JewelBeetle vs Kerf

JewelBeetle is Windows 3D jewelry design software for building and presenting models. Its component builders create gems, bezels, heads, prongs, gallery rails, and ring shanks, while parametric modeling, ring sizing, and stone-setting tools support design work. The Projects panel stores models and related STL files, images, and PDFs. The Bella render engine includes materials and finishes and can produce turntable animations as MP4 files. Metal Weights calculates object volume and reports common metal weights in pennyweight and grams, with an option to estimate price from current spot prices. JewelBeetle supports Windows 10 and Windows 11; Mac is not supported. A Rhino 7 or Rhino 8 license is required, and an internet connection is needed for installation downloads and license validation. Customers can request a two-week trial, with a watermark on Bella Render trial output. Listed support includes a user forum and email. The JewelBeetle 3D Jewelry Design Studio costs $4,995, paid once, sales tax excluded. Options bundling Rhino 8 cost $5,545 as a one-time purchase or $5,845, paid once.

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.