The Most Used CAD Software in the Manufacturing Industry: Top 10 list

Published on November 8th, 2024

Computer-aided design (CAD) software is used to create 2D and 3D virtual design of a product, machine or building. It is an interactive interface that lets you change things while building your projects, in a cost-effective manner.

Apart from the cost, CAD software has other applications that make it an absolute necessity. This is especially true for businesses in manufacturing industry. From drafting 2D blueprints to creating sophisticated 3D models of all kinds of structures and objects, some of the key features of a CAD platform include:

• Streamlining workflow and automation.
• Better quality and detailing of products.
• 3D printing.
• Cloud-based collaboration in real-time.
• Design simulation and analysis.
• Precise drawings and measurements.

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As you can see, CAD software offers much more flexibility and space to design your ideas as compared to scribbling them down using a pen and paper. With a vast library of such features, some of the best CAD softwares in the manufacturing industry in 2024 are:

10 Most Used CAD Software in the Manufacturing Industry

Here are 10 of the widely used CAD software that professionals from the manufacturing industry use:

AutoCAD 

AutoCAD is the leading CAD platform that you can get your hands on at present. Built by Autodesk, it is the primary choice of most professionals for drawing highly precise 2D and 3D designs. What makes AutoCAD a true champion in the field of computer-aided designs is a long list of advanced features, including industry-specific tool sets for manufacturing, among other things.

Compatible with both the web and mobile platforms, it comes with integrated workflows and cloud storage & connectivity to let you manage your project from anywhere remotely. Being cloud-based also allows it to provide you with a seamless collaboration of the project with multiple users.

Key Features:

• 2D drafting and 3D modeling
• Extensive library of tools for design
• Collaboration features through AutoCAD Web
• Customizable interface
• Support for a wide range of file formats

Solid Works

It is the first ever 3D CAD application targeted for a desktop computer. It’s far more than just a general power of CAD software—it can be considered to be a full Product Data Management (PDM) software developed by Dassault Systèmes.

Used for making and marketing intricate 2D and 3D designs, SolidWorks allows for a superior analysis and collaboration of the design, no matter the size or scale of your team. With technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and generative design at its disposal, SolidWorks becomes a powerful tool to engineer your designs innovatively.

Available as both browser-based and mobile-friendly applications, it can also be used over the cloud for easy remote access.

Key Features:

• 3D solid modeling
• Product design simulation
• Cost estimation, manufacturability checks
• Product data management
• Created with ease of use in mind

CATIA

Another product made by Dassault Systèmes, CATIA is a powerful software that provides its users with all the tools of advanced computer aided design. It is a full scale and multi-platform suite of software products that, as a part of their 3DEXPERIENCE platform, enable you to design, engineer, manufacture and remodel your products with perfect precision. Known for their cognitive augmented designs, CATIA offers an intuitive and immersive user experience by bringing a perfect blend of modeling and simulation to your projects.

Whether it is automation, intuitiveness, or seamless collaboration, with CATIA, you will get all of it and much more.

Key Features:

• 3D modeling and simulation capabilities
• Parametric and non-parametric design options
• Advanced surface modeling tools
• Assembly design for complex products
• Integrated analysis and simulation for structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics
• High-level visualization and rendering capabilities

PTC Creo

Creo is a family of computer-aided design softwares developed by PTC.

Designed for discrete manufacturers, it’s a versatile, fast tool for speeding up innovation, from initial design at the earliest stages to manufacturing and beyond. Powered by technologies like generative design, real-time simulation, advanced manufacturing, IIoT, and augmented reality, Creo gives you a foolproof methodology to conceptualize, design, analyze, and validate your products before investing in their manufacturing and production.

With its model-based approach, you can easily begin your product endeavors with simple 2D drawings and later give them the shape of fully annotated 3D models that resonate with your specific design requirements.

Key Features:

• Parametric design capabilities for precise modeling.
• Integrated simulation tools to test designs.
• Advanced collaboration features for team workflows.
• Automated drawing updates with design changes.
• Seamless integration with manufacturing processes like CNC

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NX

With over half a century of experience, NX, formerly known as “Unigraphics,” might be the most used CAD software out there. As an advanced and high-end CAD platform, it is a perfect solution for the design, simulation, and manufacturing of a product from start to end.

Owned by Siemens Digital Industries Software, NX is an award-winning and multilingual platform that uses superfast NX CAD and NX CAM solutions to deliver high-quality designs faster and more effectively. Features such as an intuitive user interface, follow-through tutorials and manuals, workflow-specific tools including control robots and 3D printers, and automation make it a true leader in computer-aided designs/manufacturing (CAD/CAM).

Key Features:

• Advanced CAD capabilities for creating complex 3D models.
• Integrated CAM tools for efficient manufacturing processes.
• Simulation and validation for optimizing design performance.
• Multi-axis machining support for precise production.
• Seamless data management and collaboration features.

Fusion 360

Next in line is Fusion 360 from world of Autodesk, which centralizes the entire manufacturing process of a product into one single place, truly a marvel!

It is a commercial computer aided design, computer aided manufacturing, computer aided engineering, and printed circuit board design software application integrated with smart technologies like CAD, CAM, CAE, PCB, and available seamlessly on Windows, Mac, Web, Android and iOS devices. Fusion 360 is packed with all kinds of design and 3D modelling tools and can help you to innovate your products with advanced AI capabilities and automated workflows.

Key Features:

• Cloud-based platform for real-time collaboration.
• Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE tools in one software.
• Advanced simulation for testing designs before production.
• Parametric design capabilities for precise modifications.
• Adaptive machining strategies to optimize manufacturing processes

Inventor

Autodesk inventor is another product invented by Autodesk, which helps in designing, rendering and simulating a product before manufacturing it in real. It’s a fully-fledged CAD extension application, it’s got a wide arsenal to please, regardless of how you like it.

Features worth mentioning include rules-based design and model-based product definition for embedding manufacturing information directly in the 3D model. Plus, its advanced built-in collaboration tools allow you to share your project or work with anyone from anywhere, regardless of the CAD software they use.

Key Features:

• 3D mechanical design for precise part and assembly modeling.
• Integrated simulation tools for stress and motion analysis.
• Automated design tools for sheet metal, piping, and frame structures.
• Compatibility with CAD formats for seamless collaboration.
• BOM (Bill of Materials) generation for streamlined production planning.

Rhino (Rhinoceros)

Rhino or Rhinoceros 3D is a commercial 3D computer graphics and computer-aided design application software developed by TLM Inc., better known as Robert McNeel & Associates. Embedded with some of the most sophisticated and advanced modelling tools like ShrinkWrap, Mac Speed Boost, SubD Creases, PushPull workflows, and so on, Rhino presents as a powerful and customizable CAD software in many industries including manufacturing and production. Some of its key features include free-from 3D modelling, cross-platform capabilities, accuracy, and remote accessibility. Due to the long list of features and capabilities, Rhino is one of the most used CAD softwares in the manufacturing industry, especially, for large projects.

Key Features:

• Advanced 3D modeling for complex surfaces and curves, ideal for intricate designs.
• Supports a wide range of file formats, enhancing compatibility with other software.
• Precision tools for accurate measurements and tolerances.
• Scripting and automation options to streamline repetitive tasks.
• Real-time rendering and visualization, enabling quick design reviews and adjustments

Solid Edge

Solid Edge is a Microsoft Windows-only CAD platform developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software. It is a parametric feature and synchronous technology solid modeling software that provides solid modeling, assembly modelling, and 2D orthographic view functionality for manufacturers and designers. As a complete product development portfolio, it addresses all the aspects of the product design such as 3D modelling, simulation, manufacturing, data management, etc. In addition, it offers seamless integrations with other products across the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, along with multiple add-on cloud capabilities.

Key Features:

• 3D CAD modeling for detailed component and assembly designs
• Synchronous technology that combines parametric and direct modeling
• Sheet metal design tools like flat patterns and bends.
• Simulation and validation features that enable stress analysis and optimization before production.
• Integrated data management to streamline revisions, versions, and design workflows across teams.

Tinkercad

Perhaps the most economical option when it comes to the most used CAD software in the manufacturing industry is none other than Tinkercad. Provided by Autodesk, it is a simplified version of their high-end suites that comes with all the necessary features required to build 3D-based designs of a product in no time. Unlike other top CAD platforms, Tinkercad is entirely free and has everything you may need to create basic prototypes and models using 3D printing. All you need to do is sign up on their website and get started with your product designs online on any kind of web browser.

Key Features:

• 3D modeling and design capabilities streamline prototyping of parts and assemblies.
• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for creating complex structures quickly.
• Integration with 3D printing enables rapid production of prototypes.
• Cloud-based platform allows collaborative design and easy file sharing.
• Compatibility with CAD file formats makes importing and exporting designs seamless.

Here’s a table summarizing the most used CAD software in manufacturing industry

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Conclusion

Choosing the right CAD software can elevate your manufacturing projects, offering precision, flexibility, and collaborative potential. Whether you need the extensive tool sets of AutoCAD, the intuitive design capabilities of SolidWorks, or the affordability of TinkerCAD, each platform provides unique advantages tailored to specific design requirements. These tools streamline your workflow, improve product quality, speed up the path from idea to production, and ultimately save you time. The manufacturing industry is transitioning to become CAD-based, and over time CAD software will indeed constantly be improving, streamlining the process of innovating and producing your designs efficiently and effectively.

On that note, the next time you’re ready to bring your ideas to life, don’t forget to make good use of these most use CAD software in the manufacturing industry.