3D CAD Modelling

Software
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3D CAD Modelling software is now an essential tool used in many industries. Engineers and designers are making the most of these advanced resources for many applications, from simulation to manufacturing. 3D CAD modeling tools particularly have been advantageous in accelerating the speed with which engineers can generate prototyping, marketing, and manufacturing models.
Engineering students today need to gain a solid understanding of 3D CAD modelling for production and prototyping purposes. These software programs help product engineers to be more productive.

On that note, an extensive list of software that engineers would find useful is presented below.

AutoCAD by Autodesk

Autodesk presents some of the most popular 3D design, engineering software, and services available today, opine the seasoned AutoCAD assignment help experts online.

The AutoCAD software is a powerful 3D CAD tool that allows product engineers to design every small detail, collaborate across desktop, cloud, and mobile, and access the AutoCAD mobile app for working on the go.

Notable features

  • It presents an innovative 3D design for creating almost any design with 3D modelling and visualization tools.

  • Share and use data from PDF files, Bing Maps, and the AutoCAD Mobile app.

  • You can customize AutoCAD to enhance productivity and enforce CAD standards.

Designspark Mechanical

Design spark presents a community for engineers offering free software, online resources, and support for creating designs. DesignSpark Mechanical is a 3D CAD modeling software that lets product engineers design and create 3D models in innovative ways and easily prototypes and reverse engineers’ objects as well.

Notable Features

  • Save or import 3D models from different suppliers in the RSDOC format to use in your existing DesignSpark Mechanical design projects.

  • Smoothly integrates into your existing design workflow.

  • Prepare a Bill-of-Materials and get instant online quotes.

Creo Elements/Direct by PTC

Creo Elements/Direct is a 3D CAD modelling software for engineers who prefer to adopt a direct modelling approach. This tool enables you to create or repurpose existing designs quickly, even if you’re unfamiliar with how they were made. PTC provides three options for uses, i.e., Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager, Creo Elements/Direct Drafting, and Creo Elements/Direct Modeling.

Notable Features

  • Helps meet the specific demands of the consumers.

  • Make modifications to geometry quickly.

  • Shortens time-to-market

OpenSCAD

A 3D CAD software tool for creating solid 3D CAD models, OpenSCAD is free and available for Linux/UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS X users. OpenSCAD focuses on CAD for creating 3D models and gives product engineers control over the modelling process because the tool is similar to a 3D compiler that reads script files and renders 3D models from files rather than being an interactive modeller.

Notable Features

  • Provides two modelling techniques: extrusion of 2D outlines (CSG) and constructive solid geometry.

  • Offers engineers complete control over the modelling process and allows for easily modifying any step in the modelling process.

Solid Edge ST9

It’s simple to use, with a portfolio of reasonable software tools for product development. It supports product engineers in different process stages, like 3D design, simulation, and manufacturing. Solid Edge ST9 delivers excellent flexibility in a 3D CAD tool with the cloud capabilities of modern product engineers need.

Notable features

  • Easily collaborate using popular cloud-based file-sharing software and the ability to work offline.

  • Flexible and fast 3D modelling with leading assembly modelling tools that ward off the concerns of traditional CAD software

Geomagic

It’s a 3D software for creating digital models of physical objects for product design, inspection, reverse engineering, and analysis. This resource offers its 3D CAD software tool, Geomagic Design.

Geomagic Design allows users to quickly and accurately carry out the product development process with its easy-to-use interface.

Notable Features

  • The resource is affordable and offers top-end tools at a low cost.

  • It’s perfect for aerospace, automotive design and production, industrial equipment, and consumer product manufacturing.

IronCAD

IronCAD delivers productivity and design freedom with its software tools as it’s often considered a leading provider of innovative design collaboration solutions.

The product engineering software solution makes the design process simple and fast. That’s the result of its intuitive solution that empowers engineers to maximize their productivity and collaborate throughout the enterprise.

Notable Features

  • Reposition components with the patented visualization tool.

  • Intuitive software that mimics the interaction with the physical world.

  • Complete 3D design solutions that enable engineers to select from parametric, direct, or a combination of modalities in a single environment.

FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open-source software tool designed for mechanical engineering and product design. It’s a parametric 3D CAD modeller suitable for designing real-life objects of any size and comes with tools similar to Solidworks.

FreeCAD is multi-platform and open-source and reads and writes multiple open file-formats, including STEP, LBJ, IGES, IFC, SVG, STL, DAE, DXF, and others.

Notable Features

  • Highly customizable and scriptable.

  • Parametric modeling for easily altering designs by going back into the model history and changing parameters.

  • The resource is suitable for experienced CAD users who are acquainted with the tools and workflow similar to other commercial CAD modelling software.

Fusion 360 by Autodesk

Fusion 360 is an incredible CAD software tool developed by Autodesk. This cloud-based resource will allow you to hone your teamwork through better communication around your projects. This program comprises various advanced software tools; you can work on solid, mesh modelling and parametric modelling.

If you decide to work with this 3D software solution, check our tutorial on preparing a 3D file for 3D printing with Fusion 360.

Notable Features

  • The flexibility to work anywhere, any time.

  • Design, test, and fabricate in a single tool.

  • Collaborate effectively with anyone.

KeyCreator

It’s a geometry-based 3D modelling software tool, perfect for preparing your 3D design concepts. The tool offers direct CAD modelling and a flexible design strategy.

Notable Features

  • Reduce rebuilding mistake by crating geometry in real time.

  • Modify any geometry like you’re sculpting with clay.

  • Incorporate precision with sophisticated modelling tools.

Catia

It’s a professional tool mostly applied for aerospace projects; this program is useful for detailed and complex designs. With this resource, you can work on any product. If you’re an engineer, it’ll meet your expectations to prepare your 3D CAD models, and it’s perfect for mechanical engineering projects.

Notable features

  • Imagine, shape, and define the connected world.

  • Model any product in the context of its real-life behavior to let the design in the age of experience.

  • World-class simulation and 3D modelling capabilities to optimize the efficacy of every user.

Kompas-3D

A flexible and hassle-free 3D CAD modelling software, KOMPAS-3D makes it convenient for product engineers to create models as per the methods of their preferences and needs.

The optional approaches to modelling accommodated by KOMPAS-3D allow users to create easy-to-edit associative models quickly.

  • Top-down modelling by designing components to match specific designs.

  • Bottom-up modelling using finished components.

  • Modelling depending on layout drawings, like kinematic diagrams.

Inventor by Autodesk

It offers various modelling options and amazing simulation tools. There’s no doubt this CAD software solution will allow you to enhance your performance. DIS-TRAN, a company specializing in complex steel structure arrangements Like H-Frame Transmission Structures, uses this software solution to design their electrical engineering projects.

  • Faster open time for large files to quicken the design process.

  • Modelling flexibility with various modelling options.

  • Automation lets you set up your product configurator without writing complex code.

DesignCAD 3D Max

DesignCAD 3D Max is a versatile3D CAD modelling software that’s ideal, whether you’re a beginner or a professional. An award-winning software, DesignCAD 3D Max also is a 2D CAD solution that comes with the incredible power needed for creating superior-quality designs, simple renders, and animations.

Notable Features

  • New file interoperability.

  • Efficient management of symbols, blocks, and image files.

  • Use Boolean operations, including solid add or subtract and slice, to shape 3D parts.

TurboCAD Deluxe

It’s a powerful, complete 2D/3D CAD software tool with appropriate features for modifying, drawing, and annotating. Product engineers admire the lighting, materials, and photorealistic rendering of TurboCAD Deluxe. Also, the tool allows them to easily share their work with SketchUp and AutoCAD or print in 3D.

Notable Features

  • Complete 3D modelling and 2D drafting in one software tool.

  • Simple to learn and use.

  • Customisable UI, XREF support, time-saving wizards, and more.

Here’s a bonus option since you’ve made it this far.

SolveSpace

It’s a parametric 3D CAD program specifically suited for product engineers who need to model or print 3D parts, design mechanisms, and prepare CAM data, and use a plane and solid geometry. SolveSpace consists of features for sketching sections, analyzing models, building solid models, and much more.

Notable Features

  • Constraints and dimensions on distance, lengths in metric or inch units, and others
  • Sketch sections using lines, circles, line styles, 3Dconnexion six degrees of freedom controllers, and more

Wrapping it Up

3D CAD modelling tools are increasingly used for product development and design processes. As an engineer, you need to pick the right software depending on the product requirements. In such cases, exploring the options above will be beneficial for students.

Author Bio: Jacob Ryan is a software engineer working for a noted corporate firm in the United States. Jacob earned an MS degree in computer engineering from a reputed University. He holds an immense knowledge of 3D modelling.