With the latest versions of these software packages costing up to $20,000 per license plus thousands more in ongoing maintenance fees per year, it can be a big investment to choose the right system for your team. Several others like Catia and Autodesk Inventor have a solid if more niche user base. The most widely used programs for high-volume consumer products are SolidWorks, Siemens NX, PTC Creo.

Mechanical Computer-Aided Design (MCAD) programs, or CAD software, are critical for any company designing and building physical products today. Once you’re more comfortable using this type of software, you can invest in a more professional-level product.Choosing the best CAD software for product design If you’re a student or a beginner, then there are options for free CAD software and free 3D model software available so that you can learn the ropes. By contrast, an engineer is probably more interested in 3D software in order to see designs more intricately when it comes to things like mechanics.įinally, your level of expertise is also a factor in choosing the right CAD software. For example, an architect is more likely to use 2D CAD software in order to create detailed floor plans. The software used by architects likely won’t be the same one used for someone who’s designing medical equipment, so taking your industry into consideration is an important first step.Īdditionally, you want to select the right type of CAD software. But before you invest in an expensive type of CAD software, take some time to assess your needs, and really get a better understanding of what type of software you’d benefit from the most.

For most use cases you can’t just take any of the popular design tools to do 3d modeling.

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