Most CAD programs allow CAD drafters, designers, engineers, and architects to save their drawings in PDF format for sharing or printing. As such, the rest of the team members do not require an expensive CAD program to open the PDF file for viewing or printing. All they require is a reliable PDF program like Bluebeam Revu.

In this guide, we shall take a deeper dive into what Bluebeam Revu is and also outline some of the basic things about it to assist you to learn the basics in 1 hour.

What is Bluebeam Revu?

Figure 1. Bluebeam Revu Standard Edition (source)

In a nutshell, Bluebeam Revu is a software that allows users to markup, organize, and collaborate with PDF files. 

It is more than just a PDF viewer and that is why it is a common tool for those dealing with technical tools. It offers efficiency and also allows collaboration, which is essential for team players especially in areas like construction sites where there are too many people involved and all must adhere to the drawing to accomplish their tasks.

Bluebeam Revu Pricing

Bluebeam Revu offers five editions at different prices. These includes:

• Bluebeam® Revu® Standard: $349 per seat 
• Bluebeam® Revu® CAD: $499 per seat 
• Bluebeam® Revu® eXtreme: $599 per seat 
• Bluebeam® Revu® MAC: $199 per seat 
• Bluebeam® Revu® iPad: $9.99

Users can also choose to pay another one-time payment of $349 for annual maintenance of any of the purchased seats of Bluebeam Revu. This is optional and if a user cannot afford it, there is no harm; only that his/her software will not be up to date. The Annual maintenance package allows users to get premium phone and email support, free annual upgrade training, and free version upgrades.

It is good to note that Bluebeam Revu does not offer any free version but it offers a free 30-day trial of Revu eXtreme. 

Who Can Use the Bluebeam Revu?

Bluebeam Revu has become a vital tool in a wide range of industries including architecture, construction, engineering, energy, and manufacturing. It is not used for drawing but rather for viewing, organizing, and collaborating on the already drawn technical drawings.

Its functions and built-in tools provide users with a powerful sleek tool that gets work done quickly.

As a result, most Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) professionals have chosen Bluebeam Revu as their default PDF software.

What Can Bluebeam Revu Do?

The different editions of Bluebeam Revu have different features and functionalities and a person will have to choose wisely between the five editions.

Besides the Bluebeam® Revu® MAC and Bluebeam® Revu® iPad which are device-specific, the rest are editions with different functionalities. Bluebeam® Revu® MAC is designed for use on macOS gadgets while the Bluebeam® Revu® iPad is designed for use on iPads.

Bluebeam® Revu® Standard

It is an intuitive PDF solution that offers best-in-class PDF creation, editing, and markup technology fine-tuned for the AEC industry. 

It allows users to make paperless workflows by allowing them to digitally redline 2D and 3D PDFs with industry-standard measurements and annotations. 

It can also be used to:

• Automatically compare drawings. 
• Markup/create and even manipulate 3D PDF files from any U3D or IFC. 
• Create and batch PDFs. 
• Convert any Windows file to PDF.
• Upload files to the cloud.
• Sync PDFs locally.
• Collaborate on PDFs in real time with shared markups.

It is best for contractors and estimators who require to review PDF documents with a wider project team without having to make too many hard copies.

Bluebeam® Revu® CAD

This Revu edition includes all the features of Bluebeam® Revu® Standard plus additional plugins for 2D and 3D PDF file creation.

It allows users to create 2D PDF files directly from Autodesk Revit, SolidWorks, and Autodesk AutoCAD.

It also allows users to create 3D PDF files directly from Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Navisworks® Manage, SketchUp® Pro, and Navisworks Simulate.

Bluebeam® Revu® eXtreme

This Revu edition includes all the features and functionalities of the Bluebeam® Revu® Standard and Bluebeam® Revu® CAD plus additional plugins that allow users to create PDFs from Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, SketchUp Pro, Navisworks Manage, Navisworks Simulate, and SolidWorks. 

It allows users to perform scripting, automatic form creation, batch linking, Batch splitting sheets, Batch signing and sealing, real-time data linking from measurement markups to excel, and also transform scanned images into text-searchable PDFs using Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

Learn Bluebeam Revu basics

To assist you to learn Bluebeam Revu basics as quickly as possible, we shall look at how to navigate in Bluebeam, File Access, Markups, Tool Chest, Keyboard Shortcuts, and Markups List.

Bluebeam Revu Navigation

Figure 2. Bluebeam Revu Navigation

The above screenshot shows how the Bluebeam interface looks like.

The command bar, toolbar, left panel, working area, right panel, navigation bar, and advanced markup list are all shown.

Navigating through the Bluebeam Revu interface is done by using the various panels and bars shown in the screenshot.

At the very top, there is the “Command Bar” that displays all the core functions like File, Edit, View, Document, Batch, Tools, Window, and Help.

• If you want to open a file (either a new or an existing file), you should use the File function. 
• If you want to edit a PDF file, you should use the Edit function. 
• If you just want to view something, you should use the View function. 
• If you want to document, you should use the Document function. 
• If you want to Batch, you should use the Batch function.

The “Tool Bar” contains the basic tools and you can toggle on/off the tools that you want to be displayed. It is also possible to reorganize the tools as you like.

At the bottom of the page, there is the “Markup List”, which shows/displays a record of all the markups or annotation done on a particular page. Besides just acting as notes, the Markup list gives you the power of Excel Spreadsheets since the data can be sorted, filtered, and even used in generating reports.

File Access

Figure 3. File Access in Bluebeam Revu

This is located almost at the top left corner and it helps you speed up your productivity by allowing you to quickly recall recently opened files and folders without the need for navigating to any directory.

Markups

Figure 4. Bluebeam Revu Markups

Bluebeam Revu provides a wide range of Markup tools ranging from clouds, text tools, and callouts, among others

To use any of the Markups, simply click on the “Tools” on the “Command Bar” at the top select Markup, and choose the Markup tool you want to use from the drop-down menu that appears.

Tool Chest

Figure 5. Opening Tool Chest from the Left Panel

This allows users to save selected Markups and any of their edited details so that it can be easier to reuse them especially when they are frequently required to be used.

Important Bluebeam Revu Keyboard Shortcuts

Switching between multiple files and using different tools can make your work quite tiring. However, Bluebeam Revu has some common keyboard shortcuts that you can use to make work easier.

Also, Revu 2019 allows users to create custom keyword shortcuts.

To find out what a shortcut for doing a certain thing is or to customize the shortcut, click on the “Revu” tab on the “Command Bar” at the top and select and click on “Keyboard shortcuts” from the dropdown menu.

Figure 6. Finding Out the Keyboard Shortcuts and Modifying them

Figure 7. Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts in Bluebeam Revu

Conclusion

The above guide should help you learn Bluebeam Revu basics in the shortest time possible after which you can build on the basics to accomplish other complex tasks like using the Bluebeam Studio, Bluebeam Studio Prime, search tool – Text & Visual Search, Compare Documents & Overlay Pages, and Navigating Multipage PDF Files, and creating Page Labels & Batch Hyperlinks.

The Bluebeam Revu is a simple to use PDF software for those in the AEC and its learning curve is quite gentle.

The most expensive CNC machines are the 6-axis and 5-axis robotic CNCs that are used in manufacturing high-end military equipment and cost in the excess of millions of dollars. On the other hand, there are very affordable CNC machines that can be used by entry-level hobbyists that cost as low as $150.

Before delving into the costs of various CNC machines, we shall first look at the various factors that affect the CNC machine cost.

Factors Affecting CNC Machine Cost

Figure 1. 5-axis LaborMac CNC Milling Machine (source)

• Size of the CNC Machine

In CNC machines, the size of the machine is determined by the length that the cutting end can travel along the XYZ axes. The longer the range, the larger the machine and the more expensive the machine is.

• Machining Speed

In CNC machining, the cutting speed directly affects the efficiency of production and the quality of the finished products. Faster speeds translate to smoother finishes and generally mean that the work will also be performed faster and more efficiently.

Another factor when it comes to speed is the Rapid Motion speed, which is the rate at which the machine repositions itself after cutting. The faster the Rapid Motion Speed, the faster the machine can take on multiple tasks. There are CNC machines that have a Rapid Motion speed of more than 1000 inches per minute.

In general, the faster the high the maximum machining speed that a CNC machine can reach and the Rapid Motion speed, the more expensive the CNC machine is. 

• Machining Tolerances and Accuracy

CNC machines that can attain higher machining tolerances and accuracy are generally more costly. Needless to say, accuracy and perfection are expensive!

• Number of Axes

The more degrees of freedom that a CNC machine has, the more expensive it is. For example, a 5-axis CNC machine is more expensive than a 3-axis CNC machine.

Most hobbyists’ CNC machines have 3-axes.

• Power

CNC machine’s brute power is measured in terms of things like the RPM of the spindle and the torque it can handle. 

However, larger professional CNC machines are rated depending on the size of their servo motors.

For example, the stepper motor of a hobbyist Sainsmart Genmitsu runs at 0.18 ft-lb while that of a professional 6-axis CNC like the Zimmerman FZ100 can run at 68 ft-lb. if you do the math, the 6-axis CNC servo motor is about 400 times more powerful than the hobbyists CNC. 

As a result, the 6-axis CNC costs way higher than the hobbyists CNC.

Categories of CNC Machines and their Price Ranges

Besides the factors outlined in the section above, other factors like where someone is purchasing the CNC machine also affect the price. Generally, Chinese CNC machines are generally cheaper compared to the US and European-made CNC machines.

If you are shipping the machine, one will need to also take note of the shipping charges and taxes since they will determine the overall cost of the machine.

To assist those looking for affordable small hobbyist CNC machines choose the correct CNC machine depending on the above table of costs, we shall briefly look into what the Entry Level Desktop CNC Routers, Hobby CNC Router Machine, Small CNC Lathe machines, and Entry-Level 2-axis Lathe machines are used for.

Entry Level Desktop CNC Routers

Figure 2. SainSmart Genmitsu Desktop CNC Router Machine 3018 PROver (source)

These are considered to be the best CNC machines for testing the waters if you are just venturing into CNC machining and you do not intend to undertake very complex tasks.

The most common type under this category is the Generic desktop 3018 CNC.

Just as the name suggests, these machines are the size of a desktop with an approximate size of 30 inches by 18 inches. 

They are mostly used for engraving works and can work on wood, plastics, acrylic, jewelry, and PCBs. Some have strong enough motors and quality rails that permit them to also work on aluminum.

Some are also fitted with laser engraving modules while others generally have the provision but require the user to separately buy and attach the laser engraver. 

Examples of Desktop CNC Routers include the CNC 3018 Pro Max 3 Axis Desktop and the Sainsmart Genmitsu PROVer.

Hobby CNC Router Machine

Figure 3. Shapeoko CNC Machine (Source: inventables.com)

These types of CNC machines were recently developed following the rise in demand for small affordable CNC machines by hobbyists.

They are generally used for cutting and engraving and can work on PCBs, plastic, wood, and aluminum. Some can also handle brass and steel.

Examples of CNC machines within this category include the X-Carve CNC, Shapeoko CNC Router.

Small CNC Lathe Machines

These are more advanced and can be used not only for engraving but also for machining and they can comfortably handle steel and titanium.

However, their production speed is still too low for high-volume production work.

Examples of CNC machines within this category include the Shopbot PRS Alpha CNC and the Tormachs CNC machines.

Entry-Level 2-axis Lathe Machines

Figure 4. Tormach 8L Lathe (source)

These CNC machines are generally used by small shops.

Examples of CNC machines within this category include the Tormach 8L and Tormach 15L Slant Pro lathe machines.

They are used for medium production volumes and can generally handle most of the materials.

Other Costs Associated with CNC Machines

Besides buying the CNC machine of your costs and having it shipped to your location, there are things that you will require to purchase to be able to work with the CNC machine.

Some of the things that you will require include:

• Work holding devices
• Tool Holding devices
• Inserts and Insert cutter bodies
• Cutting tools (carbide, etc.)
• Equipment for inspection
• Measuring tools like calipers, micrometers, pin gauges, and thread gauges
• Somewhere to store your cutting tools
• Coolant mixer
• Fasteners, HSS Drills, and wrenches
• Computer setup with the appropriate OS, and well-networked with the machines and team members

Conclusion

This post should help you choose a good affordable CNC machine depending on the CNC machine cost.

As shown in the post, it is possible to get a good CNC machine especially for engraving purposes with a budget of less than $10,000 especially if you are just starting and do not need a machine for a high production volume.

Most architects, landscape architects, mechanical engineers, plumbing engineers, electrical engineers, and structural engineers would prefer having a CAD application that can support almost everything since all these fields depend on each other during projects. For example, an electrical engineer will use architectural, civil, mechanical, plumbing, and structural drawings to produce his or her electrical drawings to ensure that the drawings do not conflict.

By being all-in-one CAD programs, BricsCAD and Revit provide drafters, engineers, and architects with all the available options for drawing or opening any drawing they get from the team during projects. But there are a few differences between the two programs that we shall look at in this post.

BricsCAD

Figure 1. Building Modeling was done using BricsCAD BIM (source)

BricsCAD is an all-in-one CAD program for drawing .DWG files ranging from 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and mechanical designs to Building Information Modelling (BIM).

It offers cost-effective and multi-platform CAD solutions for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

There are different BricsCAD editions tailored for different functionalities. These editions include:

• BricsCAD Shape 
• BricsCAD 30-day Free Trial Download
• BricsCAD Lite
• BricsCAD Pro
• BricsCAD BIM
• BricsCAD Mechanical
• BricsCAD Ultimate

The BricsCAD Ultimate combines the functionalities of all the other BricsCAD editions.

What can BricsCAD do?

As indicated in the above section BricsCAD is an all-in-one CAD application meaning it can be used to do any computer-aided design task. One just has to choose the right BricsCAD edition depending on the tasks he or she wants to undertake.

In a nutshell, BricCAD can perform the following:

• Viewing and managing DWG CAD drawings
• 2D drafting
• Annotation
• 3D modeling
• Parametric modeling
• Documentation
• Data Extraction
• File import and export in different formats
• Printing and plotting
• Rendering

Who can use BricsCAD?

BricsCAD is a CAD program that can be used by anyone looking for a computer-aided design program. They just have to choose the right BricsCAD edition depending on their field or the tasks they want to undertake.

If one does not have enough funds to subscribe for the BricsCAD Ultimate, which combines all the functionalities into one application, then he or she can choose an edition that best suits the tasks he or she wants to undertake. 

If you are a mechanical engineer, designer, or CAD drafter looking to just produce some 2D drawings, you can use the BricsCAD Shape which is free. You could also opt for the BricsCAD Lite, which requires a subscription and offers more functionalities than the BricsCAD shape.

If you are a mechanical engineer, designer, or CAD drafter looking to produce 3D models, you could subscribe for the BricsCAD mechanical or BricsCAD Pro depending on your budget.

Figure 2. A Mechanical assembly is done using BricsCAD mechanical (source)

Structural engineers, civil engineers, and architects can use the BricaCAD BIM which allows them to draw and model building structures.

Revit 

Figure 3. An Architectural drawing was done using Revit (source)

Autodesk Revit, commonly referred to as just Revit, is a Building Information modeling (BIM) CAD software. 

There is also a lighter version called Revit LT, which is more cost-effective compared to Revit though with reduced functionalities.

The original version was developed by Charles River Software, which was founded in 1997. Later on, in 2000, the company was renamed Revit Technology Corporation before being acquired by Autodesk in 2002.

What can Autodesk Revit do?

Revit is a fully developed BIM CAD program. It is 4D BIM capable and it has added tools for planning and tracking the various stages of the building process from conceptualization, construction to maintenance or demolition.

It allows users to design a building together with its structure and components in 2D and then go ahead and do 3D modeling and annotation.

In a nutshell, Autodesk Revit can be used for the following in BIM:

• 2D drafting
• 3D modeling
• Parametric Modeling. 
• Automation.
• Collaboration
• Coordination
• Scheduling
• Energy Analysis
• Rendering Presentation.
• Construction Documentation

If you choose to go for the Revit LT, it does not have several functionalities like work sharing (collaboration), analysis, and in-product rendering.

Who can use Revit?

As a building information modeling (BIM) CAD software, Autodesk Revit can be used by landscape architects, structural engineers, architects, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, plumbing (MEP) engineers, as well as civil construction companies.

It is a good choice for all those involved with building construction or civil construction.

BricsCAD vs Revit

Below is a comparison table of BricsCAD vs Revit to help engineers, architects, and CAD drafters in selecting the right software between the two depending on their functionalities.

Conclusion

The above BricsCAD vs Revit CAD software comparison should help you identify the best CAD software between the two depending on what you want to draw or model.

Besides the tasks that you want to undertake, you should also consider the subscription fees, the availability of a free trial, and the functionalities offered by the free trial.

In a nutshell, just to assist you to choose between the two, BricsCAD has different editions that can be used for different fields including mechanical engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, electrical engineering, and architecture. On the other hand, Revit is solely designed for BIM CAD operations and would not be a good choice for a mechanical engineer looking to design complex mechanical assemblies.

In this guide, we shall take a deeper dive into how to use BricsCAD to help you learn the basics in one hour.  

What Can BricsCAD be Used for?

In the beginning, BricsCAD had been designed to be an AutoCAD alternative. However, it has evolved to become a much more capable CAD program with many unique features. 

Besides being a great 2D drafting CAD program, BricsCAD fully integrates Parabuild, a detailing package for drawing parametric 3D steel structure models, to automate the process of drawing 3D structural steel models and automatically generate various outputs like CNC data and shop drawings.

Various BricsCAD editions are offering various functionalities. If you are a mechanical CAD drafter or engineer looking to make 2D drawings, you should use the BricsCAD shape, which is free, or the BricsCAD Lite which offers more functionalities compared to the BricsCAD shape. 

If you are a mechanical CAD drafter or engineer looking to create 3D models, you should go for the BircsCAD Pro or BricsCAD mechanical.

If you are a civil engineer, structural engineer, or architect, you should go for the BricsCAD BIM.

BricsCAD offers the following functionalities:

• Viewing and managing DWG CAD drawings
• 2D drafting
• 3D modeling
• Parametric modeling
• Annotation
• Printing and plotting
• Rendering

Key Elements of BricsCAD User Interface

To learn BricsCAD basics, you have to first understand the key elements of its user interface. 

In this guide, we shall use the user interface of the BricsCAD ultimate, which combines the functionalities of all the other BricsCAD editions.

Figure 1. BricsCAD Ultimate user interface elements

The above screenshot shows the user interface of BricsCAD Ultimate and the various sections of the interface have been numbered. Let us take a look at what each of these sections is used for.

Toolbar 

This shows the collections of buttons of the most used tools. BricsCAD Ultimate has several toolbars since the edition contains all the functionalities of all BricsCAD editions. 

The “Access 3D” is the toolbar that is selected by default.

Figure 2. The Access 3D Toolbar

To choose a different toolbar, you should right-click in the drawing area, then click on choose toolbars to select the toolbar and the related topics you want to use.

Figure 3. Process of choosing a different toolbar

Ribbon

This shows several tabs containing a series of panels containing organized tools

Figure 4. Tabs

Figure 5. Series of panels

By default, the home tab is selected and the create panel is open. To select any other tab, simply click on the tab to use the series of panels therein.

Customizing the Ribbon

You can customize your ribbon to add custom-made tabs with a label, title, and ID of your choice, edit or expand the existing tabs, create a new panel and also edit or expand the already existing panel. To do so, simply right-click, click on customize and click on “Ribbon Tab”.

It is important to note that the tabs and tools contained in the panels depend on the selected workspace. The workspaces are the ones that define the settings and preferences of the specific working environment.

Selecting a Workspace

BricsCAD has six workspaces which include drafting, drafting (toolbars), modeling, modeling (toolbars), mechanical, and BIM.

To select your preferred workspace, simply right-click, click on Workspaces, and select your workspace of choice. 

Figure 6. Choosing a workspace by right-clicking

Similarly, you can go to the status bar (labeled 9) and click on the current workspace (in our interface screenshot the current workspace is “BIM”), and select your preferred workspace from the dropdown list. 

Document Tabs

This shows the documents that you are working on and it allows you to easily switch between the documents, close a document or even add a document. 

Figure 7. Document tabs

To add a new document, simply click on the + sign at the end to the right. 

To close a document, click on the X.

The “Look From” Widget

Figure 8. The Look From Widget with no 3D model selected

This appears at the top right corner of the drawing area.

It is used to see how your 3D model would look like when looked at from different angles. 

It has seven small triangles and one rectangle along its circumference. 

The rectangle shows the side from which your selected 3D model is being viewed in the drawing area. (If there is no selected model, then there will be eight small triangles)

To view the 3D model from a different angle, simply click on a triangle on the angle you want to view from. It also displays the name of the view at the bottom of the widget. For example, “Top Back Left”.

User-defined Coordinate System (UCS) icon

Figure 9. The UCS icon

This shows the nature of the coordinate system that you are using. If you are doing 2D drafting, a two-dimensional coordinate system is shown and when you are doing 3D modeling a three-dimensional coordinate system is shown.

Model Tab

This shows your initial working area, called Model Space. This is where you create your 2D or 3D drawings. If you select to use the Model Tab, you view and work in the model space.

Layout Tab

Every drawing has at least one layout, which comprises one or more viewports. It is mainly used for ensuring that your drawing is ready for presentation or printing.

Every viewport shows a different part of the drawing at a different scale. 

If you click on the “Layout Tab’, you can add the entities required for producing a print copy of your drawing. These entities include title blocks, frames, and legends among others.

It is important to note that the layout tab uses the World Coordinate System. (WCS), which is shown by a W that appears at the coordinate system icon. 

Figure 10. WCS appears when in the layout mode

Command Bar

This area has two fields separated by a thin dark line. The upper section shows the previously typed commands and is, therefore, wider while the lower section is where you type the commands and command options (which once executed goes to the field above as previously typed commands).

Figure 11. The command bar

Status Bar

It is normally along the bottom edge of the application window and contains information about the settings being used for the current drawing. 

It has a total of 16 fields. You can see the list of these fields by clicking the arrow at the right end of the bar.

It is important to note that one of the fields is the workspaces which determine the tools displayed on the ribbon (before customizing the ribbon).

The Tool Panel

This is displayed on the right and left sides of the application window. 

Let us look at the functions of each of the displayed icons on the “Tool Panel”.

Figure 12. Various panels contained in the Tool Panel and their functions

Learn BricsCAD 2D Drafting Basics 

This is the first step in any CAD drawing. 

To draw 2D drawings using BricsCAD, you will need to set the toolbar to 2D constraints.

Figure 13. Choosing 2D constraints toolbar

Then change the “Workspace” to drafting or drafting (toolbar). 

Once everything is set, you can go ahead and select the tool to use in the “Draw” panel of the Home tab in the ribbon. You can also go ahead to add text, hatching, and dimensions using their corresponding tools from the ribbon.

When you select to use any of the drawing tools or input a drawing command, BricsCAD prompts you to enter the coordinate points in the “Command Bar”. You can choose to use the mouse (clicking on the drawing area and moving to the endpoint) or choose to type the insertion and endpoints.

It is easy to learn BricsCAD since it also displays a context-sensitive prompt menu showing additional command options for the type of entity you are drawing.

Learn BricsCAD 3D Modeling Basics

By default, the BricsCAD Ultimate toolbar is set to Access 3D, which is ideal for 3D modeling. You can also choose to use the 3D toolbar.

Once your toolbar is set to 3D, you should go ahead and select the modeling, modeling (toolbars), mechanical, or BIM workspace depending on the type of 3D modeling you intend to do.

The modeling and modeling (toolbars) workspaces are used for standard 3D models while the mechanical workspace is used for complex mechanical components and assemblies.

The BIM workspace on the other hand is used for Building Information Modeling.

Conclusion

This guide will help you learn BricsCAD basics in less than one hour. With the above information, you are good to start using BricsCAD and make simple 2D drawings as well as simple 3D models. 

To sharpen your BricsCAD skills, you should continue practicing with the application as you can see from the above guide, learning BircsCAD is not an uphill task. Besides offering all the functionalities that you may require in your CAD drafting or designing work, the application is very user-friendly. 

Most CAD programs including BricsCAD have moved from one-time product purchases to monthly or yearly subscriptions. This has helped bring down the costs since some of the CAD programs required tens to hundreds of thousands to purchase. With the monthly subscriptions, CAD drafters and designers can pay as little as just some hundred dollars to be able to use software for a month or year. 

Before delving into BricsCAD pricing, it is important to understand what BrisCAD is, how many editions are out there, and what each of these editions can be used for.

What is BricsCAD?

Figure 1. Excavator assembly drawing was drawn using BricsCAD (source)

BricsCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software application developed by Bricsys, a Belgium-based company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Ghent. It acquired intellectual property rights from Ledas for parametric design tools that are constraints-based thus allowing the company to start developing applications related to assembly design and direct modeling.

Bricsys founder is Erik de Keyser and he is a long-time CAD entrepreneur.

Besides Ghent in Belgium, Bricsys has other centers in Romania, Bucharest, Russia, and Singapore.

The company is also the founding member of the Open Design Alliance. In December 2016, it joined the BuildingSMART International consortium.

In 2018, Bricsys was purchased by Hexagon AB, a company based in Sweden.

BricsCAD Editions

Nowadays, BicsCAD is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. 

It comes in seven editions though before it’s the current version (V21) there were eight available editions, which included the BricsCAD Platinum. The release of V21 saw the functionality of BricsCAD Platinum moved to BricsCAD Pro and the BricsCAD Platinum was done away with.

So, let’s look at the functionality of each of the editions in detail:

1. BricsCAD Shape

Figure 2. Drawing done using BricsCAD shape (source)

This is a free-of-charge conceptual modeling tool that was released by Bricsys in 2018. 

It is made from the BricsCAD solid modeling core and its native file format is .DWG. It also has a simplified user interface that reduces the command options to make modeling easier. 

It includes a library of materials, parametric doors and windows, and a set of 3D objects and furniture. 

It can be upgraded to any of the five commercial editions whenever the user feels the need to by paying the subscription fees.

2. BricsCAD 30-day Free Trial Download 

This allows users to experience the full functionality of the commercial BricsCAD Ultimate Edition for 30 days after which the users are required to pay to continue using the program’s functionality and failure to which the program is automatically reverted to BricsCAD Shape. 

The user can upgrade the free version to any of the five commercial editions during the 30 days trial period by paying for the subscription fees and receiving a license key.

3. BricsCAD Lite 

Figure 3. A Drawing was drawn using BricsCAD Lite (Source: techevate.com)

This edition was referred to as ‘BricsCAD Classic’ in version V20 and below. It is optimized for 2D drafting and its native file format if .DWG. 

It also offers LISP API customization and the ability to automate repetitive tasks.

4. BricsCAD Pro

It contains or the functionalities of the BricsCAD Lite, in addition to 3D modeling, standard part libraries, a materials library, a rendering engine, and an Autodesk AutoCAD ObjectARX, a development system that allows the use of hundreds of third-party application programs.

In version V21 and above, the BircsCAD Pro also includes all the functionalities of the BricsCAD Platinum which has since been deprecated. These functionalities include 3D constraint system management, TIN surface creation, surface entity creation and lofting, deformable modeling, automatic design intent recognition, basic assembly creation, and editing, and automatic healing of imported solid geometry.

5. BricsCAD BIM

Figure 4. A Drawing was drawn using BricsCAD BIM (source)

This comes with all the functionalities of BricsCAD Pro in addition to Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow.

It uses ACIS as its core modeler and thus allows push and pull free form concept models development.

Users can also low level-of-development (LOD) massing models to Building Information Model (BIM) using BIMIFY, which is an AI-based workflow.

In version V21 and above, the sheet set generation has been automated.

6. BricsCAD Mechanical 

Figure 5. A Drawing was drawn using BricsCAD Mechanical (source)

This edition is meant for 3D mechanical components and parts designs. 

It comes with all the functionalities of the BricsCAD Pro and an assembly modeling workflow, sheet metal parts creation using lofted solid representations, bill of materials, kinetic animations, and exploded view creation capabilities.

7. BricsCAD Ultimate 

This combines the functionalities of all the BricsCAD editions.

Bricsys 24/7

This is a cloud collaboration software as a service (SaaS) to offer a common data environment (CDE). 

It was called “Chapoo” before November 2017. 

It comes in two versions; the Bricsys 24/7 and the BricsCAD Cloud.

The BricsCAD Cloud allows BrisCAD users to access cloud storage, collaboration, file viewing, file locking, and file versioning. It is free of charge.

Bricsys 24/7 allows users to access a common data environment for document management and workflow automation.

BricsCAD APIs and Customization

All the BricsCAD editions use Open Design Alliance Drawing API software development platform that allows BricsCAD to write and read DWG file format, which is a file format that is very popular among Autodesk’s CAD programs.

BricsCAD users read and write into DWG files using the OPEN, NEW, SAVE and SAVE AS commands.

Through the APIs, BricsCAD provides an almost identical subcategory to AutoCAD equivalent functionalities.

The only disadvantage of BricsCAD is that it cannot read AutoCAD FAS files.

BricsCAD Pricing

Out of the seven BricsCAD editions, five editions require the users to pay an annual subscription.

Below is a breakdown of BricsCAD pricing:

• BricsCAD Lite  – 350 USD/user/year
• BricsCAD Pro – 720 USD /user/year
• BricsCAD BIM – 1360 USD /user/year
• BricsCAD Mechanical – 1290 USD /user/year
• BricsCAD Ultimate – 1500 USD /user/Year

New users who aren’t sure about BricsCAD can first use the BricsCAD 30-day free trial download to find out if the features therein are what they are looking for. Nonetheless, to continue using the full functionalities of BricsCAD, they should pay the subscription of the specific edition that the user wants.

Conclusion

BricsCAD pricing offers CAD drafters and designers a cheaper option of a CAD program since it has two editions that require an annual subscription of less than $1K per year. For example, the minimum subscription fee of AutoDesk AutoCAD, which is one of the most used CAD software, is € 2,342 per annum.

In this article, we shall look at what a CAD drafter does, how to become a CAD drafter, the difference between a CAD drafter and a CAD designer, and the CAD drafter salary in various parts of the world.

What Does a CAD Drafter Do?

CAD drafters use design software to convert the design sketches created by architects and engineers into technical drawings. These technical drawings are very detailed since they are the ones that are used in manufacturing the final products or building the final structures. They specify the materials, dimensions, production methods, and codes required in the manufacturing or building process.

Figure 1. Sample of a Mechanical Technical Drawing (Source)

There are Different Categories of CAD Drafters Depending on the Area of Specialization. These include:

• Mechanical CAD Drafters – make technical drawings that specify the requirements required for machining and assembling mechanical components.
• Architectural CAD Drafters – make technical drawings of structural designs for buildings.
• Civil CAD Drafters – prepare topographical maps for infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, piping systems, and the like.
• Electrical CAD Drafters – make technical drawings of wiring diagrams for construction work (including commercial and residential buildings), electrical equipment, and power plants.
• Electronics CAD Drafter – make technical drawings of wiring diagrams for circuit boards including assembly diagrams for circuit boards.

A CAD drafter works full time in an office though sometimes he/she may be required to visit sights to clarify certain things included on the technical drawing. But most of a CAD drafter’s job includes producing technical drawings, adjusting the drawings, responding to feedback from construction workers and machinists, and collaborating with architects and engineers.

How to Become a CAD Drafter

There are two paths that one can take to become a CAD drafter or CAD technician. However, for one to get to the part of choosing to become a CAD drafter, they must have finished high school or gotten their GED. It would be an added advantage if someone has taken science, math, and engineering classes.

With the above qualifications, one can either opt to undergo a two-year associate’s degree at a community or technical college or choose to CAD career path without having to go through an associate degree. 

If one chooses to take an associate degree course, they should select a course that includes science, math, design, and drawing. They could also pursue a software certification credential like those offered by the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA).

If one chooses not to take an associate degree but still pursue a CAD drafter career, they will have to have gained CAD experience in high school and also participated in extracurricular activities like FIRST robotics, for them to qualify for a CAD apprenticeship with a company or organization. When one gets an apprenticeship chance at a certain company or organization, they are most likely to know only what is required in that company or organization. Therefore, it might take some time for someone who chose this path to fully understand all that is required in the CAD drafter career.

The Difference Between a CAD Drafter and a CAD Designer

Though often confused to mean the same, a CAD drafter or CAD technician is very different from a CAD designer. CAD designers are specialists while CAD drafters or CAD technicians are generalists.

In a nutshell, a CAD drafter produces technical drawings using sketches provided to him/her by engineers or architectures. These technical drawings serve as visual guidelines for machinists or constructors by leveraging the different features of CAD software. 

On the other hand, CAD designers are CAD specialists that have broad knowledge in particular subjects like circuit layout, architecture, mechanical systems, and the like.

If you did not take an associate degree when pursuing your CAD career, you will most likely have to become a CAD drafter before becoming a CAD designer. But if you hold a degree in a certain professional field besides your CAD drafting knowledge, then you can become a CAD designer straight away.

CAD Drafter Salary in the USA

Here is a quick breakdown of how the average CAD drafter salary compares to that of the other related careers:

• Civil/Architectural CAD Drafter: $50,710/year
• Mechanical CAD Drafter: $53,520/year
• Electrical/Electronic CAD Drafter: $59,520/year
• CAD Designer: $60,000/year
• Architect: $70,000/year
• Engineer: $80,000/year

The CAD drafter salary is however depend on several factors, which include:

1. Qualifications – the higher the qualification the higher the pay. A CAD drafter with a master’s degree will earn more than a CAD drafter with a bachelor’s degree. Similarly, someone with a bachelor’s degree will earn more than someone that just went for an apprenticeship.
2. Certifications and Licenses – someone with relevant industry credentials earns a higher salary since it shows he or she is qualified.
3. Length of Your Career – A beginner will certainly earn less than someone who has practiced CAD drafting for over 5 years and so on.
4. Location – Different states and cities pay differently depending on the cost of living in the states.

Figure 2. Average CAD Drafter Salary Per Year in the Different States in the US (Source)

   v. Industry – some industries, especially in the metal ore mining industry, tend to pay more.

Below is a list of some of the companies in the US where CAD drafters are paid highest:

• Leidos – $27.93 per hour
• Coffman Engineers – $25.04 per hour
• SmartTalent – $25 per hour
• Graham & Associates – $24.95per hour
• Ettain Group – $24.88 per hour

Other Benefits That CAD Drafters Get on Top of Their Salaries

Besides the CAD drafter salary, CAD drafters also get the following benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Flexible Schedule
• Professional Development Assistance
• Referral Program

Conclusion

Looking at the above breakdown of CAD drafter salary, a CAD drafter career can be quite rewarding. 

The beauty of it is that one does not have to have a bachelor’s or Master’s degree to qualify as a CAD drafter. As we have seen in the above section, someone can opt for an apprenticeship route to becoming a CAD drafter, which would not only save time and money and ensure that he/she starts earning quite quickly.

According to research by Indeed, 48% of CAD drafters in the US say that their salaries are enough to take care of the cost of living where they live.

About SketchUp 3D Warehouse

What is SketchUp 3D Warehouse?

SketchUp 3D Warehouse is an online library that hosts more than 4.8 million searchable and pre-made models and products. For this reason, it bills itself as the world’s largest 3D model library. In addition, it is home to more than 2,200 real-world brands that use the platform’s array of features to promote their products. And given that all the models are free, you can easily and seamlessly download them with the intention of designing spaces that incorporate the brands’ products. All you need to do is create an account.

With SketchUp 3D Warehouse, you can find any model you can imagine. And given that it is integrated with SketchUp, you can open 3D Warehouse from within the desktop software. This simplifies the workflow by reducing the number of steps needed to access, search, find, download, and add the 3D models to your design. Still, you can access 3D Warehouse via a web browser. This means that the system requirements for the platform are the same as the version of SketchUp you are using, whether it be SketchUp for iPad, SketchUp for Web, or SketchUp for Desktop.

History of SketchUp 3D Warehouse

2006-2012

3D Warehouse’s story begins in the first quarter of 2006 – March 14, 2006, to be exact – when Google acquired SketchUp from its original developer, @Last Solution. Google subsequently created a free downloadable version of SketchUp, launching it on April 27 of that year. But there was a catch. The free version only supported output to Google Earth. This is because the company intended for users to create 3D models and add the finished models to Google Earth to enrich the platform with 3D realism. (By June 2006, Google Earth was supporting 3D models with textures.)

The following day, on April 28, 2008, Google launched 3D Warehouse. The first version of 3D Warehouse allowed users to upload 3D models in order to share with others. It also allowed them to download models. This first version also comprised the 3D Warehouse Network Link, which let users find models uploaded to and placed on the Google Earth landscape.

Google 3D Warehouse user interface (source)

3D Warehouse, alongside the free version of SketchUp, was part of Google’s early effort to show 3D models of buildings and 3D terrain in its Google Earth product. Google also tried multiple other techniques to model the world in 3D. But the company eventually established that manual modeling methods were both extremely slow and usurped considerable resources in the name of quality control.

So, in 2012, Google sold SketchUp along with 3D Warehouse. The company subsequently rolled out a new automated method of generating 3D buildings via stereophotogrammetry from aerial imagery. But it was not until October 2013 that Google stopped the publication to Google Earth of models created using SketchUp, suggesting that the company had begun to rely entirely on its automated method.

2012-Present

On June 1, 2012, Trimble acquired SketchUp. Following this purchase, Trimble began implementing a plan to move the 3D Warehouse website and SketchUp’s desktop application to its Design Build Operate (DBO) platform/environment, according to a 2014 case study. A decision was made to run the website, application, and Trimble’s infrastructure on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The decision was influenced by AWS’s market share, scalability, and services. (To date, SketchUp 3D Warehouse and Trimble’s infrastructure still run on AWS.)

The successful migration meant that Google would no longer host or operate the website and the library. It ended a partnership that Google and Trimble had entered into – as part of the terms of the acquisition – to ensure a smooth transition. By early 2014, the migration was complete. As a result, the URL for 3D Warehouse changed from the Google domain, https://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/, to https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com, a SketchUp domain.

Since the acquisition and subsequent migration, Trimble has overseen the development of 3D Warehouse, introducing new features that improve the user experience. For instance, the company added hashtags (2017), the ability to generate print-ready STL files (2019), an improved user content manager (2019), dark mode viewing (2022), augmented reality (AR) viewing (2022), and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered search (2023).

3D Warehouse now sports a unified desktop, mobile, and web interface with light and dark modes. In 2020, the platform had 5.5 million signed-in users, a figure that has likely grown.

Given the close relationship between 3D Warehouse and SketchUp, we will deviate a bit to discuss what SketchUp is and how it ties into the 3D Warehouse.

What is SketchUp?

SketchUp is a 3D modeling CAD program for making architectural, civil, interior design, mechanical design, and landscape architecture drawings. It is a product by Trimble Inc., a California-based company that specializes in software, hardware, and services that touch on a range of industries including building & construction, agriculture, geospatial, and transportation among others.

SketchUp’s native file format is .skp. However, users can save files in different formats by exporting files in .dwg (which is compatible with AutoCAD), .3ds (which is compatible with 3ds Max), and .stl (which is compatible with SolidWorks). By exporting 3D models in .stl file format, users make the 3D models to be 3D printable and thus the reason why SketchUp is very popular in the 3D printing industry.

SketchUp Packages

There are four SketchUp packages:

• SketchUp Free – This is a free online version of SketchUp 3D modeling software. SketchUp Free replaced SketchUp Make that was a free version that was used for home, educational and personal use. However, it has limited features and functionalities and users are not allowed to add extensions.
• SketchUp Go – This is an online version of SketchUp that can be accessed in your browser or via iPad. It is made for Do-it-Yourself (DIY) woodworkers, designers, and makers who wish design and collaborate wherever work happens. It is designed to make specific needs like CNC machining, 3D printing, and other workshop machines. 
• SketchUp Pro – This is a downloadable desktop version of SketchUp that is used for both 2D drawing and 3D modeling. (However, it is also available as a browser-based solution and as an app on iPad.) It has a dual licensing platform that allows both Mac and Windows users to subscribe to it.
• SketchUp Studio – This is also a downloadable Windows-only version of SketchUp that has all the functionalities of SketchUp Pro plus other added features like Daylight analysis, Thermal Comfort Analysis, Building Energy Analysis, HVAC sizing, and Carbon Emissions Analysis.

It is important to note that the SketchUp Free and SketchUp Go are web-based and are only accessed through the SketchUp website, while the SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Studio can be downloaded and used on the desktop or used in a web browser.

Which SketchUp Editions Allow Access to SketchUp 3D Warehouse?

Indeed, SketchUp 3D Warehouse is a free online open library where anyone can download or upload 3D models. All the 3D models in the 3D Warehouse are free meaning anyone can download them and use them in their 3D modeling. This ensures that even people using other 3D modeling CAD programs like ArchiCAD and Revit can also download 3D models from SketchUp 3D Warehouse and use them in their models, provided the software supports the .skp or .dae file format. It is, however, worth pointing out that this is usually the case only when you choose to access the platform in a web browser.

If you wish to access SketchUp 3D Warehouse via the desktop software, there is one important piece of information you should remember. You can only access 3D Warehouse using supported versions of SketchUp: the current version of SketchUp as well as the previous two versions. So, in October 2023 (the date we updated this article), you can only access SketchUp 3D Warehouse using SketchUp 2023, SketchUp 2022, and SketchUp 2021.

How to Use SketchUp 3D Warehouse

How to Access 3D Warehouse

As stated in the above sections, 3D Warehouse is an online open library meaning. So, it is a web service that can only be accessed via a web browser or from within a supported version of SketchUp. The supported version has an embedded web browser. These two options allow users to log into their 3D Warehouse accounts and access the expansive content. In either case, an internet connection is necessary.

If you are using the SketchUp Pro or SketchUp Studio, simply locate the 3D warehouse icon in the top toolbar. You can identify the 3D Warehouse icon(s) by hovering your cursor over the icons in the toolbar. When you hover your cursor on any of the icons, it will display its role. The 3D Warehouse should look like either of the icons shown in the Screenshots below depending on the version SketchUp you are using:

3D Warehouse Icon (Source)

Get Models and Share Models 3D Warehouse Icons

Alternatively, you can click on Files >3D Warehouse

Accessing 3D Warehouse Through the Files Tab on the Menu Bar

The third way of accessing 3D Warehouse is by searching for SketchUp 3D Warehouse or typing https://3Dwarehouse.sketchup.com in your browser. 

No matter the method you use to access the 3D Warehouse, you will be required to create an account or log in if you already have an account. If you are using it for the first time, you shall be directed to a account sign-up screen if you are using the desktop versions of SketchUp (SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Studio).

3D Warehouse User Interface

Regardless of whether you are opening the 3D Warehouse via SketchUp Pro, SketchUp Studio, or a web browser, you are always directed to the same 3D Warehouse main page. From this main page, you can choose to browse the available 3D models by categories, find certain collections of models or even search for a model by using its specific name, collection, or category.

3D Warehouse Main Page

Before delving into how to download or upload 3D models into the SketchUp 3D Warehouse, let us first look at what each of the sections in the 3D Warehouse main page is used for. The screenshot shown below shows the different sections (labeled using letters in red) of the main page

Different Parts/Sections of the 3D Warehouse Main Page

1. Search Box/Bar – Used for searching whatever model you want. Simply type a term in the search box and press Enter. You can also drag and drop an image into this search bar/box. However, you need a SketchUp subscription to use the image search function. The 3D Warehouse shall display models that have a title, description, or hashtag that matches the search term typed in the search box.
2. Upload a Model – This is used for uploading 3D models to the 3D Warehouse.
3. Sign In Link or User Menu – This appears as the sign-in link if you have not logged in or signed in. But once you log in, it appears as the user menu, complete with a profile picture. 
4. Curated Collections – These are carefully selected and organized 3D models for various sectors like construction, office, etc.
5. Featured Community Models – This section contains popular 3D models or those models that have been created by skilled 3D modelers
6. Featured Catalog – This section contains model catalogs by verified manufacturers who have created catalogs of their products (like furniture, materials, or appliances)
7. Featured Commercial Models – This section features models uploaded by commercial entities. Verified consumers have a blue checkmark against the creator’s name on the model details page and a model thumbnail image
8. Featured Users – This section shows profiles of some featured 3D Warehouse users. 

Do note that the layout changes from time to time. Therefore, what appears in the screenshot above may not be exactly what you might see when you visit 3D Warehouse.

Downloading 3D Models from the 3D Warehouse

To download 3D models from SketchUp 3D Warehouse, follow this procedure:

1. Click on the model you want to download
   Once you click on your preferred model, you are directed to the model details page, where you can preview the model, find out the materials used in the model among other information about the model in the ‘Model Info’ section, see how many likes the model has received, how many downloads, how many views, the comments that have been made about the model, related collections, and related models.
   To preview, you should hover on the image of the 3D model and click on it. A pop-up window will appear containing the 3D model and you can rotate it to see all the sides of the model.
2. Once you are satisfied with a certain model, simply click on the download button, which is by default blue in color and positioned on the right below the model image.

Figure 7. Example of a Model Details Page

Uploading Models to the 3D Warehouse

Besides downloading 3D models, designers, manufacturers, and commercial entities can upload 3D models or 3D model catalogs to the warehouse for other users to download and use in their 3D modeling.You can choose to either upload 3D models through the web browser or the desktop version of SketchUp. Here’s the procedure to follow when uploading models to 3D Warehouse:

1. Click on the share models icon in the toolbar if you are using the SketchUp desktop software or the Upload button at the top right corner of the screen if you are using your web browser.  
2. On the ‘Upload model to the 3D Warehouse’ pop-up window, search and select the model you want to upload or simply drag and drop the model file there.
   It is however important to ensure that the view in the drawing area reflects how you want the model preview image to appear on the model details page. If not, use the Camera tools (Orbit, Pan, and Zoom) to adjust how you want the preview to appear.
   It is important to note that viewers will also be able to see all the other angles of your uploaded model by clicking on it on the model details page as we have discussed in the above section.
   
   

   Upload model to the 3D Warehouse pop-up window

3. Once you upload the model, you shall be directed to the ‘Edit Model Detail’ page where you should fill in the various details like the title of your model and description. You can also choose to disable comments and even make the model private if you wish. The ‘Edit Model Details’ page looks like the one shown below.

Edit Model Details page on the 3D Warehouse

Tips for Using SketchUp 3D Warehouse Efficiently

In this section, we will discuss tips for both creators and regular users (downloaders).

Tips for 3D Warehouse Creators

SketchUp has prepared a comprehensive article discussing how to create a great 3D Warehouse model. To summarize, it is recommended that you should:

• Use a supported version of SketchUp (see the FAQ below)
• Model the products to the real-world. actual size
• Make sure the axis origin is appropriate for the product; this is because the origin is the point at which users grab and place it on their respective models, so the placement should feel intuitive
• Orient faces appropriately and consistently
• Keep the polygon count to a minimum and only model what the user will see to reduce the file size
• Use lower-resolution images and photos in your 3D Warehouse components
• Add useful attributes/metadata, which provides trackable product information
• Simplify the nesting (grouping) of components to enable users to use the fewest number of clicks to select the geometry of the individual components when they want to edit/manipulate them
• Remove/purge unused materials, components, and layers
• Minimize the number of layers – it is advisable to use only one layer (Layer0)
• Adopt a simple, consistent style
• Make sure you delete all stray and floating geometry from the file
• Delete all section planes
• Ensure your upload file has no guide points
• Do away with all text and dimensions unless they provide product placement information
• Clear any geolocation in your file unless the information is necessary
• Save the model in the screen orientation you wish to use as its thumbnail
• Familiarize yourself with the User Content Manager, which lets you manage and organize your creations

Tips for 3D Warehouse Users

If you are not on 3D Warehouse as a creator, you are there to browse and perhaps download some models. But what should 3D Warehouse users know before using the platform? As a user, here are a few tips and general information that will help you use the platform efficiently:

• Create a 3D Warehouse account because you need to be signed in to download 3D models
• Go through the terms of service to familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts
• To access models from product manufacturers, use the Catalogs tab
• Use the filters feature to narrow down the number of models 3D Warehouse displays
• Simplify the advanced search function to find models; 3D Warehouse’s AI-powered search engine can find models based on both text-based and image-based queries

Benefits and Limitations of Using SketchUp 3D Warehouse

Benefits of the 3D Warehouse

1. Free Product: SketchUp 3D Warehouse is a free solution. It lets you upload, search/find, and download 3D models for free.
2. Large Repository of Models: 3D Warehouse bills itself as the world’s largest free 3D model library.
3. Advanced Tools for Finding Models: 3D Warehouse has continuously introduced new features and tools that help you find the right models quickly and efficiently.

Limitations of the 3D Warehouse

1. Lack of Express Quality Control: 3D Warehouse does not have built-in quality control capabilities. Anyone can upload a 3D model, meaning the library is fraught with numerous creations, some of which are not detailed enough to warrant usage in professional settings.
2. Lack of Support for a Variety of File Formats: SketchUp 3D Warehouse only supports the .skp file format. You can only upload a .skp file. When it comes to downloading the 3D models, the platform only supports .skp and .dae files.

Quality Control and Reviewing Process

In its formative years, Google dedicated substantial resources to ensure quality control. However, Google only reviewed 3D models uploaded to Google Earth. There’s little mention of the company extending this practice to models uploaded to 3D Warehouse. This meant that there was little in the way of quality control for 3D models added to 3D Warehouse. Users were free to upload any and every creation they had come up with.

Incidentally, the lack of express quality control did not change even with the 2012 acquisition. In fact, the 3D Warehouse terms of service (ToS) state that Trimble may or may not review third-party models for compliance with the law or its policies. It also does not assume any liability for models posted. Furthermore, the platform provides the models and materials as they are uploaded, per its ToS.

By 2018, users were complaining of the lack of QC on the SketchUp Community forum. In their contributions, the users made several suggestions. These suggestions included the addition of moderators and a paid tier that would ensure creators of quality models get a cut for each third-party download. Others suggested a likes and dislikes system. However, Trimble has yet to implement these suggestions, instead opting for a different approach.

Quality Control Tools on 3D Warehouse

While 3D Warehouse does not police what third parties upload to its platform, it does give users the power to decide what constitutes quality. This approach might be influenced by the fact that quality is subjective. Plus, it may also be cheaper from a human resources perspective. So, instead of controlling the quality on its backend, Trimble has opted to give users this power by providing them with an array of QC tools.

1. Improved Search Function

In 2019, Trimble introduced a new filtering and sorting feature. The feature was intended to help users narrow down the number of models. It enabled them to discover creations that satisfy certain criteria. The filtering and sorting feature replaced Advanced Search, which was itself a reliable way of eliminating models that did not meet the threshold of quality.

Recently, Trimble revamped the search function, integrating the power of AI. The search function lets you search for 3D models using images. Simply drag any image and drop it into the 3D Warehouse search bar. The AI-powered search engine then finds 3D models that resemble the image. However, as noted earlier, you need a SketchUp subscription to use this feature.

2. Filter Feature

The feature on 3D Warehouse lets you filter the models by category, subcategory, file size, polygon count, file type, title and author, date of creation, and other special filters. Combining several of these filters can help you land on a quality model. The feature prevents you from manually sifting through thousands of models, some of which may be poor quality.

Let’s take the example of the polygon count. It refers to the number of polygons that have created a 3D model. It is, therefore, one of the parameters that determines the model’s overall quality. Generally, a model with a higher polygon count has more details, while another with a low count lacks important details. Thus, entering a high polygon count will likely display high-quality 3D models and vice versa.

3. Product Manufacturer Tools

In 2020, 3D Warehouse created a designated section for manufacturers to showcase their products. More specifically, Trimble introduced new and improved catalogs. These catalogs are places, similar to digital showrooms, where product manufacturers can talk about their brands, feature their products, and display product lines. As verifiable one-stop shops, catalogs assure users that a product manufacturer has created and uploaded every product they come across.

SketchUp 3D Warehouse Community

The 3D Warehouse has a vibrant and active online community that is part of the SketchUp Community. However, the former is not available as a separate forum but as a category in SketchUp’s main forum (SketchUp Community). Here, users post questions about how certain features in 3D Warehouse work, problems they have encountered while using the platform, features they would like Trimble to introduce, and more.

Moreover, there is a 3D Warehouse subreddit (r/3DWarehouse), which appears to be unofficial. However, it is largely inactive, with some posts receiving zero responses. So, if you wish to engage with other 3D Warehouse users, post your query or comment on the appropriate SketchUp Community category.

Alternatives to SketchUp 3D Warehouse

The internet is rife with websites that offer free 3D CAD models. Such sites are worthy alternatives to SketchUp 3D Warehouse. They are also superior in that most of them support a variety of file formats, unlike 3D Warehouse, which supports .skp and .dae files. We have previously discussed 13 sites with free 3D CAD models. But to summarize, here are a few alternatives to SketchUp 3D Warehouse:

1. Free3D

Free3D is an online platform that lets creators share their 3D models with other users around the world. While the name suggests that the 3D models are free, that is not always true with some uploads. The website also displays free 3D models alongside premium 3D models, some of which are priced at over $30. The platform also enables creators to land freelance work by facilitating communication between potential clients and the potential freelancer via the site’s messaging tool.

Unlike SketchUp 3D Warehouse, Free3D supports a number of file formats, including .blend, .3ds, .obj, .dae., .fbx, .unity, .max, .jpg, .c4d, .stl, .mtl, .bid, .tif, and much more. To download these files, you do not need to create an account or sign in.

2. GrabCAD

GrabCAD’s library is an online repository home to over 5.7 million free CAD files. It boasts an expansive user base, with more than 12.6 million engineers, architects, designers, and creators making up the GradCAD community. GrabCAD supports the following file formats: .cd4, .dxf, .stl, .obj, .step, .iges, .3ds, .dwg, .rvt, and more. To download the files, you must be signed in to your GrabCAD account.

3. 3DCADBrowser

3DCADBrowser offers purely free 3D models, more than 22,800 of them. As you can expect with an online library of models, you can browse hundreds of creations. The platform lets you search a particular model by typing keywords on the search bar. Alternatively, you can search the models by category. You simply have to visit the catalog webpage.

The 3DCADBrowser website supports 3D polygonal mesh file formats and 3D CAD solid objects file formats. Combined, these include .max, .obj, .fbx, .blend, .c4d, .dxf, .step, .iges, .sldasm, .sldprt, .iam, .ipt, .asm, and .prt. To download 3D models, you must first register or log in to your account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there a cost to access SketchUp 3D Warehouse?

No. SketchUp 3D Warehouse is a free service/platform. In fact, you can create and upload 3D models for free using the browser-based SketchUp for Web. Similarly, this web-based solution enables you to use the 3D models you have downloaded from 3D Warehouse at no cost. But if you prefer using the desktop version of SketchUp, you will have to pay the subscription fee.

2. Which versions of SketchUp are compatible with 3D Warehouse?

Supported SketchUp Versions in 3D Warehouse as of October 2023

3D Warehouse supports the current version of SketchUp as well as two previous versions. This is based on SketchUp’s End of Support policy for older versions of the software. The policy notes that Sketchup desktop products will become unsupported on January 31 of the third year after their release. This means that SketchUp 2020’s End of Support date was January 31, 2023, and SketchUp 2023’s End of Support date will be January 31, 2026.

Products whose End of Support date has passed can no longer access 3D Warehouse and other SketchUp web services such as Extension Warehouse, Trimble Connect, Generate Report, and more. As things stand in October 2023, SketchUp 2020 is no longer compatible with 3D Warehouse. It is for this reason that 3D Warehouse currently allows you to download 3D models for only three versions, SketchUp 2023, SketchUp 2022, and SketchUp 2021, as shown in the image to the right, taken in October 2023.

3. Are there any file size limits for uploading or downloading models?

Models uploaded to 3D Warehouse should not exceed 100MB.

4. Can I upload a model to 3D Warehouse in a format other than .skp?

No. You can only upload an SKP file. But after you upload the model, 3D Warehouse renders different file types. If you upload a georeferenced model, the platform creates a KMZ file. KMZ files work with Google Earth. On the other hand, if your model is not georeferenced, 3D Warehouse will render it as a COLLADA file. The COLLADA file’s extension is .dae.

5. What happens to the intellectual property rights of the models I upload to 3D Warehouse?

As the creator (also known as the developer), you own all rights (including all intellectual property rights), title, and interest in and to the 3D model. This is because by uploading to 3D Warehouse, you simply grant Trimble the license to, among others, make the models available on or through 3D Warehouse. You do not surrender intellectual property rights.

6. Is there a way to keep my 3D Warehouse model private or share it with specific users?

When uploading a model, 3D Warehouse allows you to set the model as ‘Public’ or ‘Private’. Only you can view private models; you cannot share the private model with specific people. If you want to share it, you must label it as ‘Public’ by selecting the Edit Model button and toggling off the Private Model option.

7. Can I use models from the 3D Warehouse for commercial purposes?

No. 3D Warehouse restricts the use – and modification of 3D models downloaded from the platform – for any public display, sale, performance, rental, or any commercial purpose, unless you are the creator (developer). Nonetheless, the General Model License Agreement stipulates that you can obtain authorization from Trimble or the developer to use the models commercially.

Conclusion

SketchUp 3D Warehouse is a great place for CAD designers to find readymade 3D models they can use for their 3D modeling. By using the Warehouse, designers can save a considerable amount of time and thus shorten the time taken to complete designs.

SketchUp 3D Warehouse is a free open library that anyone using SketchUp, Revit, ArchiCAD, or any software that supports the .skp or .dae file formats can access. 

A Title Block holds important information to help the person using the drawing for construction or machining to understand things like the scale used in the engineering drawing, the type of units used in dimensions, the type of material used, whether the design has been verified by engineers and whether there are any revisions among other things.

However, drawing a title block from scratch may cost a CAD designer precious time especially when dealing with assembly drawings, which include drawings of more than one component. CAD designers can download free title blocks online to avoid wasting time drawing the title blocks from scratch.

We shall look at 5 sites that offer free title block templates for CAD designers in this post. However, before we get into listing the sites, it is important to understand several issues about title blocks to understand what you should be looking for when downloading the free title blocks from the sites. We shall first shed some light on what title blocks are, different types of title blocks, and different sizes and locations of title blocks within a CAD drawing.

What is a Title Block in CAD?

A title block is a neatly arranged area on a CAD drawing sheet that contains specific information about the 2D drawing or 3D model that appears on that particular drawing sheet.

Different CAD applications come with different types of title block layouts placed in different templates. Most of these templates place the title block at the bottom right corner of the drawing sheet and also include a border that extends along the edges of the drawing sheet.

5 Sites Where You Can Download Free Title Blocks

Considering the information provided in the above sections, one can comfortably look for a free title block to download online. Below are 5 websites that offer free title blocks:

1. DWGfree

DWGfree website offers free title block templates for AutoCAD .DWG files to save engineers and designers from unnecessary work designing and configuring title blocks and rather concentrate on designing and drawing.

You can download, open, save, copy and edit any of the AutoCAD title blocks that are freely downloadable on this website.

You can use the search box to search for any title block template on this site.

Figure 4. Preview of a Title Blocks Layout in metric in DWGfree website (source)

2. Yourspreadsheets

The Yourspreadsheets site provides architects, civil engineers, contractors, structural engineers, and homeowners with free DWT title block formats.

These free title blocks can be downloaded and used on both personal and commercial projects. They are named in various names that start with the term “Mr.” then followed by a descriptive word that gives an insight into what the title block looks like. Examples of title blocks include Mr. Elegant, Mr. Rounded corners, Mr. Simple and Mr. Bubble

Figure 5. Example of Mr. Elegant’s free Title Block Template on Yourspreadsheets website (source)

3. CADforum

The CADforum website offers free title blocks for drawing drawn using Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Revit, Fusion 360, and other 2D and 3D Autodesk CAD applications. The title block templates are available in IPT, DWG, F3D, and RFA file formats.

Figure 6. Screenshot of the CADforum website

4. FreeCADs

The FreeCADs website provides free title blocks in DWG formats. However, the current offering from this site is extremely limited. Perhaps more will be added soon. 

5. DRAFTSPERSON.NET

The Draftsperson website provides two metric title block templates. One for A1 sheets and the other for A3 sheets. The free title blocks come in DWG file formats.

Figure 7. A screenshot of the free Title Blocks on the draftsperson.net website

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What should be included in a title block?

You should include the following information in your title block:

• Title of the project (drawing that appears on the drawing sheet),
• The designer’s name, the client’s name,
• The address of the site to which the drawing is to be used, the drawing date,
• The author’s name,
• Checker’s name (mostly an engineer that checks and verified that the design is okay),
• Revision information,
• The sheet number,
• The scale used for the drawing on the sheet,
• Type of units used in dimensioning,
• The components used in case the drawing is an assembly and the respective materials for the different components.

You can add any other information depending on what your organization or company requires.

2. What should you consider when creating a title block?

A good Title Block should have consistency in appearance and information and should allow the person using the sheet drawing to easily implement the information provided on the title block and drawing. 

A CAD drawing provided to a machinist in a machine shop, for example, should have the dimensions, engineering tolerances, and type of units used in dimensioning well indicated to enable the machinist to properly machine the desired product/component.

3. How do you make a simple title block in AutoCAD?

There are two methods of making a title block in AutoCAD. One is by creating your own title block right from scratch and saving it as a template for future reference and the other by using any preexisting title block template. for purposes of making a simple title block in AutoCAD, you can use the preexisting templates. AutoCAD comes with several templates that cut across different fields. 

To start click the AutoCAD logo in the top left corner of your screen and click on New in the drop-down menu that opens. A box will open in the center of the screen titled ‘Select Template’. Choose the template that you feel best fits your project.

When done,  go over to the Model Tab by clicking the Model tab at the bottom left corner of the screen and make whichever drawing or model you want. After you finish making your drawing in the model tab, go to your Layout view and open the Layout tab in the Ribbon, and in the ‘Layout Viewports’ panel, click ‘Rectangular’. You should see a clear layout page (it could have grids depending on your AutoCAD settings) with a title block at the bottom right corner.

Click and drag to create a Viewport so that you have a model on your layout page. To edit the properties of the title block, click the AutoCAD logo at the top-left of your screen, then click ‘Drawing Utilities’, and finally click ‘Drawing Properties.’

Now go ahead and complete the properties that are relevant to your drawing.

4. What is the standard title block format?

There are two title block formats used in CAD and they include:

• A CAD block that is placed within the drawing sheet file 
• An xreffed file

The most commonly used format is the CAD block and it is placed at the bottom right corner of a sheet as a table. 

An xreffed file is a file that refers to another CAD file containing information about a specific drawing. It is commonly referred to as an XRef, external reference, or block reference file. And it is possible to XRef a CAD file that also XRef another CAD drawing.

5. What is the best title block size to use?

Title blocks may just occupy a box corner on the bottom right corner of the drawing sheet though at times they tend to extend along the right edge of the drawing sheet depending on the amount of information it contains. As a result, when placing CAD drawing on drawing sheets, designers and engineers should ensure they leave enough room on the right side to accommodate the title block.

Though some templates may not include a border that extends around the four edges of the drawing sheet, a good title block template should include a border. The border helps in ensuring that the paper prints are properly printed without the drawing becoming bound out of alignment. Therefore, it is important to keep this in consideration even when looking for free title blocks to download.

The other thing to consider is the size of the title block. Generally, title blocks come in three different categories depending on their sizes determined by the different CAD drawing sizes. These categories include:

i.  Title Blocks used for A, B, C, and G size drawings

Figure 1. Example of a Title Block for A, B, C, and G drawing sizes (source)

ii. Title Blocks for D, E, F, H, J, and K size drawings

Figure 2. Example of a Title Block for D, E, F, H, J, and K drawing sizes (source)

iii. Vertical Title Blocks

Figure 3. Examples of Vertical Title Blocks (source)

Below are two tables showing the dimensions of the different CAD drawing sizes, which should assist in determining which title block to use for your drawing

Table 1. Showing the different size categories of Standard US engineering drawings

Table 1. Showing the different size categories of Standard US architectural drawings 

Vertical Title Blocks are preferred for D to K drawings.

6. How do you insert a drawing border with a title block?

To insert a drawing border with a title block in AutoCAD, for example, open up a blank drawing and click on the “Layout” tab in the bottom left corner. Then Right-click on “Layout 1” and select “Page Setup Manager.”

Then click “Modify” after which a pop-up window should appear. The most important thing to pay attention to in the pop-up window is the paper size that you intend to use. By default, the paper size is set at (8.5 x 11 inches), so be sure to set it up so that it matches the size of the Title Block template.

Then select “Landscape” on the Drawing Orientation panel and click “OK”. 

Now click on the “Insert” tab and then click the “Insert” button on the far left side. From the pop-up menu, click on “Browse” and select your template. You should leave all the check boxes as they are apart from checking the “Specify on-screen” box after which you should click “OK.”

Drag to position the Title Block and left-click to put it in place once you are certain it is where you want it to be. You should take note of the dashed line since it represents the print border; you should position the Title Block within it.

Conclusion

You do not have to draw title blocks from scratch when putting your CAD drawing in drawing sheets for presentation or printing. There are hundreds if not thousands of free title blocks that you can download online, especially from the websites that we have highlighted in the above section.

Downloading free Title Block Templates saves you time and ensures that you use standard title block formats recognized worldwide since most of the available title blocks are designed in standard formats.

But before delving into how to use the software, let us first look at what it is and what it can do (or what it can be used to do).

What is AutoCAD Mechanical?

AutoCAD Mechanical is a software product of Autodesk Inc., which is an American software corporation that makes CAD software for engineering, architecting, manufacturing, construction, education, and entertainment and media industries. The AutoCAD Mechanical software is specifically made for mechanical engineers, manufactures, and designers.

What can AutoCAD Mechanical software do?

Mechanical engineers manufacture, and designers can use the AutoCAD Mechanical software for:

• 2D drafting, drawing, and annotation – this involves producing 2D drawings/drafts, generating dimensions, creating and editing single or multiline text, creating leaders with a variety of content, creating and editing centerlines and center marks, creating tables with data and symbols in rows and columns and applying formulas, linking the tables to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, saving views by name, specifying layouts (drawing sheets), creating arrays (objects that are created in circular or rectangular patterns, or along a path), and applying parametric constraints.
• 3D modeling and visualization – this involves creating solid, surface, and meshed realistic 3D models, using 3D viewing and navigation tools to walk, swivel, fly and orbit around 3D models when showcasing designs, applying visual styles, creating section planes to display cross-sectional views, rendering, and generating 2D drawings of 3D models.
• Collaboration – this involves, importing, exporting, or attaching files as underlays in PDF, DWG, or DGN files.

Figure 1. A 2D projection drawing of a 3D model drawn using AutoCAD Mechanical (Source)

We shall look into each of these to assist you to learn AutoCAD Mechanical basics for performing any of the tasks.

Orientation

If you are a mechanical engineer, designer, or manufacturer and want to perform any of the above tasks using AutoCAD Mechanical but you are wondering how to start, this AutoCAD Mechanical: Learn the Basics in 1 Hour guide will take you through all the basics to help you learn AutoCAD Mechanical basics in the least time possible.

We shall start with learning about the various features, and tools that you shall encounter when you open AutoCAD Mechanical software.

When you click to open AutoCAD Mechanical, you should click ‘Start Drawing’ under ‘Get Started’ if you are using a more recent version like 2020 or ‘New’ under the Work section when using older versions like the 2013 version, which we shall use for this guide, to start working on a new project.

Figure 2. Figure 2. AutoCAD Mechanical 2020 start screen

Figure 3. AutoCAD Mechanical 2013 start screen

When it opens, the user interface looks like the one shown in the screenshot below:

Figure 4. AutoCAD Mechanical user interface explained

We shall look at what each of the features and tools that are shown in the above screenshot is used for.

1. Application menu Button – This offers tools for managing your AutoCAD Mechanical files. When clicked, a file pull-down menu appears. The pull-down menu contains buttons for actions such as ‘New’, ‘Open’, ‘Save’, ‘Save As’, ‘Export’, ‘Publish’, ‘Print’, ‘Drawing Utilities’, and ‘Exit’.

Figure 5. Pull-Down menu that appears after clicking on the Application Menu button

2. Title Bar – This is where the name of your current project/drawing is displayed denoting even the format of the file. If you look at the screenshot shown above, the name of the current project is saved as Drawing1.dwg showing it is a .dwg file.

3. Quick Access toolbar – This provides access to some of the buttons found by clicking on the application menu button. By default, this toolbar contains the buttons for opening new tabs, opening existing files, saving your work, save as an option, and the cloud option.

4. Info center – This displays various information like the search results button, sign-in button, Autodesk exchange apps button, stay connected button, and the help center button.

5. Ribbon – This contains sets of drawing and modeling tools that are grouped in various groups. These groups are put under various tabs including Home, Insert, Annotate, Layout, Parametric, View, Manage, Output, Plug-in, Online, and Express Tools. The Home tab contains groups of some of the most common tools grouped into Draw, Modify, Layers, Annotation, Block, Properties, Groups, Utilities, and Click board.

6. Drawing tabs (file tabs) – This shows the opened tabs each representing a different project. You can open as many tabs as you wish and they shall be displayed at the top adjustment to each other in the same way the start and file tabs are in the above ‘AutoCAD Mechanical user interface explained’ screenshot. 

7. Drawing area – This is where your current project will appear and it is where you perform your tasks like drawing, modeling, rendering, and so forth.

8. User Coordinate System icon (UCS icon) – This is an icon of AutoCAD’s Coordinate System that tells you the position of the various things including your cursor when drawing. It is very important, especially when working with complex 2D drawings and 3D models. 

9. Viewport Controls (In-Canvas controls) – This shows the current view (side and form) of the project you are working on. By default, the viewport controls are set as Top and 2D Wireframe.

Figure 6. Viewport Controls set to Top and 2D Wireframe by default

To view a different side and form of your drawing, just click on ‘Top’ and ‘2D Wireframe’ respectively, and a drop-down list where you can change the default side and form will appear. 

Figure 7. Different sides appearing after clicking on ‘Top’

Figure 8. Different forms appear after clicking on 2D Wireframe

10. View Cube – This is used for turning/rotating your drawing or model to view the different sides.

11. Navigation bar – This is used for navigation, panning, zooming, orbiting, and creating and viewing recorded cinematic motions.

12. Command Line – This shows the current action that you are undertaking. 

Figure 9. Command-line showing current action

In the above screenshot, we have selected to draw a circle and the command line displays ‘Circle Specify radius of a circle or [Diameter]:’. You can input the value of the circle’s diameter after the full colon and click enter to complete drawing the circle of the specified diameter.

When performing any task, be it to draw a line, a spline, or anything, the command line window will always display what you should do and what inputs you should input by stating the type of input in brackets just as [Diameter] was placed in the brackets.

13. Status bar – contains a range of menus including the workspace switching menu.

14. Workspace switching menu – This enables you to change certain aspects of the drawing area like Infer Constraints, Snap Mode, Orthogonal Mode,  Polar Tracking, Object Snap, 3D Object Snap, Object Snap Tracking, Allow/Disallow Dynamic UCS, Dynamic Input, Show/Hide Lineweight, Show/Hide Transparency, Quick Properties, Selection Cycling, and Annotation Monitor.

Making basic drawings using AutoCAD Mechanical

Selecting the units to use

Before starting any project, you should specify the units that you want to use. To do this you should type ‘Units’ (when you type anything it is typed in the command line window and the respective command is displayed. Click enter and select the units you want to use, the length type (e.g decimal, fractional, etc.), the length precision, the angle type, and the angle precision. 

Figure 10. Selecting units in AutoCAD Mechanical

For this guide, we shall use inches.

Drawing different shapes

Basic drawing start by drawing different shapes on the drawing area by either using the different tools found in the ‘Draw’ group of tools under the home tab in the ribbon or by typing the name of the shape you want to draw and press enter. 

For instance, if you want to draw a line you can click on the line tool or typing ‘line’ and clicking enter, and then positioning your cursor at the location you want to start drawing on the drawing area. 

If you want the line to be at a certain angle, type ’<’ after selecting the start point of your line and input the value of the angle you want and press enter. This will ensure that the line you shall draw by either moving your cursor or input length in the command line will be inclined at an angle of 30.

Once you complete using any of the drawing tools, you should click enter or ‘Esc to exit that tool to select another option

Modifying drawings

To modify any shape that you draw, you can use any of the tools in the ‘Modify’ group of tools under the Home tab in the ribbon. Alternatively, you can type the name of the ‘modify’ action you want to use and click enter and the command line shall direct you on what to do or input.

Some of the most commonly used ‘Modify’ tolls used include Move, Copy, Trim, Stretch, Mirror, and Scale.

For example, if you want to mode a shape or object, type ‘move’ and click enter or click on ‘move’ from the tools in the ‘Modify’ group of tools. As a beginner, follow the commands specified in the command line window.

Adding dimensions, texts, leader lines, and tables to your drawings

To add dimensions, texts, leader lines, and tables on your drawings, select what you want to add from the ‘Annotation’ group of tools under the Home tab in the ribbon and follow the commands specified in the command line window.

Taking measurements of various aspects on your drawings

To measure distances, angles, radius, area, or volume of your drawing in AutoCAD mechanical, simply click on ‘Measure’ in the ‘Utilities’ group of tools under the Home tab in the ribbon and select the type of measurement (e.g. distance) you want to take.

Then follow the commands shown on the command line window.

Saving your work in different CAD file formats

By default, the AutoCAD Mechanical saves files as .dwg files. Therefore, if you click on save you will be saving your drawing as a .dwg file.

To save your drawing in another format, simply click on the application menu button, scroll down to ‘Save As’  place your cursor on the arrow pointing to the right, and select other formats.

Figure 11. Saving drawing in different formats in AutoCAD Mechanical

Then proceed to input the name of your drawing and select the file format in which you want to save the drawing.

Figure 12. Selecting the file type to save your drawing

Saving your CAD drawing as a PDF

To save a PDF version of your CAD drawing using the AutoCAD Mechanical, simply click on the application menu button and scroll down to export and place your cursor on the arrow pointing to the right. Then select PDF and proceed to input the name of your PDF file and the location you want to save it.

Compared to the likes of AutoCAD, which costs $4,795/paid every 3 years or $1,775/paid annually or $220/paid monthly and Inventor, which costs $5,915/paid every 3 years or $2,190/paid annually or $275/paid monthly, Fusion only costs $60/paid monthly or $495 paid annually making it the cheapest among the three. 

Also, depending on your requirements, it is possible to get Fusion 360 completely free. Want to learn how? Read on for the full details.

System requirements for fusion 360

• Operating System (OS): Windows 7, Windows 8.1, macOS, and Windows 10 (64-bit only)
• CPU processor: 64-bit processor only
• Memory size: 3GB RAM or above

Fusion 360 features and functionalities

Figure 1. 3D printable object designed using Fusion 360 (Source)

Fusion 360 CAD software is used for a range of tasks, including Computer-aided engineering (CAE), 3D design & modeling, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), additive manufacturing like 3D printing, PCB development, data management, collaboration among stakeholders, generative design, simulation, and documentation.

The software differs from most other computer-aided software in that it is based on cloud technology. Instead of using a lot of the computer’s processing power and rendering the computer almost useless for the duration of time Fusion will be undertaking actions such as rendering and thermal analysis among others, Fusion 360 sends the actions involved during these tasks to a cloud, which acts as a resource multiplier. This ensures that your computer is not slowed down when running the Fusion 360.

Another unique feature of Fusion 360 is its compatibility with 3D printing software. You can export your work as either STL or OBJ files, which are compatible with most of the software used by 3D printers. This, therefore, means that you do not need third-party software while working with Fusion 360. You can directly export your files to a 3D printer and 3D print the object you have drawn using Fusion 360.

Fusion 360 for Free

To use Fusion 360 for free, you can choose either download the Fusion 360 free Trial, or fusion 360 for Chromebooks, or the Fusion 360 for personal use or choose the Free Fusion 360 for Start-Ups if you want to use the Fusion 360 for a startup that is less than 3 years old and has less than 10 employees.

It is, however, important to note that you can only access the entire pack of Fusion 360 features once you pay for the Fusion 360. The free versions have limited features and only allow for the basic functionalities.

Fusion 360 Free Trial

This allows you to use the premium version of the Fusion 360 for free for a period of 30 days after which you shall be required to pay the monthly or annual subscription fee to continue enjoying the features of the software.

The Fusion 360 Free Trial is provided to allow users to first test the Fusion 360 functionalities and also learn how to use the software before deciding whether to pay for it or not. It allows full access to all the capabilities and features of the Fusion 360.

Fusion 360 for personal use

Figure 2. Fusion 360 for personal use (Source)

The Fusion 360 for personal use is a limited free version of the Fusion 360 that comes with basic functionalities. It is a perfect option for individuals undertaking non-complex manufacturing projects, non-commercial projects or just drawing and designing as a hobby.

It comes with the following functionalities:

• Standard design and 3D modeling tools
• Limited CAM functionality including the capability to design objects that can be manufactured using 2 & 3-axis milling, turning, adaptive clearing, fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing, water jet, plasma cutter, and laser cutter.
• Single user data management including the ability to open and edit a maximum of 10 active documents, open unlimited inactive documents, and leave comments and markups on documents.
• Limited PCB design capabilities including the ability to design using 2 schematics, 2 layers, and use a board area of a maximum of 80cm2.
• Limited 2D documentation and drawings. It only supports single sheets, print, and forums.
• It only allows local rendering.
• Ability to export only 11 file types that include .f3d, .f3z, .fbx, .iam, .ipt, .obj, .skp, .smt, .step, .stl, and .stp file types.
• Ability to import only 13 file types that include .123dx, .dxfs, .f3d, .f3z, .fbx, .ige, .iges, .igs, .obj, .ste, .step, .stl, and .stp file types.

Interestingly, although the Fusion 360 for personal use is free, you must renew it on an annual basis to continue enjoying its features and functionalities.

Fusion 360 for Start-Ups

Figure 3. Fusion 360 for startups (Source)

The Free Fusion 360 for Start-Ups is a free version of the Fusion 360 available to small startups that are less than 3 years old and have less than 10 employees. It is best suited for angel-backed, venture-backed, or bootstrap startups.

The startup should have a valid website or a social media account over which it transacts and should have gross annual revenue of less than $100,000. It should also be a startup that designs or manufactures original physical products. That means that startups involved in providing services, reselling, contract manufacturing, or consultancy do not qualify for the Free Fusion 360 for Start-Ups.

Once a startup signs up for the Free Fusion 360 for Start-Ups, it should be ready to share its story with the Fusion 360 community. 

The license must, however, be renewed on an annual basis as long as the startup continues to meet the requirements.

Fusion 360 for Chromebooks

The Fusion 360 for Chromebooks is only available to educational subscribers. 

Students and educators can access free one-year access to Autodesk products including Fusion 360 renewable annually as long as they remain eligible.

How to not get Fusion 360 for free

Even with the many options that are available to allow people to use the Fusion 360 for free, some may still be tempted to try and circumvent the licenses and try to download the cracked version of the Fusion 360 software. That comes with a myriad of risks including the fact that cracks are illegal.

If you install a cracked software on your computer, you provide hackers and other criminal organizations with leeway to infiltrate your computer and any other systems that the computer is connected to. It also makes you a frequent target of viruses, Trojans, and all other types of malware.

Worse still, if you install a cracked software, you risk being a victim of intellectual property theft, which can put your entire startup or business at risk since it would mean your competitors would be able to get their hands on the projects you are undertaking to stay ahead of them in the market.

To avoid these risks, it is advisable to go with the options we have listed above for using fusion 360 for free. After all, the Fusion 360 for personal use and the Free Fusion 360 for Start-Ups offers the option of extending the license annually meaning you can use these options indefinitely.

In conclusion

Fusion 360 is a powerful software that is easy to use and engineers, designers, and manufacturers can easily produce quality 3D models using it. Even for those with little knowledge about it, it is easy to learn. Besides, there is plenty of educational material online to assist with expanding your Fusion 360 skills.

One of the main advantages of using Fusion 360 is that it uses cloud technology thus easing the work for your computer especially when performing heavy tasks like rendering. Also, you can store your work on the cloud and access it from any location using any computer.

The only limitation when using Fusion 360 is that it requires a strong internet connection to allow seamless use of the cloud. Otherwise, you should enjoy most of its capabilities even without the money to subscribe to the premium version by using the Fusion 360 for free options we have stated above.

Also, although there are several G-Code generating software, commonly referred to as G-Code generators, most are generally expensive and you may not afford to dig into your pocket every time you need a G-Code file. There are lots of free G-Code files that you can download online and Scan2CAD has compiled a list of 5 sites where you can download free G-Code files.

G-Code file types

Before delving into where you can source free G-Code files, let’s first discuss the different G-Code file types that exist. Here is the list of G-Code file types:

1 .cnc files

These are g-code files created by CAD/CAM programs such as QuickCam and PartMaster CAM among others to generate paths for CNC milling machine tools. The files can be created from 3D models or 2D drawings/images. They are used to cut 3D parts using CNC milling machines.

The programs contained in the .cnc files provide pre-programmed control commands to CNC milling machine computers for removing material from the workpiece through rotary cutters.

2 .nc files

A .nc file is a g-code file created by CAD/CAM programs like CNC Mastercam. It contains numerical control instructions that direct a CNC machine tool like a boring tool, or drill, during the machining process.

Mastercam is the most used CAD/CAM software used by machinists and engineers to produce .nc files and it is mostly used when machining mechanical parts using CNC machines. 

3 .tap files

.tap files are G-code files created by CAD/CAM programs like Autodesk ArtCAM for creating tool path files compatible with Mach3 CNC machines.

You should bear in mind that the structure of these file types is identical. The only difference between these file types is the file extension.

Websites where you can download free G-Code files

1. GRABCAD Community Website

Figure 5. GRABCAD Community website (source)

The GRABCAD Community website offers a variety of free CAD files and free G-Code files for CNC.

To look for a specific file, click on the “category” tab next to the “Recent all-time” tab just next to the search tab and then scroll through the different categories that range from 3D printing, Aerospace, Agriculture, Architecture, Automotive, Aviation, Components, Computer, Construction, Educational, Electrical, Energy and Power, Fixtures, Furniture, Hobby, Household, Industrial design, Interior design, Jewelry, Just for fun, Machine design, Marine, Medical, Military, Miscellaneous, Nature, Piping, Robotics, Speedrun, Sport, Tech, Tools, to Toys.

However, to see if the file you selected consists of a CNC G-Code, you will have to click on the file and see if there is a file with a .tap, .nc, or .cnc file extension among the files in the folder.

If you clicked on the “Punisher Skull” on the results of the ‘gcode’ keyword search, you will be able to see that its folder contains 4 files and among them is a file with a .nc file extension. Therefore, you can be sure that you will get a free G-Code for the design.

Figure 6. A .nc G-Code file for a punisher skull on GRABCAD (source)

2. Vector Graphic Art

Vector Graphic Art is a website dedicated to providing designers, engineers, and machinists with different Vector graphics including free G-code files for CNC.

All the files on this site are freely downloadable, thus providing CNC hobbyists and machinists with a great selection of free files. Besides free downloadable TAP CNC files, the site also has free downloadable CDR, DXF, EPS, Ai, DWG, and SVG files.

Figure 2. Free TAP Vector G-Code file types on Vector Graphic Art website (source)

To download TAP CNC G-code files, for example, visit the site and click on the TAP section on the list of available file types on the right-hand side. Here you will be presented with the available TAP files and you can scroll through the list of files to identify a file that you may be interested in. Click on the particular file you select and locate the download button at the bottom.

3. 3D Free Vector

The 3D Free Vector is another website that is dedicated to providing CNC hobbyists and machinists with free G-code files for CNC.

Besides free downloadable TAP CNC files, one can also freely download DXF, CDR, EIA, DXF Laser Cut, and CDR Laser Cut files.

To select the file type you want, simply click on the particular file type from the menu at the top. If you want to look for a TAP file, for example, click on the TAP tab and you will be presented with all the available files.TAP extension.

Figure 3. TAP CNC files on 3D Free Vector website (source)

To download a TAP file, click on the specific file and locate and click on the “DOWNLOAD TAP” button.

For a better experience, it is advisable to create an account on the site.

4. CNCgcode

Figure 4. CNCgcode website (source)

The CNCgcode website has silhouette CNC DXF art files for a range of shapes CNC hobbyists and machinists can cut on a CNC machine. 

The files come in zip files containing DXF and NC G-Code files and they are free to download. Therefore, one gets to get the actual 2D outlines contained in the DXF file and the G-Code for use on a CNC machine.

The site contains DXF and CNC G-Code files for cutting numbers, sea creatures, cartoons, and fantasy shapes using CNC machines.

However, once one selects the specific category of shapes (numbers, sea creatures, cartoons, and fantasy) he/she requires, he/she will have to manually scroll down the list of available files to identify the specific file they want since the site has no search option.

5. CNC Cookbook

Figure 1. CNC Cookbook

CNC cookbook is the developer of the popular G-code editor and G-code estimator software. The G-code editor is software for G-code programmers that enables them to write, test, simulate, and optimize G-Codes programs. On the other hand, the G-Code estimator software is software that helps CNC machinists and hobbyists improve feeds and speeds for CNC milling, lathe, routing machines through job costing and estimating.

Besides being a software developer, CNC Cookbook also indulges itself in helping CNC machinists, programmers and hobbyists learn how to write G-codes, edit them and use them on actual machines through their Free G-Code Programming Basics Course and their huge list of more than 200 CNC tips and techniques.

The website also offers free g-code files for CNC hobbyists and machinists to download and use instead of wasting a lot of time and money trying to generate or pay for similar files. 

To get the available free G-code files on CNC Cookbook, simply go to the search tab on their official website and type “G-Code Examples & G-Code Files [Free Downloads]”. Then click on the link to the search result with that topic and you shall be directed to a page where you can download the specific file you want.

Conclusion

If you are a CNC hobbyist or machinist, you agree that creating a CNC G-code can be time-consuming and quite exhausting. However, you can easily get free G-Code files from the above list of websites created by Scan2CAD. It will save you the time of creating a G-Code file from scratch or having to go through the tedious process of converting another file type into a G-Code file type especially since not all files can be converted into G-Code files. 

Also by freely downloading free .cnc, .tab, and .nc files from any of the mentioned websites, you do not have to buy a CNC G-Code generating software like QuickCam, PartMaster, Autodesk ArtCAM, or any other such software, which could prove expensive to acquire and hard to use.

SketchUp is primarily used for architecture rendering, making 3D models of robots, sculptures, and 3D printable products.

It was developed to run on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

SketchUp comes in two versions; the free Sketchup version and the Paid SketchUp versions. While free Sketchup Version is purely web-based, the paid versions (SketchUp Shop and SketchUp Pro) are available as web versions or as downloadable applications that run on standalone computers. The SketchUp Shop goes for $119.00 per year while the SketchUp Pro goes for $299.00 per year.

Compared to most CAD programs, SketchUp offers one of the cheapest pro versions of a CAD program. Most paid versions of CAD programs cost thousands of dollars a year, which is at times way above what most designers, engineers, and architects are willing to spend on CAD software.

Nonetheless, in case someone needs to perform additional tasks that are not possible with SketchUp, they could look for SketchUp alternatives.

And while it is hard to find other CAD programs that can check all the boxes checked by Sketchup in terms of affordability, user-friendly interface and ease of learning, and a wide range of 3D modeling features, Scan2CAD has compiled a list of the top 5 CAD programs that can be used as SketchUp alternatives.

Autodesk Inventor

Figure 1. Autodesk Inventor (Source: design-engineering.com

Developers: Autodesk

Features: 2D drawing tools, 3D modeling tools, simulation tools, FEA analysis tools, documentation tools, and can export into several CAD file formats.

Suitable for: Parametric, direct, and free-form modeling, 2D drawing, assembly drawing, designing mechatronics systems, simulations, and FEA analysis.

Operating system(s): Windows

Cost: It has a free student version and a paid version which goes for $260 per month or $2,085 per year (though users may opt to try it for free for one month)

If you are looking for a 2D drawing and 3D modeling CAD program that you can use instead of SketchUp, Autodesk Inventor is a great choice. And although it is costlier than SketchUp, it has more features than SketchUp.

This is a product of Autodesk that has been in the market for over 20 years. 

It was built for professionals and designed to handle large industrial projects. It can be used for making both 2D and 3D mechanical designs. And besides 2D drawing and 3D modeling, it also has lots of post modeling tools that enable users to perform rendering, simulation, and documentation. 

Though it requires more training compared to SketchUp and a bit of Engineering knowledge, it has quite a user-friendly interface and it is easier to use compared to other CAD programs that are designed to perform similar tasks.

Autodesk Fusion 360

Figure 2. Autodesk Fusion 360 (source)

Developers: Autodesk

Features: 3D modeling and sculpting, like 3D rendering, simulation, animation, and CAM tools.

Suitable for: Parametric sculpting and modeling, and rendering.

Operating system(s): macOS and Windows

Cost: It has a free version that can be used by hobbyists, students, educators, and start-ups earning under $100,000, and a paid version that goes for $60 per month or $495 per year (with a free one month trial).

Fusion 360 is another Autodesk product and it is a cloud-based CAD program. 

It is a great SketchUp alternative especially for designers or engineers looking for a CAD program with more powerful modeling capabilities than SketchUp.

Its parametric modeling system makes it easy for users to track changes. Also, it stores the design files in an Autodesk account to enable users to access them from any other computer rather than the one that was used to generate them.

The only disadvantage with Fusion 360 in comparison to SketchUp is that its user interface is more complicated and may take some time for a beginner to learn how to use it.

The recent release has a built-in-3D slicer that makes it possible for users to perform slicing when 3D modeling and designing.

Tinkercad

Figure 3. Tinkercad (source)

Developers: Autodesk

Features: Gallery of Things containing thousands of already created models available to the users for use in 3D modeling

Operating system(s): Wed-based

Cost: free

Tinkercad was initially developed to make it easy for less technical users to do 3D design. The original company behind this CAD software was acquired by Autodesk in 2013. Being web-based enables even persons with lesser space on their computers to download, install and run a CAD program to design 3D models.

Tinkercad is a browser-based CAD program and it has a user interface that is almost similar to that of SketchUp. It is easy to learn and use and anyone including people with less engineering, design or architectural knowledge can comfortably use it to generate 3D printable models.

The software has gained popularity within the 3D printing world with enthusiasts opting for it due to its ease of use.

One of its most impressive features is that it provides users with a gallery of things containing thousands of already created models that they can drag, drop and arrange accordingly to come up with a complex 3D object.

It also comes with lots of tutorials that make the learning curve quite fast compared to that of SketchUp.

It is best suited for CAD beginners who are looking to make 3D printing models real quick without having to take a lot of time learning how to draw 3D models.

Art of Illusion

Figure 4. Art of Illusion (Source)

Developers: Peter Eastman

Features: surface modeling tools, 3D rendering tools, animation tools, texture creation tools and compatible with a wide range of plug-ins and scripts

Operating system(s): Windows, Linux, and macOS

Cost: free

Art of Illusion is an open-source CAD 3D modeling software that was launched in 1999. Over the years, it has become prevalent among the RepRap community due to its built-in image rendering tools, fast learning curve, and intuitive user interface.

The software provides users with surface modeling tools which makes 3D modeling quite easy and fun. It also has built-in 3D rendering tools, animation tools, and texture creation tools.

Users can also add several plug-ins and scripts through its “Plug-in Manager”. For instance, if a user wants to export files in STL file format for 3D Printing, they should install a suitable plugin such as the “STLTranslator plug-in”.

Shapr3D

Figure 5. Sharpr3D (source: stackoverflow.com