Good 3D CAD software for Linux?

[Red Squirrel]

Is there anything as easy to use as AutoCAD for Linux that supports 3D?

I can't seem to find anything that comes remotely close. I don't need any of the nitty gritty advanced stuff AutoCAD has, I just need to be able to draw, extrude, extract, substract, rotate, resize etc... in 3D and also add dimensions to export wireframe or rendered images.

Very worse case scenario I'll settle for something 2D, but I really prefer 3D as when I want to build something I like to design it in 3D then make some blueprints for dimensions and what not so I can follow it while building.

In fact something like Google sketchup would be perfect. I can always run that or AutoCAD in a VM but prefer something native if there's anything out there.

 

[lxskllr]

You could try FreeCAD. I have no experience, but it appears to do 3D. In general, CAD is regarded as substandard on GNU/Linux, but you may find something you like for amateur use.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/

 

[MrColin]

I have no experience with that sort of thing but Blender is supposed to be a pretty good 3D tool. Not sure if what you need though.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've been wanting to learn blender actually, can do pretty crazy stuff with that. Not sure if it's well suited for CAD though, but it definitely looks like an app worth learning. Can do pixar quality stuff with that.

 

[kornphlake]

Back in the 90's many professional CAD programs ran on Unix workstations, but every commercial CAD program has shifted to windows in the last decade as far as I know.

SolidEdge offers a 2d CAD program with a full commercial license at no cost. If you choose to download the program, Seimens will probably call you once a year to ask how you like the software and they'll ask if you want to upgrade to 3d, but whenever they've called me they have been very polite and allow me to decline the offer without any pushy sales tactics. I don't know about linux support, but it's the only free CAD program I've found that is worth using.