Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application • Hacker News Board

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#31

Post by bauta-steen » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 1:08 AM UTC

Evidlo wrote: post #6

Some other open source 3D CAD tools: Code-based - CadQuery - https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery/ - build123d - https://github.com/gumyr/build123d - OpenSCAD - https://openscad.cloud/openscad/ GUI (browser-based) - Cadmium (abandoned, cool idea) - https://mattferraro.dev/posts/cadmium

Truck (Rust CAD Kernel) - https://github.com/ricosjp/truck

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#32

Post by tosti » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 1:31 AM UTC

reconnecting wrote: post #16

Without context, it sounds like an FPS adaptation of a Dune game.

Yep, or a 3D adaptation of an RTS game.

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#33

Post by fallat » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 1:53 AM UTC

So this is a smudge of like 4 projects? Huh. Definitely interested, but I wonder about the longevity of the system. That's one thing about the code cad systems I like: it's pretty easy to port code from one to another.

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#34

Post by bdcravens » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 2:22 AM UTC

alanbernstein wrote: post #27

fortran77 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been "vibe coding" with OpenSCAD with good results! OpenSCAD will automatically detect changes in the current open file and reload it, so I can use VS Code (with the OpenSCAD extension) to vibe code with Claude, and watch the changes appear on the OpenSCAD screen

Got any example results/chat sessions? I've had little luck with LLMs for 3d modeling

I've had better luck telling it to use CadQuery. Here's an example where I stumbled around a bit, but was successful in creating a cat food container (Sheba Perfect Portions) dispenser

https://claude.ai/share/ebce7c8e-4e5a-42ec-8ee9-cf066f68858f

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#35

Post by raziel2701 » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 2:24 AM UTC

Would love to see a quick video demo showcasing the features, look and feel of the software. The same team made horizon eda, and I wasn't able to find videos on youtube about it that were newer than 2022, so I never gave it a shot either.

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#36

Post by bmurphy1976 » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 3:29 AM UTC

mft_ wrote: post #8

mountainriver wrote: post #3

FreeCAD is the worst. Thanks for building this!

(I seem to be cast in the role of FreeCAD advocate on HN these days, but here goes!) For years I agreed with you - I tried FreeCAD multiple times, different versions, always sucked. Then I watched this video [0] and discovered that v1.1 is different - and that it's good enough for solid reliable hobby usage. It's still a touch frustrating in a few areas (text, for example) but I've now switched over to it completely.…

I've forced myself to git gud with FreeCAD. It's better. Way better than it used to be. It's also still a very complex and user unfriendly application with a long road ahead of it.

You can make it work. You can also save yourself a lot of headache by using other CAD tools. Personally I value "Freedom" so I will continue to use it despite the difficulties but that may not be the right path for others.

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#37

Post by gaske-p » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 4:01 AM UTC

raziel2701 wrote: post #35

Would love to see a quick video demo showcasing the features, look and feel of the software. The same team made horizon eda, and I wasn't able to find videos on youtube about it that were newer than 2022, so I never gave it a shot either.

Just watched this the other day: https://youtu.be/T1VNpC0nwF4?si=T9XDd2_2sY0BaBFZ

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#38

Post by Brian_K_White » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 4:38 AM UTC

idiotsecant wrote: post #2

Its not often you see 'fillets and chamfers' are tip-line features in the readme for CAD packages. But good on you for building something.

fillets and chamfers are at the same time both ridiculously difficult and ridiculously important.

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#39

Post by Pay08 » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 5:09 AM UTC

gmueckl wrote: post #11

Evidlo wrote: post #6

Some other open source 3D CAD tools: Code-based - CadQuery - https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery/ - build123d - https://github.com/gumyr/build123d - OpenSCAD - https://openscad.cloud/openscad/ GUI (browser-based) - Cadmium (abandoned, cool idea) - https://mattferraro.dev/posts/cadmium

FreeCAD: https://freecad.org

I would not suggest anyone use FreeCAD. The UX is the worst I've seen for any software. Finding any functionality is next to impossible.

Re: Dune3d: A parametric 3D CAD application

#40

Post by gmueckl » Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 5:25 AM UTC

Pay08 wrote: post #39

gmueckl wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FreeCAD: https://freecad.org

I would not suggest anyone use FreeCAD. The UX is the worst I've seen for any software. Finding any functionality is next to impossible.

The UI has an awkward learning curve and some tools are weird, but it has become a rather solid CAD. Don't discount it in its current state, despite its warts.