Some people and organizations that use computer drafting programs only need basic functionality, such as drawing, modifying, layering, blocking, grouping, and printing. Productivity tools like PDF import, automatic dimensioning, drawing compare, and associative patterns can also come in handy. These basic drafting programs are ideal for students, individuals, and some small businesses.
Drafting programs with parametric modeling take CAD a step further by automatically adjusting all the dimensions of a design when one parameter changes. Unlike direct modeling, where designers define and edit their own geometry, parametric modeling allows them to modify the entire shape at once without having to re-draw it. It’s an intent-first approach to drafting and can save time, especially in industries that frequently make slight changes to a core set of drawings, for example product design or automotive.
Mechanical drafting programs allow you to easily view, create, and update DWG drawings that contain mechanical entities. They also support part references and related-item callouts so you can create drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), part lists, and assembly instructions that are accurate and up to date. Combining part references with DraftSight's international hardware library allows for even more seamless creation of mechanical drawings.
Mechanical CAD drafting programs can help you ensure compliance with international drafting standards including those from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), British Standards Institution (BSI), and International Standards Organization (ISO). They’re ideal for industries that create complex technical drawings.
It seems like everything is “in the cloud” these days – and that includes some 2D drafting programs. While traditional CAD software is uploaded to a single computer, cloud-based programs let you save, edit, and manage drawings in the cloud, where anyone with the internet can access them.
With cloud CAD, you can easily share work with contractors, clients, and other members of your team, improving communication and collaboration. Many businesses are turning to cloud-based drafting programs, like DraftSight’s 3DEXPERIENCE, to increase efficiency and speed up the design cycle.
CAD programs that let you effortlessly switch between 2D drafting and 3D design are the best of both worlds. You can enhance your 2D drawings with 3D faces, meshes, and solids, such as boxes, cones, cylinders, and spheres, and transform 2D shapes into 3D solids to use for 3D printing or laser cutting. Combining drafting and design programs can help you work more efficiently because you won’t have to switch between software.
Free drafting programs appeal to students, individuals, and small businesses that want to save money, but you’ll want to be especially careful that they have all the tools you need. Most free programs only provide pared-down versions of the full software and aren’t as powerful, so they might not be able to handle large projects.
Read the terms of use carefully, too: many free versions can’t be used for commercial purposes, meaning if you get paid for anything you create, you’ll need to upgrade. The good news is that you can get a free trial for many CAD programs, including DraftSight.
Easy-to-use drafting programs often go hand-in-hand with free versions. Simplified tools can actually be a good thing for beginners, who might get overwhelmed by too many options. But “easy-to-use” doesn’t necessarily mean minimal features. If you have any experience with drafting programs, a software like DraftSight Professional, which has a familiar user interface and lets you transfer your shortcuts, customizations, LISP routines, Dynamic Blocks, and Script files from existing programs, will qualify as easy to use.
Advanced drafting programs include features that are ideal for experienced designers and larger organizations, like batch printing, PDF import, sheet set managers, and the ability to create and edit custom blocks and dynamic blocks. Parametric constraints and 3D tools are also usually reserved for more advanced programs.
If you handle large volumes of drawings, work with closely related families of parts and products, create highly technical drawings, or need to easily switch between 2D and 3D functionality, an advanced drafting program like DraftSight Premium or DraftSight Enterprise could be right for you.
Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) are some of the top industries that use CAD drafting programs. They’ve left the days of manual drafting behind in favor of software that lets them improve accuracy, optimize workflows, speed up the design process, and ultimately win more work.
The best drafting programs for AEC include automated calculations, standardized architectural symbols, customizable APIs, and the ability to save LISP routines, components, dimensions, angles, and measurements, plus the conceptual tools they need to explore design ideas and feasibility.