BRL-CAD
brlcad.org
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- BRL-CAD is an open source cross-platform solid modeling system with interactive geometry editing, ray tracing, a benchmark suite, and geometry libraries for application developers.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Platforms
- The about page says BRL-CAD is maintained for BSD, Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, and Windows environments.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Free plan
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- Security
- The opened maker pages describe OSI-approved open source licensing but do not state a security certification or compliance standard.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Support
- The documentation says all users can access symposia, workshops, a user's group, and mailing lists; the full-service distribution includes technical assistance.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Founded
- 1979Read 28 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- 3D print export
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- Animation tools
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- Conversion
- The feature page describes converting BRL-CAD geometry to a finite element mesh with its g-sat exporter and Sandia National Laboratories' Cubit.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Current release notice
- The homepage labels release 7.24.0, Archer Alpha, and describes the Archer/MGED interface update as alpha software seeking community feedback.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Distribution
- The free distribution is available in binary and source code form, with source also available through a Subversion repository.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- File formats
- The documentation lists import converters for formats including DXF, IGES, NASTRAN, STL, and Unigraphics.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Intended use
- The about page describes use in military, academic, and industrial applications, including vehicles, mechanical parts, architecture, medical visualization, and radiation dose planning.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- License and cost
- BRL-CAD is distributed as free open source software under OSI-approved license terms.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Modeling
- It supports CSG and B-REP geometry, including primitives, NURBS, n-Manifold Geometry, and faceted meshes, combined with boolean union, intersection, and difference operations.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Parametric modeling
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- Platform access
- desktopRead 21 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- Procedural modeling
- BRL-CAD provides an interface for creating models algorithmically instead of manually.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Ray tracing
- Ray tracing supports geometric analysis and image rendering, including calculations such as weights and moments of inertia.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
- Render engine
- built-inRead 21 Sep 2026 · brlcad.org
- STEP support
- BRL-CAD's developer guide says the software can read and write STEP geometry files.Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
Plans and prices
Free BRL-CAD distribution Free Free open source software · binary and source code distributions Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
Full-service support distribution Priced on request Commercial support · documentation · installation media · technical assistance by phone, fax, postal mail, or email Read 11 Oct 2026 · brlcad.org
Where Specifiction places it
- 3D CAD Software#29 of 798.1
- 3D modeling software#58 of 1478.2
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