3D Modeling

FreeCAD is a free and open-source 3D parametric modeler that allows users to create complex 3D models using a variety of tools and techniques. It is designed to be highly customizable and extensible, with a large community of users and developers contributing to its development.

✦ Best for experienced designers and engineers on a budget

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation software that supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing, and game creation. It is a powerful tool for creating 3D models, animations, and videos.

✦ Best for experienced 3d artists and animators

Easy3D is an open‑source library that provides a simple, efficient API for handling point clouds, meshes, and other 3D data structures. It supports both C++ and Python, making it easy to integrate into research prototypes or production pipelines. The library focuses on performance and ease of use, offering built‑in visualisation tools, file I/O for common formats, and utilities for geometry processing, all while keeping the dependency footprint minimal.

✦ Best for researchers needing fast c++/python 3d processing without heavy dependencies