Feb 04 2020 51 mins 40
In episode 25, we interviewed Kurt Kremitzki about the paramatric 3D modelling tool FreeCAD. After discussing his previous experiences with CAD software and how he got involved in the FreeCAD project, we asked him about the current development status of the project before digging deeper into a few of the workbenches offered by FreeCAD. We also compared FreeCAD to LibreCAD and QCAD for applications only requiring 2D drawing instead of parametric 3D models and we discussed about compatibility with commercial CAD systems and standard exchange file formats. We were pleased to learn about the development status of a stable topological naming engine paving the way for the integration of an official assembly workbench in future releases. We then discussed about the spread of FreeCAD in companies and universities as well as ways to contribute to the FreeCAD project. We finished the interview with out usual quick questions and with a mention of their recent presentions at FOSDEM 2020.
00:00:18 Introducing Kurt Kremitzki
00:02:16 How he got involved with FreeCAD
00:03:22 His previous CAD experience before working on FreeCAD
00:04:35 One minute elevator pitch for FreeCAD
00:05:50 Current general development status of FreeCAD
00:07:12 BIM with FreeCAD
00:09:24 What are workbenches in FreeCAD?
00:10:46 Core FreeCAD workbenches
00:11:40 Technical drawing with FreeCAD
00:13:44 FEM libraries integrated within FreeCAD
00:16:15 Multiphysics simulations
00:18:16 Model updates recalculations
00:19:04 Technical drawings and annotations
00:19:49 FreeCAD for 2D CAD drawing vs other FLOSS alternatives
00:21:08 Compatibility with commercial CAD systems and standard exchange file formats
00:23:41 Performance of STEP files conversion
00:24:54 FreeCAD's native file format
00:25:44 Version control with FreeCAD
00:27:01 File formats that are supported by FreeCAD
00:29:16 Integration of Python in FreeCAD
00:30:56 Assemblies with FreeCAD
00:33:29 Stable topological naming
00:35:10 Manual approach for static assemblies
00:36:30 When to expect a stable assembly workbench
00:37:20 How to test assemblies right now
00:38:33 FreeCAD's software license
00:39:16 Companies using FreeCAD
00:39:42 Universities using FreeCAD
00:40:16 FreeCAD's use in science and citations of FreeCAD
00:42:29 How many people are involved in the project
00:43:04 Main communication channels
00:43:54 How to contribute to FreeCAD
00:45:45 Kurt's vision of FLOSS and its importance for the openness of science
00:47:13 Most notable scientific discovery in recent years
00:47:47 Favourite text processing tool
00:48:11 A topic he changed his mind about in science
00:48:28 FreeCAD at FOSDEM 2020
00:49:33 How to contact Kurt
00:49:54 Outro
00:00:18 Introducing Kurt Kremitzki
00:02:16 How he got involved with FreeCAD
00:03:22 His previous CAD experience before working on FreeCAD
00:04:35 One minute elevator pitch for FreeCAD
00:05:50 Current general development status of FreeCAD
00:07:12 BIM with FreeCAD
00:09:24 What are workbenches in FreeCAD?
00:10:46 Core FreeCAD workbenches
00:11:40 Technical drawing with FreeCAD
00:13:44 FEM libraries integrated within FreeCAD
00:16:15 Multiphysics simulations
00:18:16 Model updates recalculations
00:19:04 Technical drawings and annotations
00:19:49 FreeCAD for 2D CAD drawing vs other FLOSS alternatives
00:21:08 Compatibility with commercial CAD systems and standard exchange file formats
00:23:41 Performance of STEP files conversion
00:24:54 FreeCAD's native file format
00:25:44 Version control with FreeCAD
00:27:01 File formats that are supported by FreeCAD
00:29:16 Integration of Python in FreeCAD
00:30:56 Assemblies with FreeCAD
00:33:29 Stable topological naming
00:35:10 Manual approach for static assemblies
00:36:30 When to expect a stable assembly workbench
00:37:20 How to test assemblies right now
00:38:33 FreeCAD's software license
00:39:16 Companies using FreeCAD
00:39:42 Universities using FreeCAD
00:40:16 FreeCAD's use in science and citations of FreeCAD
00:42:29 How many people are involved in the project
00:43:04 Main communication channels
00:43:54 How to contribute to FreeCAD
00:45:45 Kurt's vision of FLOSS and its importance for the openness of science
00:47:13 Most notable scientific discovery in recent years
00:47:47 Favourite text processing tool
00:48:11 A topic he changed his mind about in science
00:48:28 FreeCAD at FOSDEM 2020
00:49:33 How to contact Kurt
00:49:54 Outro
