Designing is one of the most important steps in the manufacture of a newly developed product. A good design concept shall have huge impact on the sale of this product. If you are planning to design something new, then you should ask for the help of CAD software. This software is used by most if not all engineers nowadays.
Here are the best out there!
Autodesk Fusion 360.
Best For Overall 3D Modeling
Autodesk Fusion 360 is an all-in-one cloud-based CAD, CAE, PCB, and CAM platform for the 3D modeling and manufacturing of products. It allows you to explore creativity and design effortlessly while creating multiple design iterations.
You may test these designs in the early stages of the development process to determine performance and identify potential flaws. Consequently, you can model and edit existing features and fixtures using its integrated CAD and CAM software tool.
Fusion 360 can also convert 3D models into 2D drawings. This helps annotate, measure dimensions, and document with precision for manufacturing accuracy.
Features:
With Fusion 360’s generative design and simulation tools, you can reduce the design and engineering impact to ensure manufacturability. Accordingly, it’s possible to design and manufacture products that provide form, fit, function, and aesthetics.
I’ll now be highlighting some of the features Autodesk Fusion 360 offers:
- Accelerated 2D drawings
- Flexibility for effortless design and 3D modeling
- Integrated CAD+CAM software
- Full-featured PCB design software
- Single product data management software
- Real-time collaboration with other designers
- Ability to set up manufacturing and material constraints
Pricing:
From generative design to cloud rendering, Fusion 360 can do it all. Just select a suitable subscription plan to get started. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans, so you never have to think twice.
Here’s a quick breakdown of its payment plans:
- Monthly Plan at $60
- Yearly Plan at $495 ($42/month)
- Three-Year Plan at $1,335 ($38/month)
Autodesk AutoCAD.
Best For 2D And 3D Printing
Architects, mechanical engineers, and construction professionals trust AutoCAD for both 2D and 3D printing. It helps annotate, design, and draft 2D geometry and 3D models using mesh objects, surface, and solid modeling.
Additionally, it improves productivity owing to its specialized mechanical, architecture, electrical, and MEP toolsets. They help automate tasks like creating schedules, counting, comparing drawings, and adding blocks.
Features:
You can enjoy a connected design experience with all of AutoCAD’s features and tools on any device. Simply download the AutoCAD mobile app or use your computer to go to its web browser.
Here are a few other features Autodesk AutoCAD has to offer:
- Add-on apps and API for customization
- Sends feedback directly to a DWG file
- Automates counting blocks
- 3D navigation and rendering
- 2D drafting, annotation, and drawing
Pricing:
AutoCAD offers subscription plans for organizations of various sizes. You may also upgrade to an annual premium subscription at an additional $300. Additionally, you get a ten percent discount on a three-year standard or premium subscription.
Here is a breakdown of its payment plans:
- Standard Plan at $220 per month or $1,775 paid annually
- Premium Plan (for medium to large teams)
- Enterprise Plan (for extra-large teams)
- Education Plan (for eligible educators and students)
You can try out any of AutoCAD’s products by downloading its free trial plan of 30 days.
TinkerCAD.
Best For Beginner Engineers
TinkerCAD is a web app with an intuitive user interface that can help beginner designers and engineers develop the foundation skills for innovation. Be it electronics, 3D design, or coding; it helps build blocks of creative thinking and convert them into reality.
Just place a pre-existing or your own shape on the work plane to add or remove materials. You can adjust it by rotating or moving the work plane to try different angles and views. Additionally, TinkerCAD allows you to combine shapes to create custom and detailed 3D models.
Features:
TinkerCAD is fast and easy to use. Of course, that’s why educators widely use it to teach students without limitations.
I’ll now list a few features of TinkerCAD:
- Offers 3D printing services
- Easy tutorial videos
- Can add light and movement to design with electric circuits
- Supports drag and drop for code blocking
Pricing:
Another interesting aspect of TinkerCAD is that it’s absolutely free. This makes it a popular choice among the new generation of designers and engineers. All you need to do is sign in and join a class.
FreeCAD.
Best For Designing Real-Life Products
With FreeCAD, you can design real-life objects of every size. The open-source parametric 3D modeler also allows you to modify your design by returning to the model history. All you need to remember is to change the parameters.
The platform provides components to help you extract design details from 3D models and adjust dimensions. Additionally, you can sketch 2D shapes to use as a base for building other objects. As a result, you get to create high-quality production-ready drawings.
Features:
FreeCAD is a flexible and extensible multi-platform (Mac, Linux, and Windows) software. It can seamlessly integrate open file formats, such as DAE, STEP, DXF, SVG, etc., into your workflow by reading and writing.
The following are a few more features FreeCAD has to offer:
- Supports Boundary Representation (BRep) objects
- C++ coded core functionality
- Add-on workbenches
- 2D CAD drafting
- Architectural or BIM modeling
- Robot simulation model
Pricing:
FreeCAD is a free CAD software equipped with all of the tools for your engineering needs. Simply download it on your desired platform, be it Linux, Windows, or Max, and get started.
Solidworks.
Best For Professional Use
Solidworks is a computer-aided design program published by Dassault Systèmes. Professional 3D designers and engineers mostly use it for its wide range of mechanical design validations tools and reverse engineering.
The product design software is practical and uses the NURBS system to create more detailed curvature. It utilizes dimensional sketching to ensure more accurate resizing that is not much of a hassle.
Features:
Solidworks offers some of the best tools to help you conceptualize and transform innovative ideas into industry-level product designs. From 3D models to 2D sketches of complex parts, this CAD software comes with all that is needed to create fast and accurate designs.
Here is a list of features Solidworks offers:
- Stress analysis and data management tools
- Cloud-connected CAD
- Includes cost estimation tools
- Helps understand product performance early
- Can share real-time product development information with the marketing team
- Cross-team collaboration
Pricing:
Solidworks offers 3DExperience packages for students, hobbyists, and companies of all sizes. You just need to contact the sales or research sales team to get a quote.
The following is a list of plans Solidworks offers:
- Commercial: for companies of different sizes
- Academia: an all-inclusive resource for teaching 3D CAD and data management
- Research: an all-in-one solution for research projects
- Students: to help students kickstart their CAD carriers
- Entrepreneurs And Startups: offers training and co-marketing resources for free
Creo.
Best For Efficient Product Development
Creo is a leading CAD platform developed more than a decade ago by Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC). It’s a complete package equipped with the tools needed to accelerate product design.
The easy-to-learn and use program helps you make your way from the earliest stages of the design process to later manufacturing phases. As such, it allows you to better quality products more efficiently.
Features:
The combination of Creo’s tools, proven powerful functionality, and the latest technologies help improve product quality and reduce costs. These transformative components give you a competitive advantage and allow you to gain a significant market share.
I’ll now highlight the features of Creo:
- 3D parametric solid modeling
- Technical illustrations
- Generative design extension for high-quality, low-cost product
- Finite Element Analysis and simulation
- Schematic design and functionality
- Offers topology optimization technologies
Pricing:
Creo’s payment packages start at $2,480, but for more information, you’ll have to get in touch with the team. Each package ensures that you’ll have access to premium support and the latest features.
You may also get started with its 30-day trial plan and then upgrade to any one of the following plans:
- Design Essentials
- Design Advanced
- Design Advanced Plus
- Design Premium
- Design Premium Plus
Sketchup.
Best For 3D Drawing And Documentation
Sketchup offers more than a hundred professionally-developed extensions to help customize a 3D workspace. You get to visualize innovative ideas and experience the joy of sketching by hand with this super-smart 3D modeling software.
Moreover, it understands the importance of creating designs for showcasing to clients. As such, you can use it to create 3D models and document ideas in 2D. This helps improve team productivity, making your work a lot easier and faster.
Features:
Sketchup offers the best 3D modeling and printing solutions to professionals from all fields. Be it designers, mechanical engineers, architects, or builders; anyone can use it to transform their ideas into reality.
The following is a list of features Sketchup offers:
- Documents 3D designs in 2D
- Intuitive and engaging user interface
- Suitable for both professionals and beginners
- Team collaboration across departments
- Immersive VR experience for design simulation
Pricing:
Sketchup offers subscription plans for all kinds of use cases. All you have to do is choose one of the following based on your computer-aided design (CAD) requirements.
1. For Personal Use
- Free Plan with ten GB cloud storage
- Shop Plan at $119/year with unlimited access to pre-built 3D models
- Pro Plan at $299/year with XR headset viewing
2. For Professional Use
- Shop Plan at $119/year
- Pro Plan at $299/year
- Studio Plan at $699/year (Windows only)
3. Higher Education
- Sketchup Studio for students and educators at $55/year
- Tiered pricing is available for universities
4. Primary And Secondary
- Sketchup for schools (free with G Suite or Microsoft education account)
- Sketchup Pro (free with state grant).
Conclusion
When you start a business as a startup, the costs are usually quite low. In order to make projects work, it is often necessary to use the usage of free software solutions and/or old versions. However, once we launch our project and we start developing an ongoing basis and generally direct more and more time and resources on the development of this project, we can think about making a purchase of proper CAD software solutions.