Print Page | Close Window

Best CAD for Small Business?

Printed From: CAD Forum
Category: EN
Forum Name: CAD - general
Forum Description: General discussion about CAD, formats, standards, management, licensing, networking, harware, other CAD applications
URL: https://www.cadforum.cz/forum_en/forum_posts.asp?TID=13587
Printed Date: 16.May.2026 at 11:10


Topic: Best CAD for Small Business?
Posted By: pipcart
Subject: Best CAD for Small Business?
Date Posted: 21.Apr.2021 at 21:24
Dear CAD Experts, hit a dilemma regarding CAD software and would welcome your advice.

The next step is to build a bill of materials with which to test the commercial viability of the design and I need appropriately formatted drawings, in order to get quotes.
 
The prototype has been satisfactorily developed using TurboCad and Tinkercad, to produce 3D prints and hand machined parts.
 
I now need to get quotes from parts manufacturers who only accept industry-standard CAD file types, such as Solidworks, etc., rather than the generic formats I can export, such as .DXF and .STL. I have tried unsuccessfully to translate the file types.
I am looking for a more economic route than investing in e.g. Solidworks that would allow me to get quotes for the BOM. I have looked at open source options but have not spotted one that fits the bill. The products I design are not super-complex.

All thoughts gratefully received.


Print Page | Close Window