![]() Entry-level software is perfect for professionals working with basic geometry."įree CAD tools are becoming increasingly common however, if this trend is affecting the low-cost CAD market, the developers who spoke with Cadalyst haven't see it yet. "We get calls from people who want to design a swimming pool, a wedding ring, furniture. "I believe there are plenty of professional situations where $500 software will solve your problems," he said. He is president and cofounder of Novedge, the largest online reseller of CAD, 3D, and graphics software - more than 6,000 products, to be specific. As a result, we will see CAD solutions which are specific to many different realms of manufacturing, architecture, motion simulation, and engineering."įranco Folini has a unique perspective on the range of CAD software available today, from the most affordable to the most complex and expensive options. As low-cost CAD becomes more ubiquitous, companies will specialize and innovate in different fields. ![]() distributor, said, "The market has started to accept more low-cost CAD solutions recently. ![]() At least 50 products are available worldwide that range in price from free to approximately $2,000 - easily rivaling the number of CAD-specific products that exist in the higher price range.īob Mayer, COO at IMSI/Design, developer of the popular line of TurboCAD software, said the retail market for low-cost CAD hasn't changed fundamentally in recent years. The question is, Can these products go the distance in a professional environment? Can they support workflows that involve clients and partners that use AutoCAD? Are they sophisticated enough to be easy to learn and use productively? We at Cadalyst Labs decided to find out by evaluating five options in the $500 price range.īefore we get to the product evaluation, let's take a higher-level look at the low-cost CAD market. Many, in fact, offer features and functionality that seem to rival that of Autodesk's AutoCAD for thousands of dollars less. Whether your CAD budget is $7,500, zero, or anywhere in between, you won't pull your hair out finding viable professional options.ĬAD options in the lower end of the price range are particularly interesting. Fortunately for all of us, today's hairstyles and CAD prices are more down to earth. The end of the '80s brought an end to big hair, shoulder pads - and $20,000 mainframe CAD software. Low-Cost CAD: Can a $500 Product Go the Distance? 7 Aug, 2012 By: Nancy Spurling Johnson, Robert Green Cadalyst Labs Report: We put five budget-friendly tools through their paces to see which could be winning options for professional use.
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