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Follow on Google News | 5 CAD Software Systems Every Engineer Should Know AboutComputer Aided Design (CAD) has been a mainstay of designers and engineers since the 1980s. Using CAD software to render 3D drawings of prototypes allows the designer to work more efficiently, improve communications and reduce production costs.
By: Sunray, Inc. In today’s market, a variety of CAD software is available to manufacturers and engineers with capabilities that range from simple 2D vector drawings to 3D solid surface models with multidimensional views. This article takes a look at five different CAD software products currently on the market, each with varying levels of capability and pricing. 1. Autodesk® Product Design Suite The Autodesk® Product Design Suite allows manufacturers and engineers to digitally design and simulate working prototypes in 3D. Some of the capabilities of this comprehensive design suite include: assembly design, integrated electrical and mechanical design, part modeling, injection and mold design tools and sheet metal design. The suite offers real time design visualization, photorealistic rendering and multiple data sharing and documentation organization tools. Manufacturers can download a 30-day free trial of Autodesk® Product Design Suite with no credit card required. The software is sold and licensed through resellers. The actual cost may vary by reseller. Average Cost: $5,000 - $10,00 Website: www.autodesk.com/ 2. Autodesk® AutoCAD Design Suite If you don’t need all the bells and whistles that come with the Product Design Suite, Autodesk® also offers a standalone CAD software suite. The 2014 Autodesk® AutoCAD software suite includes new social collaboration tools, live maps and reality-capture capabilities. The software offers full PDF support, Windows 8 support and file syncing. Manufacturers can also send AutoCAD models to a 3D printer to create a physical prototype. Engineers can test the full capabilities of Autodesk® AutoCAD with a free 30-day trial. However, the 2014 version of the software is currently only compatible with Windows. The software is sold and licensed through resellers. The actual cost may vary by reseller. Average Cost: $4,000 Website: www.autodesk.com/ 3. SolidWorks SolidWorks allows engineers to create fully detailed 3D parts and assemblies with complex surfaces and patterns. This software is offered by Dassault Systems and comes in a standard, professional and premium package. The standard package includes application specific tools for mold tool and die making, weldments, surfacing and sheet metal. The professional package adds on advanced photorealistic rendering, automated cost estimation and a more sophisticated parts library. The premium package includes ECAD/MCAD collaboration, reverse engineering and advanced piping and wire routing capabilities. Manufacturers and engineers can request a demonstration of any package prior to purchasing. A quote must be requested to receive pricing for each package. Average Cost: Unavailable Website: www.solidworks.com/ 4. DraftSight DraftSight is a professional- Average Cost: Free Website: www.3ds.com/ 5. Sketchup and Sketchup Pro 8 Sketchup offers two options for manufacturers and engineers on a budget: Free and Pro 8. While the free version of Sketchup is a far cry from some of the more elaborate CAD software on the market, it offers an easy and free way to produce accurate, scale 3D geometric models that may be exported into other programs like AutoCAD. The Pro version of Sketchup comes packaged with LayOut, a 2D documentation tool that combines 3D models with text and 2D drawings to create professional digital presentations. Manufacturers and engineers who are considering upgrading to Sketchup Pro 8 can download a free trial of the program that will give them 8 hours of unrestricted use. Sketchup Pro 8 is only compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, or Mac OS X 10.5+. Average Cost: Free or $500 Website: www.sketchup.com/ Of course, this list doesn’t even begin to make a dent in the numerous CAD rendering software systems available to today’s manufacturers and engineers. In addition to some of the general CAD software systems discussed above, there are also industry specific CAD solutions, such as the Electra E6 software system for electrical engineering. The price of CAD software depends largely on the number of licenses required and capabilities of the program. For those on a tight budget, there are several variations of free CAD software that may work for your needs. Larger corporations with more complex operations can easily find themselves spending upwards of several thousand dollars per license on a higher-end CAD software system, Trying to determine which CAD software is right for you? A quick Google search for “best CAD software” will turn up a variety of CAD software recommendations and top ten CAD lists. Yahoo Answers and discussion forums are also great places to start when looking for industry specific solutions. One thing to keep in mind when researching CAD programs is that not all programs export CAD files in the same format. Two of the most commonly supported formats are .dwg and .dxf files. If you have a particular supplier you would like to send a CAD file to, check to ensure that supplier is able to accept the file format exported by your software. For example, Sunray, Inc., a manufacturer of polyurethane products and drive wheels (http://www.sunray- Disclaimer: This article is meant to provide manufacturers and engineers with an overview of some of the more popular CAD software solutions on the market. The content of this article was researched and prepared by a third party based on a review of manufacturer descriptions and user reviews. Sunray, Inc. is not affiliated with any of the aforementioned companies, and makes no attestation or representation to the use or reliability of the software systems discussed in this article. Sunray, Inc. is a producer of top-quality, custom polyurethane products and urethane products. For more information, visit: www.sunray-inc.com End
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