Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
Available ScienceDirect
online atonline
Available www.sciencedirect.com
at www.sciencedirect.com
Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000

ScienceDirect
Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
ScienceDirect
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

ProcediaProcedia
CIRP 00CIRP
(2017)
84000–000
(2019) 1116–1119
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

29th CIRP Design 2019 (CIRP Design 2019)

29th CIRP Design 2019 (CIRP Design 2019)
Open Design initiatives: an evaluation of CAD Open Source Software
Open Design initiatives: an evaluation
28th CIRP Design of2018,
Conference, May CAD Open
Nantes, Source Software
France
Hélio Castroa,b, *, Goran Putnikcc, Alrenice Castrodd, Rodrigo Dal Bosco Fontanaee
A new methodology
Hélio a,b,
to analyze
Castro *, Goran Putnik , the functional
Alrenice and physical
Castro , Rodrigo architecture
Dal Bosco Fontana
Polytechnic Institute of Cávado e Ave, School of Technology, Campus IPCA, 4750-810 Vila Frescainha S. Martinho – Barcelos, Portugal
a
of
existing a
products
School
Polytechnic b
Institute
b
for
of Engineering,
of Cávado
c
School of Engineering,
anSchool
Ave, assembly
ePolytechnic
University ofPolytechnic
of
of Porto,
Minho, School
Rua Dr.
Technology,
of Porto,
oriented
AntónioIPCA,
Campus
of Engineering, Campus
Rua Dr. António
product
Bernardino de Almeida,
4750-810 family
431, 4249-015
Vila Frescainha
de Azurém,de4800-058
Bernardino
identification
Porto,
S. Martinho
Almeida,Guimarães, Portugal
431, 4249-015
Portugal Portugal
– Barcelos,
Porto, Portugal
Universidade Federal
d c do Recôncavo
University daSchool
of Minho, Bahia,ofAvenida NestorCampus
Engineering, de MellodePita, Nº 535,
Azurém, 45.300-000,
4800-058 CentroPortugal
Guimarães, – Amargosa, Bahia, Brazil
d e
Universidade
Universidade Paul Stief *, Jean-Yves Dantan, Alain Etienne, Ali Siadat
Federal do Federal
Recôncavoda da
Fronteira
Bahia, Sul, UFFS,
Avenida Campus
Nestor Chapecó,
de Mello Pita, Rodovia SC 484, km2,
Nº 535, 45.300-000, Chapecó,
Centro SC, Brazil
– Amargosa, Bahia, Brazil
e
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, UFFS, Campus Chapecó, Rodovia SC 484, km2, Chapecó, SC, Brazil
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +351 253 802 260; E-mail address: hcastro@ipca.pt
École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, LCFC EA 4495, 4 Rue Augustin Fresnel, Metz 57078, France
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +351 253 802 260; E-mail address: hcastro@ipca.pt

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 3 87 37 54 30; E-mail address: paul.stief@ensam.eu

Abstract
Abstract
Many of the developments started by social initiatives (bottom-up), others are induced by policies (top-down) or even by both (social and
Abstract
Many of the
political). developments
Open Design is started
mainly by social initiatives
characterized as a (bottom-up), others arebyinduced
movement generated and forbythe policies (top-down)
community or even
but could by be
also both (social and
nourished by
political). Open Design
private/associative is mainly
initiatives with thecharacterized as a movement
community support, and couldgenerated by and
be encourage for the
by public community
entities but could
that perceives Openalso be nourished
Design by
as a flourish
Inmethod
today’sforbusiness
private/associative environment,
initiatives
innovation withthefor
and leading trend
the towards
acommunity
real more product
support,
democratization and variety
could
of the be and customization
encourage
manufacturing. by public is entities
unbroken.thatDue to this Open
perceives development,
Design asthea need of
flourish
agile andpaper,
method
In this reconfigurable
for innovation
three CAD production
and leading for
software systems
a real
based emerged to cope
ondemocratization
Open Design ofwith
the various products
manufacturing.
(rattleCAD, BRL CAD and and FreeCAD)
product families. To design
are evaluated, and optimize
according to the production
number of
systems
In as well
this paper,
downloads as to
three
made choose
inCAD the optimal
software
SourceFourge, based product
on Open
in order matches,
Design
to better product analysis
(rattleCAD,
understand the BRL methods
usageCAD areFreeCAD)
and
behavior needed.
of these Indeed, most of according
are evaluated,
CAD systems. the known
The main to methods aim to
the number
findings of
suggest
analyze a product
downloads
instability the or
inmade inone
short product
range andfamily
SourceFourge, inonorder
stability the physical
in the betterlevel.
to medium Different
understand
and product
the
long range, usagefamilies,
behavior
indicating however,
that of
thethesemayCADdiffer
communities largely
systems.
are in terms
The
active main
and offindings
the number
providing and
suggest
attractive
nature of components.
instability
solutions. in the short This
rangefact andimpedes
stabilityanin efficient
the mediumcomparison
and longand choice
range, of appropriate
indicating that the product familyare
communities combinations for the production
active and providing attractive
system. A new methodology is proposed to analyze existing products in view of their functional and physical architecture. The aim is to cluster
solutions.
these products
© 2019 in new assembly
The Authors. Publishedoriented product
by Elsevier B.V.families for the optimization of existing assembly lines and the creation of future reconfigurable
© 2019 The
assembly Authors.
systems. BasedPublished
on Datum by Elsevier
Flow B.V.the physical structure of the products is analyzed. Functional subassemblies are identified, and
Chain,
© 2019 The Authors.
Peer-review under Published by
responsibility of Elsevier
the B.V. committee of the CIRP Design Conference 2019
Peer-review
aPeer-review under responsibility
functional analysis is performed.of the scientific
ofMoreover,
scientific committee
a hybrid of the CIRP
functional Design Conference
and physical 2019.
under responsibility the scientific committee of the CIRP Design architecture
Conference 2019 graph (HyFPAG) is the output which depicts the
similarity
Keywords:between product
Open Design; families
Initiatives; by providing
Research Programmes;design support
Research to both,
Projects, production
Downloads system planners and product designers. An illustrative
Analysis.
example of aOpen
Keywords: nail-clipper is used toResearch
Design; Initiatives; explainProgrammes;
the proposed methodology.
Research Projects, An industrial
Downloads case study on two product families of steering columns of
Analysis.
thyssenkrupp Presta France is then carried out to give a first industrial evaluation of the proposed approach.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 28th CIRP Design
1. Introduction Open Conference
Design has2018. multiple dimensions and a very large
1. Introduction Open InDesign
domain. has multiple
this paper, dimensions
there is presented and a very
a dimension large
of Open
Keywords: Assembly; Design method; Family identification
Open approaches are one of the nowadays trendy concepts. domain. In this paper, there is presented a
Source CAD software usage, more precisely downloads – as dimension of Open
Open approaches
Addressing several are andone of the interests
specific nowadaysand trendy concepts.
sectors, the Source indicators
virtual CAD software usage,
of usage more precisely
(although downloads downloads
do not mean – as
Addressing several and specific interests
Open-X emerged [1] and delivered several variations: Open and sectors, the virtual indicators of usage (although downloads
that the software is used fully for design of end products), do not mean
Open-X
1.Design, emerged
Open Data,
Introduction [1] andOpendelivered
Source,severalOpen variations:
City, Open that
thethe
through
of software
analysis
product rangeisofused fully i.e.
andusage, for design
characteristics of enddistribution
downloads
manufactured products),
and/or
Design, Open Data, Open
Innovation, Open Government, Open Education, Source, Open City, Open through
behavior, in
assembled analysis
as this of
an system. usage,
initial analysis i.e. downloads
and antheindicator
In this context, distribution
for Open
main challenge in
Innovation,
Science.
Due to the OpenfastGovernment,
developmentOpen in Education,
the domainOpen of behavior, as an
Design evaluation.
modelling and initial isanalysis
analysis now not and an toindicator
only cope withfor single
Open
Science.
Open Designand
communication (OD)anaddresses
ongoingdevelopment of software and
trend of digitization and Design
products, evaluation.
In order to get product
a limited a perspective
range or onexisting
OD initiatives
product behavior,
families,
Open Design
hardware based
digitalization, (OD) addresses
on open source
manufacturing development
design methods,
enterprises of
are facing software
supported
importantand
by but In
thisalsoorder
paper toable
gettoaanalyze
to beanalyses perspective
and toon
three Computer OD initiatives
Aided
compare Designbehavior,
products to(CAD)
define
hardware
a community
challenges based on open
in that
today’sshares source design
information
market methods,
[2]. Withasupported
environments: OD by new
is also
continuing this product
paperwith
software analyses three
development
families. It can beComputer
based
observedonAided Design existing
ODclassical
that approach. (CAD)
This
aredefining
community
tendency twothat
towards shares information
dimensions:
reduction oftheproduct [2].
and With
processdevelopment OD
the rights.
timesis also
Byand software
the product iswith
analysisfamilies
based development
areon the number
regrouped based
in of on ODclients
downloads
function of approach.
oforthe This
three
features.
redefining
process, it
shortened two dimensions:
meanslifecycles.
product the
that the product process
In addition, and
developmentthe rights. By
there is an isincreasing the
made is analysis is
software made
However, based
assembly on the
in platform number
oriented called
product of downloads
SourceForge. of the three
This platform
families are hardly to find.
process,
demand ofit customization,
collaborative means that the
and shared way product
being andat by development
thethe
samerights, is
timeit in amade
means is
that
global software
is On the made
a web-based
product in repositorium
platform called
family level, SourceForge.
committed
products This platform
to mainly
differ support inopen
two
collaborative
the intellectual
competition andproperty
with shared way
models
competitors andare
all by more
over the
therights,
diverse
world. it This
means inthat
and, trend,an is a characteristics:
source
main web-based
projects, repositorium
both development
(i) the number committed to support
and (ii)open
and distribution,
of components and
the
the
which intellectual
“extreme” case, property
is inducing it could models
also are rights
ban the
the development more
fromanddiverse
become
macro and, in an
to public
micro source
oriented
type projects, both
to OD community
of components development
collaboration.
(e.g. mechanical, and distribution,
electrical, electronical). and
“extreme”
domain. results
markets, case, itincould also banlot
diminished thesizes
rightsdueandtobecome public
augmenting oriented to OD
Classical community considering
methodologies collaboration. mainly single products
domain.
product varieties (high-volume to low-volume production) [1]. or solitary, already existing product families analyze the
To cope with this augmenting variety as well as to be able to product structure on a physical level (components level) which
identify
2212-8271 possible
© 2019 The optimization
Authors. Publishedpotentials in the existing
by Elsevier B.V. causes difficulties regarding an efficient definition and
Peer-review©under
2212-8271
production 2019responsibility
The itAuthors.
system, of the scientific
Published
is important tobyhavecommittee
Elsevier B.V.of the
a precise CIRP Design Conference
knowledge comparison2019 of different product families. Addressing this
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the CIRP Design Conference 2019

2212-8271©©2017
2212-8271 2019The
The Authors.
Authors. Published
Published by Elsevier
by Elsevier B.V. B.V.
Peer-review
Peer-review under
under responsibility
responsibility of scientific
of the the scientific committee
committee of the of theCIRP
28th CIRP Design
Design Conference
Conference 2019.
2018.
10.1016/j.procir.2019.08.001
 Hélio Castro et al. / Procedia CIRP 84 (2019) 1116–1119
2 H. Castro et al. / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
2. Open Design Initiatives: 3 Open Source CAD software
examples
There are several OD initiatives worldwide, some available
standalone and others in community-based platforms, from
associative to private initiatives, covering several areas, such
as, hardware in general, farming equipment, materials,
prothesis, medical equipment and research equipment. The list
of initiatives is extensive and available in some projects, e. g.,
an interesting list is accessible in the research project “OPEN!
Methods and tools for community-based product
development” [3].
So, in order to establish a common denominator in the
presented OD initiatives, it was defined to analyze software
that supported the design process, Computer Aided Design
(CAD), available in SourceForge platform, and was found
three CAD software based in OD initiatives: rattleCAD [4],
BRL CAD [5] and FreeCAD [6].
2.1. rattleCAD
rattleCAD 4.0 is a free and open source software aiming to
design bicycle. The software support users to build a
personalized bicycle from the drawing to the mockup of the
bicycle final version.
2.2. BRL CAD
BRL-CAD is a CAD system for solid modelling distributed
in source code and available to everyone. This project started
in the U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL) and in
the end of 2004 became truly an open source project. Its
source code repository is considered the world oldest version-
controlled codebase still in active development [4].
2.3. FreeCAD
As the previous software, FreeCAD is parametric 3D
modeler for CAD and it is an open source software project,
available for free. Mainly used for product design and
mechanical engineering it is also oriented to Building
Information Modelling (BIM) for civil engineering and
architecture.
3. OD Initiatives: 3 Open Source CAD software
downloads in SourceForge platform
SourceForge has been an important player to promote OD
projects, mainly for software open source projects and the
presented software were, most probably, leveraged by being
in this repositorium. All these software besides its presence in
SourceForge are available to download in their own webpage
but due to the lack of information it is not possible to consider
the number of downloads in their own websites in this study.
It is also relevant to mention that FreeCAD since end of 2018
has moved from SourceForge.
1117
The data used in this paper refers to the number of
downloads made from the three software (rattleCAD, BRL
CAD, and FreeCAD) regarding only data in SourceForge and
considering the period between January 2003 and February
2019 (194 months). Just to mention that rattleCAD software
started to be available for download only in January 2010. All
the data was obtained through the repositorium statistics
information concerning each software available in
SourceForge.
4. Analysis and evaluation of the downloads made in
SourceForge platform concerning the 3 Open Source CAD
software based OD Initiatives
Based on the available data, the diagnosis of downloads of
referred open source software increases with time as expected,
passing trough different phases. In the majority of examples,
interestingly, the increment in the net monthly software
downloaded goes to a maximum value, almost immediately
after what the frequency of it diminishes sensitively.
This fact of peak is possible to be visualized in graphs
presented below. For example, rattleCAD peak happens
around the months 73 and 77 (see ‘Figure 1. a)’), in BRL
CAD around the months 15 and 22 (see ‘Figure 2. a)’), and in
FreeCAD around the months 141 and 148 (see ‘Figure 3. a)’).
Due to lack of information the reason for this behavior is not
possible to determine. It could be related to a circumstance or
a set of circumstances, e.g., a new version of the software
and/or notoriety gained in a given period of time.
Another aspect that is possible to check with the peak of
number of downloads is the impact that generates in the
accumulated number of downloads. In the 3 CAD open source
software in the same period of the peaks, in the graphs of the
accumulated downloads is evidenced a subsequence change in
the accumulated curve, what indicates state variation. This
could mean that after this situation the number of downloads
will not have the same characteristics than before.
After the peak is obtained the rate of downloads quickly
diminishes to a third or fourth of it, what indicates this as a
saturation point in each case.
In order to have a global analysis, it was considered the set
of downloads of all three software (the sum of the number of
downloads of rattleCAD, BRL CAD, and FreeCAD). It is
relevant to mention that due to weight of the number of
downloads, FreeCAD and BRL CAD have more influence in
the results than rattleCAD.
A similar behavior happens in the sum of number of
downloads of all three software as expected: having different
time evolutions (see ‘Figure 4. a)’), the peaks occur in
different times (thanks to BRL CAD around the months 15
and 22 and FreeCAD around the months 141 and 148), and
the most pronounced one (given by FreeCAD) will lead to the
dominant behavior (see ‘Figure 4. b)’).
1118 Hélio Castro et al. / Procedia CIRP 84 (2019) 1116–1119
Author name / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000 3

rattleCAD Acum
140000 FreeCAD Acum
120000 4500000

100000 4000000
3500000
80000
3000000
60000
2500000
40000
2000000
20000 1500000

0 1000000
13
17
21
25
29
33
37
41
45
49
53
57
61
65
69
73
77
81
85
89
93
97
1
5
9

101
105
109

500000
0

17
25
33
41
49
57
65
73
81
89
97
1
9

105
113
121
129
137
145
153
161
169
177
185
193
Fig. 1. a) Number of downloads of rattleCAD software, b) Accumulated
downloads of rattleCAD software.
Fig. 3. Number of downloads of FreeCAD software, b) Accumulated
downloads of FreeCAD software

Fig. 2. Number of downloads of BRL CAD software, b) Accumulated Fig. 4. a) Total number of downloads of the three software, b) Accumulated
downloads of BRL CAD software downloads of the total of the three software
 Hélio Castro et al. / Procedia CIRP 84 (2019) 1116–1119
4 H. Castro et al. / Procedia CIRP 00 (2019) 000–000
Based on the number of downloads of the increment data
(number of downloads per month), the momentary interest for
the CAD open source software are dynamic and non-linear,
high fluctuation of the number of downloads, eminent peaks
and change of states in these 3 CAD software.
But by considering the accumulated number of downloads
a peculiar feature comes from the linear data analysis, given
by the R-squared value of the trendline:
Table 1. R-squared values.
CAD Open Source Software R2 value
rattleCAD 0.97
BRL CAD 0.9727
FreeCAD 0.8607
Sum CAD Open Source Software 0.9328
Contrary to the randomness of the increment data, a
general tendency of stabilization of all accumulated data. In
general, the linear correlations are higher values than 0.85
indicating a tendency of stabilization linearly profiling along
the different phases of the life cycle of the software.
This could mean that although the monthly number of
CAD open source software downloads are unpredictable, the
accumulated number of downloads suggests that these
software have a stability in its proliferation and development.
5. Conclusions
New approaches to design are being developed oriented to
provide solutions in the nowadays turbulent and complex
environment, trying to answer actual needs such as
sustainability, competitiveness and innovation.
OD is being presented as an approach that comprehends a
set of intrinsic characteristics that delivers a potential to
transform the traditional vision of design and manufacturing.
One of the most important tools for nowadays design
process and development is the Computer Aided Design
(CAD) software. Due to the complexity of this type of
software, most of the mainstream CAD system are expensive
and the development are proprietary-based.
To better understand the phenomena of CAD software
based on Open Design three CAD open source software
(rattleCAD, BRL CAD and FreeCAD) are evaluated,
regarding the number of downloads of these software made in
SourceFourge platform repositorium.
Based on the monthly number of downloads (incremental
data), the CAD software based on OD have a random demand
denoted by the irregular number of downloads, leading to a
non-linear behavior from the user (people that download the
1119
software and, most probably, will use it). Along the software
life-cycle, all these software reaches a moment of high
number of downloads and then the number drops to a third or
fourth of it. In one software (BRL CAD) this peak is
manifested in an early phase and in the other two (rattleCAD
and FreeCAD) this performance occurred in a mature phase.
Unfortunately, due to lack of information is not possible to
know the reasons for this behavior in each case.
Considering a perspective of medium and long range,
according to the accumulated data, CAD software based on
OD are stable – with a linear behavior due to the R-squared
values > 0.85 – and that indicates an ability to have a
favorable cumulative performance, leading to a continuity and
sustainable of this type of software.
Since the OD initiatives are close related to the
involvement of the community that develops and uses, a
fundamental conclusion related to CAD software based on
OD is that the development community is delivering attractive
solutions to the users because, despite of the randomness of
the downloads, the community of users are constantly
downloading the software. To be an attractive software is
necessary to improve and update solutions, and keep a
competitive deliverable. This manifests that communities
from software based on OD are being pro-active in their work
and enticing the software users.
Acknowledgements
This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a
Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope:
UID/CEC/00319/2019.
References
[1] Avital M. The generative bedrock of open design. In B. van Abel, R.
Klaassen, L. Evers, & P. Troxler (Eds.), Open design now: why design
cannot remain exclusive . Amsterdam: BIS Publishers. 2011; 48-58.
[2] Thomson M, Koskinen T. Design for Growth & Prosperity - Report and
Recommendations of the European Design Leadership Board. DG
Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission. 2012.
[3] OPEN! Methods and tools for community-based product development.
Observatory of open source hardware. 2019. Retrieved 19th March 2019
from
https://opensourcedesign.cc/observatory/products#open_source_hardware
_directory.
[4] SourceForge. rattleCAD. 2019. Retrieved 20th March 2019
https://sourceforge.net/projects/rattlecad/
[5] SourceForge. BRL CAD. 2019. Retrieved 20th March 2019 from
https://sourceforge.net/projects/brlcad/
[6] SourceForge. Free CAD. 2019. Retrieved 20th March 2019 from
https://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/