3Design CAD vs Kerf

3Design CAD is desktop CAD/CAM software for professional jewelry design, available on macOS and Windows. Its parametric construction tree lets users revise designs after creating them. Jewelry-specific tools include custom stone building, advanced pavé, and microsetting; the software also has sculpting and animation tools, parametric modeling, a built-in render engine, and 3D print export. The maker describes Version 13 as adding over 400 fixes and 50 new features across stone setting, curves, interface, and performance. Version 13's rendering engine includes reflections, ambient occlusion, bloom effects, and refined materials. Installers are available for both operating systems, with separate downloads for the software, model libraries, and Swarovski stone libraries. Files can be shared between Mac and Windows, and the maker lists compatibility with 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse. A 30-day Version 13 trial includes access to experts for questions and guidance. Recommended specifications are 16 GB RAM and a dedicated graphics card for Windows, or Apple Silicon with 16 GB RAM for Mac. Pricing and license details are available from a sales representative.

Kerf is a free, open-source CAD workspace that runs on the user's own machine and supports work across 37 engineering domains. Users can describe design changes in plain language or use the Python kerf-sdk and JSON-RPC API. Mechanical design tools include constraint-based sketching, parametric feature history, validated B-rep geometry, drawings, and persistent face references. The workspace also includes FEM analysis, topology optimization, SPICE and RF analysis, CAM toolpaths, and G-code output. Listed outputs include STEP, STL, 3MF, IFC4, Gerber, PDF, DXF, BOM CSV, Touchstone, GDS-II, and firmware binaries. The site describes workflows for mechanical and electronics engineers, BIM architects, jewelry designers, and other engineering users. Kerf runs locally without accounts and keeps Git history for file revisions. Workshop content can be used offline once pinned. Installation options include source or Docker, with release archives listed for macOS arm64, macOS x64, and Linux x64; source installation requires Python 3.11 or later. The chat workflow can use a bring-your-own LLM; no bundled model or paid hosted plan is listed.