Looking for Free Sheetmetal forming software

[connectTek]

G'day Guys
Has anyone got experience on any decent free software to make metal/ Aluminium enclosures?
I have a pan and brake and would like some software that helps with design.
Cheers.

[loki42]

I use fusion 360 for the cad section but they don't have cam for sheet metal.  If you want to know if the dies / punch you've got can form the part without interference you'll need something else. Should be fine for most pan stuff though. 

[phil from seattle]

F360.  The sheet metal module works great. create the object and then flatten it out. Lots of good tutorials out there. I believe you can get a DXF from that or use it as a sketch. I've usually just cut the sheet metal by hand, though.

[MR]

FreeCAD also has a useful sheet metal workbench.
However be careful with complex designs, FreeCAD does not perform well on complex objects (and always make backups).

[loki42]

Do any of them have cam?  I really like to know if I can make stuff with the tooling I've got or I'll need a different shape punch to not collide.

[MR]

FreeCAD has, to a certain degree. F360 too, but it doesn't do rapid moves as far as I know in the free version. However if you do something serious a subscription should be worth it.

FreeCAD is more difficult to learn, and more complicated in some areas. F360 is more efficient I would say (I'm mainly using FreeCAD though).

[loki42]

Oh I haven't found any press brake cam in fusion 360 before.  Handy if they've added it.  I'd like something the can work out the bend order and if it needs a goose neck punch etc.  Exporting in amada format a bonus.