Are there any good free software tools for mechanical engineering design?
You don't always need an expensive license to start designing high-quality parts.
If you are looking for the best software tools for mechanical engineering design on a budget, you have options. Fusion 360 offers a free license for personal use and startups under a certain revenue threshold. It is a fully professional tool with cloud storage, CAM, and simulation capabilities built-in.
For a completely open-source option, FreeCAD is the leader. It is a parametric modeler similar to SolidWorks. While it has a steeper learning curve and a less polished interface, it is incredibly powerful and completely free forever. It's a great way to learn the fundamentals of parametric design without spending a penny.
Onshape also has a free tier for public projects, which is fantastic for open-source hardware collaboration as it runs entirely in the browser with no installation needed.