What is the best 3D mechanical design software for ceramics in 2025?

CAD software and 3D printing are a potential revolution in vessel mold-making for ceramics (3D modelling is another topic). But there are two big problems: There is no way a potter, hobbyist or even small manufacturer can afford the typical software cost. While it is true most have free or low-cost trial or hobby versions, the strings attached are deal breakers. The second problem is the complexity of learning - that can be a bigger obstacle than cost.

Until the recent price increase Fusion 360 seemed to be exactly what was needed. A great way to on-board the CAD world, using the free version and its great learning resources and best-in-class user interface. It is new and modern, a YouTube star. It is fully parametric supporting constraints and a timeline. True, it can choke on more complex drawings on consumer computers, but we don’t need to do those. But, for commercial use, it costs $680/yr. But that is cheap compared to some others! Upon discovery of the capability, the cost might be doable for you.

Here are the ones you likely cannot afford (and maybe don't want):
-OnShape runs in your browser. It focuses on collaboration for teams. Free-version drawings are public but going private costs $1500/yr!
-Rhino is usable for CAD but is polygonal and targeted at modelling. It is not fully parametric and does not have a traditional timeline (however Rhino+Grasshopper is life-changing for geeks, both for CAD and modelling). $1000 to buy but upgrading is $500+.
-Solidworks is fully parametric with editable history. Its xDesign product (desktop for Windows only, or in browser like OnShape) is $49 (for hobby use) but for commercial use is $2600/yr in 2025.

Some upcoming possibilities:
-FreeCAD is becoming more viable. It is parametric, has constraints and exports and imports popular formats (but with lots of issues). Its model tree is equivalent to the Fusion 360 timeline, but more clunky and depends on careful setting of constraints. The learning curve right now puts it out of practical reach of most. With a capital injection, like Blender got, this could change.
-Shapr 3D costs $299/yr, also works on iPad (which Fusion 360 does not), and uses the Parasolid engine like OnShape and SolidWorks. But it seems to be targeted at being intuitive for conceptual modeling and quick prototyping for drawings that are finalized in other products (limited support for accurate feature placement, constraints, parametrics and boolean operations).

Related Pictures

Getting a consultant on Upwork

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Notice I have done the search: "3d printing fusion 360". Initially it showed many North Americans, who typically charge $30-50/hr. But notice I have refined the search and specified India and Bangladesh. This cuts the price by half or three quarters. Notice that the highlighted consultant, although advertising as hourly, also does 'fixed price' work. And on the other jobs, notice how happy the client was and that he worked many more than the required hours (reducing the hourly earnings). At the prices Asian engineers charge you can afford to pay them plenty of bonuses (part of the Upwork system) to keep good relations. Their skills are exceptional, they will make you look good!

CAD tools vs modelling tools

Fusion 360 T-Splines made this model possible

This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

I have been struggling to recreate a Medalta ball pitcher using the solid modelling tools in Fusion 360. The example on the left shows the issue (it was made by revolving a cross-section sketch and doing a cutout on the top). But I need a spherical body with an oval neck, the CAD design tools don't enable that.

The answer is 3D modelling. I veered away from Fusion 360 and searched and tried some 3D modelling apps. Nothing practical. Then I hired a freelancer who claimed to be able to do it in Fusion 360. He could not. My motivation to prove to him it is possible brought the solution: Revolving a fit point spline outline, in the form modelling workspace, to create a 3D T-Spline model. The points, lines and faces can be freely moved and the lines can be creased. This works really well, and it is going to open up for me the creation of very organic shapes. It took AutoDesk engineers years to get T-Splines working, but they are magic math now.

Videos

Links

Glossary	3D Modeling 3D surface modelling tools enable the creation of objects by starting with a basic shape having polygon surfaces and then subdividing, pushing and pulling the quadrilateral or triangle polygon meshes to form shapes.
Glossary	3D Design 3D Design software is used to create dimensionally accurate objects by sketching 2D geometry and transforming it using tools to rotate, extrude, sweep, etc. The software generates the polygon surface.
Glossary	3D-Printing Standard 3D printing technology (not printing with clay itself) is very useful to potters and ceramic industry in making objects that assist and enable production.
URLs	https://www.autodesk.ca/en/products/fusion-360 Fusion 360 Parametric 3D CAD software This is incredibly powerful software that available to anyone with a moderately powerful PC or Mac. Engineer, design, and create anything in 3D. Although a challenge to learn, the abilities that this provides can revolutionize any ceramic production effort.
URLs	https://www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-makers Solidworks for Makers
URLs	https://www.onshape.com OnShape parametric cloud-native CAD software
URLs	https://www.shapr3d.com Shapr 3D Parametric CAD modelling software The full power of Shapr3D is on Windows PCs and tablets, Macs, and iPads using the input methods like Apple Pencil, SpaceMouse, Wacom pen tablets, or keyboard and mouse. It runs on top of the ParaSolid engine that is the power behind SolidWorks.
URLs	https://www.freecadweb.org FreeCAD parametric CAD software An open-source parametric 3D modeller. FreeCAD is maturing more slowly than commercial products but is still very capable. It is useful for 3D printing things designed in other products (e.g. Nomad for iPad).
URLs	https://astocad.com AstoCAD parametric is built on top of FreeCAD The author of AstoCad told us this: "Built upon the robust, open-source foundation of FreeCAD, AstoCAD's core mission is to deliver a polished, intuitive user experience. We're specifically tackling the complexities that make FreeCAD challenging, starting with simplifying and streamlining the essential Sketcher and PartDesign workflows – like those shown on DigitalFire. While AstoCAD develops its own efficient interface, our focus on clarity and reducing user frustration naturally makes it more approachable and easier to learn. By supporting AstoCAD, you not only get an affordable (€4/month), constantly improving tool, but you also directly fund the development that makes powerful, accessible CAD a reality for everyone, evolving FreeCAD itself."

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