OnShape, a Free 3D CAD Program

[TomG]

I mentioned this in the "What did you do today" thread, but that probably wasn't the best venue, so I figure that it's worth mentioning it again in its own thread.

I'm constantly asked what CAD program I use to design and detail the projects on my website and my response is that I use SolidWorks, but unfortunately it costs $4K a seat (I get it through work), so it's probably not realistic for most hobbyists. However I recently discovered  that the founder of SolidWorks, Jon Hirschtick recently left and started a new venture called OnShape. Apparently he became disillusioned with the parent company, Dassault Systemes when they refused to support his efforts to make SolidWorks cloud based.

A cloud based CAD system has many advantages over a CAD program running on a PC. It doesn't require a cutting edge computer to run it. In fact, it can be run on any basic PC, tablet or smart phone. Most of our CAD issues at work are the result of computers being inadequate for the task, with too little memory, an outdated graphics card or just too slow for the latest version of SolidWorks. Another Plus of a cloud based system is that it is easy for multiple users to share a design. Designs can be branched out and worked on in parallel by multiple users and then merged at a later time. This collaboration combined with lower cost (the $100/month rate is about the same that we pay for our annual service contract alone) and no need to deal with updates, file handling  or software issues makes cloud based CAD quite enticing.

Anyway, I started this thread to point out the fact that there is a free 3D CAD system available to anyone who want's sign up for it. It provides full access to the program with the only limitation being the number of files allowed. Free users are only allowed ten files before they either have to be downloaded or made public. In reality this isn't a problem for most of us because a "file" in OnShape is everything associated with one project. That means all the parts, assemblies. sub-assemblies, drawings and support documents.

Anyway I've been using it and it is quite powerful and intuitive. It is still fairly green, so it does lack some of the niceties of Solidworks, but if you guys are looking for a CAD system with more to offer than Sketch-up or DraftSight, you may want to check it out. It is full 3D, so you can get pretty crazy with animated assemblies, which can save a lot of design time over working in a 2D system.

OnShape

Tom