13 Sites with Free BricsCAD Models

Creating 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models is a time-consuming process. What starts as a 2D draft or sketch must be converted to 3D using a slew of operations and tools, before the model is again refined using other procedures. Creating multiple 3D models from scratch is not only time-consuming but also impractical and inefficient. It is also bound to be frustrating, especially if the 3D models are only one component of your design responsibilities. 

Fortunately, you do not have to experience the negatives of creating 3D models from scratch. Instead, you can use free 3D CAD models. And Scan2CAD has compiled a list of 13 sites with free BricsCAD models, i.e., models that are compatible with BricsCAD straight away. So, let’s get into it. 

Top 13 Sites with Free BricsCAD Models

The availability of free BricsCAD models simply automates repetitive tasks such as drawing nuts, bolts, and standard parts, as well as adding or changing the position of holes in a 3D object.

BricsCAD Mechanical, BIM, and Shape packages come with an extensive library of parts. You can select a free 3D solid model from this library, which you can then import into your workspace on BricsCAD and edit as native components. 

But what if you want more than just what is available natively on BricsCAD? These 13 sites contain free BricsCAD models.

GrabCAD

We start our discussion off with GrabCAD. This site boasts the largest online ecosystem of manufacturers, software partners, professional engineers, and students, who, together, create the GrabCAD Community. The community has over 9.7 million members (engineers) with more than 4.9 million free CAD files that can be grouped according to category and software.

At its core, the site acts as an open and connected platform that offers software solutions allowing customers to work within the supply chain and IoT ecosystem, tap novel business models, and come up with effective and accurate additive manufacturing workflows. But that’s not why we have reviewed the site. Instead, the main reason is the access to the site’s community (clicking the link above takes you directly to this page).

Here, a search bar allows you to query the site’s database. Alternatively, you can also scroll down the entries across different categories. By default, GrabCAD Community displays models based on criteria such as popularity, recency, most commented, most downloaded, and so on. In addition, it shows the software each model’s creator used to create it or the software you could use to open the model seamlessly. As well, the site shows the file format(s) used to store each model.

Free3D

Free3D lets you access more than 17,000 models spread across different categories, including architecture, vehicles, characters, aircraft, furniture, electronics, animals, plants, and weapons. Notably, while the site’s name contains the word free, some models are available at a small fee.

Free3D lets you search for a particular model or browse through the various free BricsCAD models on display. Regardless of the approach you choose, the site has simplified the processes by including subcategories and tags that you can click on to narrow down on the category of models that appeal to you. For instance, there are several subgroups under the aircraft category, namely military aircraft, jet, fighter, drone, chopper, bomber, and more. And that’s not all. Free3D also categorizes the available models based on software. Finally, each entry shows the file format used to save the model.

Autodesk Online Gallery

As the name suggests, Autodesk Online Gallery is Autodesk’s official platform for engineers and designers to download or upload 3D and CAD models, CAD files, and pictures. In total, there are more than 70 categories.

To download a free BricsCAD model, scroll down the various categories and select your desired type. For instance, if you are looking for a machine design model, you could click on this entry, an action that would let you access hundreds of results. Or, you could use the search function on the site’s home page. 

The site also allows you to view all projects, sorted automatically according to popularity. However, you could select your own sorting criteria by clicking the funnel button on the top-right side of the screen.

CADnav

CADnav is an online library for CAD/CAM/CAE engineers and graphic designers that is home to over 50,000 free 3D and CAD models. By accessing the site, you can download high-quality 3D CAD solid objects, CAD drawings, textures, mesh 3D models, Vray materials, and more.

The website categorizes each of these elements according to categories, e.g., aircraft, architecture, furniture, structure, vehicle transport, and more. Additionally, you can sort the 3D models by file format or software.

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse contains 3D models and CAD products. These components are displayed according to the uploader, some of whom are members of the site’s community while others are manufacturers/brands. For instance, from the curated category, you can download construction live components such as girders, windows, doors, furniture, and more. 

In addition, you can access models of the Sydney Opera House, London’s The Gherkin, Cathedral of Brasilia, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and more. However, you have to create an account to download the free BricsCAD models, products, or collections.

CADdetails

CADdetails lets you access thousands of 3D models, CAD drawings, product photographs, BIM objects, and more for free. Specifically, this site targets niche – manufacturer-approved components as well as manufacturer-specific building product information. Additionally, the site ensures that the products available therein meet current specifications, are accurate, and work in multiple formats. 

In total, there are over 9,750 BIM models, more than 500,000 CAD drawings available in various formats, and thousands of architectural products from some of North America’s best product manufacturers. Some of the models you can access via CADdetails include retaining walls, furniture, railings, windows, doors, and so on.

Syncronia

Syncronia offers access to 3D CAD models, 3D textures, catalogs, BIM objects, and other components you need for your decorative and architectural projects. Some of the products available for download include ceramic flooring, ceramic tiles, marble, bathroom fittings, furniture (chairs, sofas, tables, stools), walling, and more.

The site allows you to filter out unwanted 3D models and BIM objects by file type, manufacturer, or product category. However, the website is not intuitive enough, meaning navigation may be a problem for someone who is not conversant with some of the architectural products available via Syncronia.

TraceParts

TraceParts regards itself as one of the leading CAD-content platforms in the world. It offers free products for engineering, industrial equipment, and machine design. What’s more, TraceParts is a library that offers access to more than 1,300 manufacturer-certified product catalogs as well as billions of 2D drawings and 3D CAD models. 

The site’s homepage features a search bar with which you can search for specific products. Alternatively, you can choose one of the many categories listed further down the page. Clicking one of these categories, e.g., mechanical components, pneumatics, manufacturing engineering, electrical, heat transmission, and more, redirects you to another page that allows you to view images of the models. You can filter out unwanted products using the site’s sort by feature.

3D CAD Browser

3D CAD Browser is a library of polygonal mesh models and 3D CAD solid objects. It supports a bevy of file formats, including .max, .obj, .dxf, .dwg, .fbx, .blend, .stl, .dae, .step, .iges, .sldasm, .sldprt, .iam, .opt, .asm, and .prt. This means that downloaded 3D models and objects can be imported into a number of software programs, including BricsCAD, Maya, Lightwave, CATIA, Solidworks, ACIS, Cinema 4D, among other 3D modeling software and CAD/CAM/CAE packages.

The site allows you to choose between downloading 3D CAD models or polygonal 3D meshes. In addition, 3D CAD Browser allows you to use the search function or filter out certain unwanted models using criteria such as Free only, CAD only, Polygon only, or All 3D models. You can also sort the components by name.

Thingiverse

Thingiverse boasts a collection of more than 2.1 million 3D models, a number that is growing every day. The site is essentially a design community that allows designers, engineers, and architects to discover, create, and share 3D models, primarily for printing. Nonetheless, the designs and objects can be downloaded and edited using CAD/CAE/CAM software as well as 3D modeling software. This makes the site an ideal source for 3D models that can be imported into BricsCAD.

The site contains a search tool. As well, you can filter the displayed entries using several available criteria. 

AEC Data

AEC Data is more of a specialist site that provides access to a variety of household models. By using the site, you can mostly access 3D models of bathtubs and trees. Faucets, showers and showerheads, office furniture, couches, beds, countertops, kitchen equipment, and household accessories. 

In all, the site offers over 35,000 models saved using different formats. This means that there are more than 110,000 downloadable files on the site stored using formats such as .dwg, .max, .3ds, .obj, .skp, .rfa, .ifc, .gsm, and more. AEC Data allows you to filter the free BricsCAD models based on format or recency. Additionally, you can sort the results based on the manufacturer.

Free 3D Base

Like the AEC Data site before it, Free 3D Base is also a specialist site that lets you access 3D models of indoor and outdoor components. As such, you can find models of chairs, kitchen accessories and equipment, showerheads, faucets, and other bathroom accessories, office furniture, outdoor vegetation such as grass and trees, indoor lighting accessories, and more.

The site groups each model according to type to allow customers to get to the products as easily as possible. However, you can also use the site’s search function. Furthermore, you can sort the displayed products based on the date added or the model name. 

Notably, if you wish to download less than 15 models within 24 hours, the site does not require you to create an account or log in to your account. But if you wish to download between 15 and 30 3D models, you have to log in to your Free 3D Base account. The site limits you to only 30 models every 24 hours.

Polantis BIMObject

Polantis is a catalog of CAD and BIM components compatible with 100% of existing architectural software, including BricsCAD BIM. The extensive library is aimed at aiding architects in integrating design products into their projects. 

The site offers access to free CAD and BIM objects such as building materials, construction elements, and fittings, doors and windows, electrical components, electronics, engineering models such as road accessories, bridges, and tunnels, flooring and walls, fire products, furniture, HVAC systems, kitchen fittings and appliances, landscaping, lighting, plants, and more.

Parting Shot

These 13 sites offer access to free BricsCAD models. They greatly save time by ensuring that you concentrate on the more essential aspects of your design pipeline instead of designing common models and design components from scratch. Since BricsCAD supports different file formats, you can download 3D models and CAD products initially meant for software programs such as CATIA and Solidworks. You can then edit these components and save the drawing as a .dwg file.