by Oryx Foundry·Modeling
Images © Oryx Foundry. Used for product review; image policy.
Oryx CAD earns its place in the superhive library for keeping mechanical CAD work inside Blender, with parametric parts dimensioned in millimeters and no export or import loops.
Oryx CAD, from Oryx Foundry, brings precision CAD tooling into Blender for functional 3D printing. It generates parametric involute gears defined by tooth count, module, pressure angle, bore and keyway, with same-module gears that mesh on screen and once printed. It also builds real ISO screws and nuts from M2 to M16 across five head types with optional helical thread, plus printable helical and zigzag springs. Every part is parametric and editable after creation, dimensioned in millimeters.
For placement, Smart Snap locks onto vertices, edges and faces with sub-millimeter precision, and Face-to-face Snap mates two faces in one click. The origin can be sent to the center of mass or the bottom face. Shape Drilling performs a boolean cut with per-axis FDM tolerance across several targets, and Drill Screw Hole pairs an ISO screw with its target using real clearance, exact depth and an optional counterbore.
V1.2 adds a contextual panel that shows only the tools relevant to the current selection, snap-fit clips, and improved springs with a tension preview of the compressed state. Mesh diagnostics include one-click repair, and export covers STL, OBJ and 3MF locked to millimeters. It runs on Blender 4.2+ and 5.x.
Oryx Cad - Print-Ready Mechanical Design & 3D Printing Tool is best for designing functional, print-ready mechanical parts such as gears, ISO hardware, springs and snap-fit assemblies directly in Blender.
Oryx Cad - Print-Ready Mechanical Design & 3D Printing Tool is completely free to download and use.
Oryx CAD supports Blender 4.2 and later, including the 5.x series, and installs as a Blender addon. The V1.2 release is a free update for existing V1.1.x owners, so upgrading carries no extra cost if you already own an earlier build. If you run an older version of Blender, check the developer's page to confirm your release falls within the supported range before installing, since the addon targets 4.2 and up.
Oryx CAD exports finished parts to STL, OBJ or 3MF, with dimensions locked to millimeters. A selection-only quick export lets you send just the parts you choose. Export is blocked while a spring is still under tension, so a compressed-state preview does not ship unintentionally. Because parts stay parametric and dimensioned in millimeters, there are no export and import loops between Blender and a separate CAD tool during the workflow.
Oryx CAD assembles two printed parts without screws or glue using snap-fit clips. The tool creates a split mushroom rivet with automatic FDM tolerance, its matching socket, and one-click carving of the facing part so the two pieces mate. This capability arrived in V1.2 alongside the contextual panel and improved springs. The automatic FDM tolerance means the clip and socket are sized for the way FDM printers actually produce parts, straight from the panel.
Oryx CAD is listed as free in this catalog. The developer describes it as a one-time payment with no subscription, and V1.2 ships as a free update for anyone who already owns a V1.1.x version. For current licensing and purchase terms, check the developer's page, since pricing and distribution can change over time. What you get is a single plugin covering gears, hardware, springs, snapping, drilling, diagnostics and export.
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