Mechanical Engineering Design software is a tool that enables mechanical engineers to communicate, design, and visualize the design of any product before its production. This tool is used widely in manufacturing sites, architecture sites, and many others. The main goal of this software is to design cars, machines, and many other products. This software offers multiple features as well as benefits to users. Design software saves costs as well as the time of the designers. Also, the design of any product gives better visualization to clients. Let us have a glance at the top ten best design software tools for mechanical engineers along with their features.
OnShape:
OnShape is one of the top and most popular design software tools for mechanical engineers. This tool enables users to design various products efficiently. OnShape software tool is a single platform that integrates CAD, data management, collaboration tools, and real-time analytics. There are various features offered by this tool. The CAD features include drawings, assemblies, configurations, sheet metal tools, import & export file formats, custom features, etc. The data management features involve a bill of materials, version control, advanced workflows, branching, etc. The collaboration tool incorporates real-time design review, complete edit history, secure sharing, live chat, and commenting. The price of this tool is $1500.00 per year.
SketchUp:
SketchUp is a 3D modeling software tool that enables users to design various products more accurately and effectively. This tool incorporates hundreds of professionally-developed extensions. Also, there is a provision in which users can design any product in 3D and can document it in 2D. The design of the users always matters, and there are various customizable workspaces. There are various advanced technologies incorporated in this software that makes it easier for users to build a great product design. There is a free trial period of thirty days. There are three versions of this tool, namely, SketchUp Shop, SketchUp Pro, and SketchUp Studio.
GeoHECRAS:
GeoHECRAS mechanical design software is specially designed for digital mapping, 2D HEC RAS models, and is suited for all sizes of businesses. This tool is compatible to work with only Microsoft Windows operating systems. New users can learn how to use this tool through documentation, in-person session, and live online assistance. The features of this tool are 2D drawing, design analysis, design export, civil use, etc. This software tool speeds up the development of the HEC RAS model by using multiple data sources. It also enables users to speed up engineering workflow and streamline analysis.
AutoCAD:
AutoCAD is yet another one of the best and efficient mechanical 3D design software tools. This tool is a fully-featured tool. AutoCAD software is specially designed for mechanical engineering and comprises more than 700,000 intelligent parts and features. The features of this extraordinary tool include layer management, hidden lines, more than 700,000 standard parts, machinery generators and calculators, document 3D CAD models, reusable machine drawing detailing tools, customizes content library and publishing, command preview and contextual menus, mechanical engineering dimensions, associative balloons and bills of materials, and many other features. This tool offers a free trial period for some days.
Site3D:
Site 3D is also a powerful and the most efficient 3D modeling software tool. The Site 3D, as its name suggests, is a tool that is specially designed for engineering designs of highways, drainage, and residential developments. The best part of this tool is it quickly and rapidly designs whole sites, consisting of roads, junctions, footways, contours, volumes, drainages, etc. Also, this tool is very easy to learn and has a user-friendly interface. Twenty-One main menu buttons in it enable users to carry all tasks. To use this application, there is no need for any training course. The interactive features incorporated in it make it more powerful and popular.
KeyCreator:
KeyCreator is a fully-featured software tool used for 2D as well as 3D modeling. This tool is specially designed for commercial use. KeyCreator application is compatible to install on Microsoft Windows operations systems. This tool can be used to design various products, like crash-resistant, non-exploding fuel bladder tanks for aircraft, race cars, performance boats, etc. This tool was used to build custom bladder tanks for NASCAR, Ferrari, Boing, Lockheed, NASA, and the U.S. Military. Additionally, it is available in seven distinct languages. This tool has built-in multiple software tools in it to carry out multiple tasks.
Inventor:
Inventor is the most powerful and efficient designing software tool used widely. Inventor, also known as Autodesk Inventor, has revolutionary features encompassed in it. This tool is specially designed for professional use, like 3D mechanical design and product simulation tools. The revolutionary features involve creating the best design possible, improving design collaboration, professional-grade product development, etc. This tool has a Shape generator that allows users to build the most efficient design. Additionally, this tool offers an open and connected workflow for non-inventor data, parametric modeling, direct modeling, free-from, and flexible sketching. The pricing plan for this tool is $165.42 per month and $1,985 per year.
AutoCAD LT:
AutoCAD LT is the version of the AutoCAD software. AutoCAD LT is specially designed for 2D drawings. This software is very easy to use and has a user-friendly interface. There are multiple drafting tools in the Autodesk AutoCAD LT software tool. This tool has a technology called TrustedDWG. This technology enables users to share projects with full security and confidence. Another primary and efficient tool is Simplified 2D drafting and documentation tool. This tool enables users to develop detailed technical drawings of any product. Also, users can edit any design anytime. Layers incorporated in this application are very commendable and easily organizable.
Civil 3D:
Civil 3D is yet another one of the top design software tools for mechanical engineers. This tool is compatible to work with Microsoft Windows as well as macOS operating systems. Users can experience more efficient workflows for surface modeling. Also, they can use this tool for designing the corridor, site, storm and sanitary, and plan production, and documentation. Additionally, it also helps to access 3D files, documents, form multiple locations of multiple companies. It has a Dynamo Visual Scripting environment that automates repetitive design tasks. To install this tool, it requires a free memory space of 16GB and disk space of 16GB.
CMS IntelliCAD:
CMS IntelliCAD is a cloud-bases designing software tool for mechanical engineers. This tool is best suited for architectural, engineering, construction firms with design, rendering, collaboration, and interoperability. This tool can perform 2D as well as 3D modeling. Additionally, users can install this software on Microsoft Windows operating systems. New users can learn how to operate this tool through webinars and documentation provided by this software. The features incorporated by this tool are 2D drawing, 3D modeling, bills of material, building information modeling, document management, drafting, quotes & proposals, etc. There is a free trial period offered. Once the trial period ends, users need to subscribe to this software by paying $149.95 per month.
BricsCAD:
BricsCAD is a complete, fully-featured software tool used for advanced mechanical design and 3D modeling. This tool is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface. Additionally, it is a mobile-friendly tool, as well. Using this application, users can create assemblies. For creating assemblies, there is a library of more than 30,000 parametric parts. Additionally, this tool has automated annotations that allow users to generate isometric, section, exploded views, and BOMs. The other revolutionary features involve automatic multi-axis exploded views, bills of materials panel, standard components, threads representation, multi-parametric 3D animations, etc. BricsCAD software offers a 30 day free trial period.
