This page is also available in Dutch: 2D CAD.
2D drawing work stays the basis: workshop, welding, laser cutting, sheet metal. AI takes over the repetitive part there too, if you steer the tools well.
What I am asked for most
- Generating workshop drawings automatically from a 3D model or a script
- Setting up DXF/SVG/DWG batches for laser cutting, CNC and sheet metal
- Parametric profiles and cutting lists that update themselves
Tools I work with
OpenCADStudio
- What it is: open-source 2D/3D CAD in Rust with native DWG/DXF (R14-2018), GPU acceleration (wgpu) and STEP/STL export.
- What I do with it: an automation API, headless conversion and an MCP endpoint: AI steers the live editor or runs batch jobs across whole drawing sets.
- Licence: GPL-3.0
FreeCAD (TechDraw)
- Its 2D strength: the TechDraw workbench produces professional technical drawings (projections, sections, detail views, dimensions, tolerances, bills of materials) directly from 3D models.
- What I do with it: a full Python API, so AI generates scripts that build the model and fill the drawing automatically. Parametric: change the model and the drawing rebuilds with it.
- Export: SVG, PDF, DXF, DWG.
OpenSCAD (2D projection)
- Its 2D strength:
projection()takes 2D sections out of 3D models;dxf_linear_extrude()builds 3D from 2D DXF. Fully scriptable, so 2D drawings are code. - What I do with it: AI writes
.scadfiles that generate parametric 2D profiles (gears, sections, plates), exportable straight to DXF/SVG for laser cutting and CNC.
CADRS (drawings)
- Its 2D strength: a full Drawings module: standard, projection and section views, dimensions, annotations, callouts and bill-of-material tables. Exports to SVG, PDF and DXF.
- What I do with it: through the built-in MCP server, AI agents make complete drawings, place views, automate dimensions and generate bills of materials. Headless rendering for CI.
- Status: early development, actively extended.
Commercial 2D CAD
AutoCAD, BricsCAD and DraftSight come up when a client already works in them, and then I advise within them rather than against them. For new projects I weigh up scriptability and licence costs.
Get in touch?
Do you want to speed up the drawing work in your workshop or engineering department? Book a no-obligation introduction.