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This section provides an overview for general-purpose cad as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 19 general-purpose cad manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked general-purpose cad companies as of January, 2025: 1.Foundry, 2.progeSOFT, 3.The FreeCAD Team.
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Categories Related to General-Purpose CAD
General-Purpose CAD is a type of CAD that can be used for a wide range of design work without specializing in a particular field.
CAD is an acronym for "Computer Aided Design" and is a design support tool. CAD has been used in a wide range of fields, as it has improved the efficiency of drafting by hand in the age without computers, which can now be done on a monitor. General-Purpose CAD, as the name implies, is software that can be used in a variety of fields.
It has the basic functions for drafting and design. General-Purpose CAD is not only available as paid commercial software, but also as free software. The disadvantage of free software is that it is not costly, but it has limitations such as limited functionality, no support, and the need to do everything on one's own.
On the other hand, there are many types of specialized CAD software available, with software optimized for different fields, such as for electrical design or mold design.
General-purpose CAD is used in a wide range of fields because of its basic design and drafting functions. Below are some examples of applications in various industries.
General-Purpose CAD is used for architectural design, urban planning, and civil engineering work.
In the interior design industry, General-Purpose CAD is used to generate drawings of building interiors designed by interior coordinators and interior designers. It is also useful in determining the layout of rooms and the placement of interior furnishings.
The machinery industry uses General-Purpose CAD to design aircraft, automobiles, robots, screws, and other machine element parts.
In the welfare industry, General-Purpose CAD is mainly used to design barrier-free and welfare facilities. Some people working in the welfare industry have qualifications such as welfare housing environment coordinators.
General-Purpose CAD is often less expensive than specialized CAD, and many software packages are available for free. General-Purpose CAD, while useful, is relatively expensive, requiring several hundred thousand yen to install.
In many cases, since General-Purpose CAD is sufficient to cover basic functions, a dedicated CAD system is not necessary if you only need to check, edit, and print drawings or if you are dealing with drawings that make extensive use of specialized parts.
There are two types of CAD: 2-D CAD and 3-D CAD. The characteristics of each are as follows.
1. 2D CAD
This type of CAD is used for designing on a flat surface and is used to create drawings for housing construction and machinery and equipment. In recent years, demand for 3D CAD, which enables three-dimensional design, has increased, but 2D CAD is still in demand.
2. 3D CAD
3D CAD is a CAD system for designing in a three-dimensional space. Although it is more expensive than 2D CAD, it can do a lot of things, so it is in high demand.
By saving the designed model, a data file is created. Since the CAD used at this time differs from person to person, it is necessary to save the data in a compatible file format (intermediate file) when exchanging data.
The following formats are available for intermediate files.
Intermediate files are not completely compatible, and for complex shapes, there may be some geometry discrepancies depending on the CAD system used.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Autodesk Inc is a manufacturer of 3D softwares, founded in 1982, and headquartered in Mill Valley, California. Offerings of the company encompass 3D design and modeling tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Fusion 360 for architecture, engineering, and product design. In the construction realm, it provides BIM 360, aiding in streamlined project management and collaboration. For the media and entertainment sector, software like Maya and 3ds Max facilitates 3D animation and rendering. Additionally, the company's portfolio includes engineering simulation software, CAM tools, educational resources, cloud-based collaboration platforms, as well as VR/AR applications, and solutions for GIS, mapping, robotics, and PLM.
Formlabs Inc., established in 2011 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, operates as a manufacturer and supplier specializing in professional stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers. The company's printer range includes Form 3, Form 3B, and Form 3L, all powered by low-force stereolithography (LFS) 3D printing technology. It also offers Form 2 SLA 3D printers, Form Wash and Form Cure post-processing solutions, Fuse 1 SLA 3D printers, and Form Cell manufacturing solutions. It serves a broad array of industries, including engineering, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, medical, and more.
Quickbase, established in 1999 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a software manufacturer and supplier. The company specializes in providing a low-code application development platform, enabling users to create applications without the need for extensive coding expertise. Its platform offers a range of powerful features, including drag-and-drop functionality, customizable templates, and pre-built components. These tools empower users to tackle complex projects, streamline critical business processes, ensure compliance with policies and procedures, and effectively manage and allocate resources.
Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975 and based in Redmond, Washington, is a provider of global computer software. As a multinational technology corporation, Microsoft provides cloud computing services, computer and gaming hardware, video games, search and other web-based services globally. Some examples of Microsoft cloud computing include MS Office 365, Xbox Live service, Bing, Skype and more. Microsoft has offices in more than 100 countries. The company researches and creates advanced technologies for future hardware and software products and services.
cadPROS PCB Design Experts, Inc. (CPDE) is an American contract manufacturer of printed circuit board (PCB) solutions specializing in design and layout services since 1997. Based in San Marcos, California, the company offers a comprehensive selection of PCB design services including signal integrity analysis, schematic capture and library creation, as well as PCB design evaluation services including assessments for testability or manufacturability. Using its network of partner manufacturers, CPDE also provides custom PCB fabrication and assembly to its clients including Apple, Medtronic, and Qualcomm.
Dassault Systemes, a technology company established in 1981 in France, is a supplier of the 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) business and innovation platform and virtual software solutions. The company’s SaaS provides individuals, commercial, industrial, and research organizations with a real-time visualization of their business activity and ecosystem. Dassault Systems' core business is the provision of 3D design software, 3D digital mockups, and product lifecycle management. The 3DX cloud-based platform is available with options that include computer-aided design, project management solutions, and three-dimensional rendering. Dassault Systemes' software is used in the architecture, consumer products, lifestyle, and industrial equipment markets, among many others.
ZWSOFT, a firm established in 1998, is based in Guangzhou City, China, and functions as an open platform for constructing a sustainable environment for vertical applications. The organization is a dependable provider of comprehensive Computer-Aided Design, Manufacturing, and Engineering solutions. The program specializes in design, energy surveying, and construction solution services. Additionally, the company produces mechanical, shipbuilding, defense, automobile, and rail transportation equipment. The services offered include a comprehensive instructional guide on 2D computer-aided design (CAD), instructional videos on 3D CAD/CAE/CAM, and the simulation of tutorials and research investigations.
Bricsys, a division of Hexagon, is a developer of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) products and cloud-based collaboration platforms established in 2002 and headquartered in Gent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium with additional facilities in Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and the USA. The company’s product portfolio is segmented into CAD toolset which comprises BricsCAD Lite & BricsCAD Pro, and Vertical toolset which comprises BricsCAD BIM & BricsCAD Mechanical and an all-in-one tool the BricsCAD Ultimate. The company offers products for engineering, architecture, manufacturing, general contracting, surveying, and product design applications.
PTC, established in 1985, is a global software provider of industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR) solutions headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Their product portfolio includes ThingWorx, an IoT platform, and Vuforia, an AR platform. These solutions serve industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare, enabling digital transformation and optimizing operational efficiency. They hold certifications such as ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 27001 for information security management.
Onshape was established in 2012 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts is a provider of cloud-native CAD and PDM platform for agile product design teams. The company’s product portfolio includes parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet metal, weldments, simulation, rendering, custom features. The cloud-native Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Product Data Management (PDM) platform facilitates the secure and efficient process of product creation, collaboration, and data management. The items find applications across several industries like metal fabrication, automotive manufacturing, aerospace engineering, jewelry production, and electronics manufacturing. These products are designed with an attention on optimizing energy efficiency and ensuring adherence to environmental regulations.
Foundry, founded in 1996 by Bruno Nicoletti, is a London-based software developer and supplier company. With a 25-year legacy, it collaborates with pioneers globally, including major film studios like ILM and DNEG, to develop VFX and 3D content creation software. Foundry's award-winning products assist in visual effects creation for feature films, TV, and commercials. The company's software played a crucial role in the making of Academy Award-winning films for the past decade, solidifying its position in the industry. With headquarters in London and a worldwide, Foundry remains keeps growing in advancing visual experience technology.
Shapr3D Zrt, founded in Budapest, Hungary in 2015, is a supplier of multidevice design tool that equips design and manufacturing teams to save time throughout their workflows. The company's product portfolio includes a 2D sketch suite and 3D modeling tools that have compatibility with PC, Mac, and Mobile Devices. It also offers Secure Cloud Storage Solutions, Real-Time Team Collaboration, Version Control and Document Management, Data Security and Encryption, and Custom Cloud-Based Collaboration Solutions.
Siemens Software is a supplier of industrial software solutions based in Texas. The company offers solutions in various industries and applications, as they have designed Siemens Xcelerator, which allows the creation of a digital twin of any process or product within a company. Siemens PLM Software is for Product Lifecycle Management from design to disposal and also Siemens EDA Software is for electronic design automation to enable applications such as Ai, cloud computing, etc. There is also Siemens Digital Industries Software that serves numerous industries like Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Products and Retail, Media, Telecommunications, Marine, and more.
Ranking as of January 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundry |
21.4%
|
| 2 | progeSOFT |
14.3%
|
| 3 | The FreeCAD Team |
14.3%
|
| 4 | Cadpros Pcb Design Experts, Inc |
14.3%
|
| 5 | CAD International |
7.1%
|
| 6 | CIO HOUSE |
7.1%
|
| 7 | 3Dnatives Europe |
7.1%
|
| 8 | Shapr3D Zrt |
7.1%
|
| 9 | Quickbase |
7.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the general-purpose cad page as of January 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
4 | 40.0% |
Australia
|
1 | 10.0% |
France
|
1 | 10.0% |
Spain
|
1 | 10.0% |
|
China
|
1 | 10.0% |
|
Belgium
|
1 | 10.0% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 10.0% |
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