the principles of parametric modelling is slower and more tedious than normal Blender, but again it is not obligatory and can be mixed with other workflows.
Collaboration: 🔴
CAD Sketches does not provide (at least yet) any meaning to save the sketches (and modifiers?) into a textual save file. Though the developers are open to implementing the idea in the future. (Or we could contribute to it).
Assembly: ✅
Same than normal Blender.
Common tools: ⚠️
While everything available in normal Blender is still available, there are still some missing tools if restricted to non-destructive parametric modelling (extrusion + selective fillets, lofting).
Intro
Blender CAD Sketcher is a plugin that aims to bring parametric modelling concepts into Blender.
Internally it uses the Solvespace 2D contrains library.
Combining sketches with modifiers (such as Solidify and Bevel) is possible to have a non-linear workflow.
Requirement notes