Best Parametric Modeling Software for Mac

FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters. FreeCAD allows you to sketch geometry constrained 2D shapes and use them as a base to build other objects. It contains many components to adjust dimensions or extract design details from 3D models to create high quality production ready drawings. FreeCAD is a multiplatfom (Windows, Mac and Linux), highly customizable and extensible software. It reads and writes to many open file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, DAE and many others, making it possible to seamlessly integrate it into your workflow. FreeCAD is designed to fit a wide range of uses including product design, mechanical engineering and architecture. Whether you are a hobbyist, a programmer, an experienced CAD user, a student or a teacher, you will feel right at home with FreeCAD.

Fusion 360 unifies design, engineering, electronics, and manufacturing into a single software platform. Get integrated CAD, CAM, CAE & PCB on a single development platform. Also includes EAGLE Premium, HSMWorks, Team Participant, and access to consumptive services, such as generative design, cloud simulation, and cloud rendering. Engineer products with a comprehensive set of modeling tools. Ensure form, fit, and function of your products with various analysis methods. Create and edit sketches with sketch constraints, dimensions, and a powerful suite of sketch tools. Edit or repair imported geometry from non-native file formats. Make design changes without worrying about time-based features. Create and edit complex parametric surfaces for repairing, patching or designing geometry. Create history-based features, including extrude, revolve, loft, sweep, etc., that update with design changes.

Modelur brings architects, urban designers, and planners all the essential tools needed to easily test multiple urban massing options in your favorite 3D modeling environment. Without having to manually recalculate areas and other parameters in Excel! Enter the area’s zoning regulations such as max. FAR, site coverage, green areas, max. building height and more, and create custom land-use types for greater flexibility and calculation precision. Use the urban massing generator to see how zoning rules perform in space and set maximum geometrical building values for the generator to get you started with a basic draft or simply import your dwg floor plans. Use the power of parametric modeling and automated data calculations to start designing and iterating your ideas. Say no more to manually transferring your model data to spreadsheets. Our Excel LiveSync functionality synchronizes all your model data to Excel spreadsheets in real-time.

For designers who are exploring new shapes using generative algorithms, Grasshopper® is a graphical algorithm editor tightly integrated with Rhino’s 3-D modeling tools. Unlike RhinoScript, Grasshopper requires no knowledge of programming or scripting, but still allows designers to build form generators from the simple to the awe-inspiring. Grasshopper is included in Rhino 7 for Mac and Windows. There are many resources available to learn more about Grasshopper. Since Grasshopper is included with some enhancements, try your existing GH definitions and plug-ins, they should all work. Grasshopper seems to be everywhere lately. You may even recognize the Grasshopper canvas in other applications. In Rhino 7, we have added some new components, but we have also facilitated the conversion of programs to plug-ins. Convert your Grasshopper definitions to Rhino commands. Quickly find objects that occupy the same space. Placeholder component for missing plug-ins.