OnShape: Six Reasons to Use this 3D Drawing Tool

Our digital media tutor Simran Bhalla has put together a great article on why people interested in 3D design should look to an online tool called OnShape to design and customize 3D drawings. The software is free for educators and students, which makes it a great option for coursework and projects. And the OnShape Learning Center offers free professional-grade training in using the software application itself as well as principles of CAD.

What Is It?

OnShape is a new way to create 3D drawings on the internet. OnShape is an exceptional way to CAD because it allows users to access their files from anywhere they want. With OnShape I can access and create designs from my phone, Chromebook, laptop, or library desktop. It is very easy and straightforward to use; there are no tricks or confusions when it comes to OnShape. These are some more reasons why OnShape is beneficial for CAD.

6 Reasons To Use OnShape

1. No need for super computers: Traditional desktop-installed CAD systems are very computer-intensive and often require the latest souped-up computers to run quickly and smoothly. Because OnShape runs in your web browser, with computations done in the cloud versus on a local machine, you can even design products from an inexpensive Chromebook.
2. Freedom to work anywhere: OnShape accounts are tied to individuals rather than specific computers. CAD users can work anytime on any computer or mobile device, Android or iOS. No more fighting for a shared computer with a CAD license.
3. Real-time collaboration: For the first time, multiple people can simultaneously work on the same CAD model. Designers and engineers can instantly see other contributor’s changes in real time. No more wasted time with delays (or the security risk) of sharing files by email or Dropbox.
4. Built-in Version Control: With OnShape, CAD users always work on the latest version of a design. There are no copies. No more confusion and potential risk of team members overwriting each other’s work. Every minute is precious. Why spend it reworking avoidable mistakes?
5. More time designing, less time managing: OnShape eliminates the traditional CAD hassles of installation, registration, licenses, copying files and other IT headaches. Instead of worrying about how to access their CAD system, your engineers and designers can actually be doing what they are paid to do.
6. Quicker time to market — Just like with filming a movie, the perfect product is rarely achieved in one take. A product launch usually comes after multiple design iterations and prototypes. OnShape’s Branching feature is invaluable when experimenting with design changes. Multiple variations, or branches, of a design can be quickly made without impacting the original model.

So if you need to create a 3D product or design for a course, or even just for yourself, definitely consider adopting OnShape as your default CAD software!