DesignSpark Mechanical – smarter, quicker, and now more powerful

DesignSpark Mechanical CAD software is just one of the comprehensive features in our free, and low-cost monthly plans, which provide students, pro-creators and design engineers with CAD software, design services, and training and support worth over £1000.

Our award-winning 2D and 3D modelling program helps you turn your ideas into prototypes quickly, and easily. Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced designer, our learning resources help you make the most of the free Explorer version, and the additional features you will find in our paid Creator and Engineer plans. 

Let’s take a closer look:

Easy Geometry Creation: 

Available in: Explorer, Creator and Engineer plans.

The direct modelling kernel makes it simple to join line segments and curves into a surface. Make copies and patterns with the Move tool. Use 3D editing tools like Pull, Combine, and Blend to transform the solid into the desired shape.

Import and export files:

Available in: Creator and Engineer plans

Import and export designs in a wider range of file formats including STEP, IGES, DXF, DWG, AMF, STL, OBJ, SKP, VDB, XAML, and GLB.

3D Mirror tool

Available in: Creator and Engineer plans.

Flip an object over a mirror line or plane. Changes to the original object are applied to its associated reflection, and you can also isolate the mirror relationship to certain features.

Detailing options in Drawing sheets and Model-Based Defintion (MBD)

Available in: Creator and Engineer plans.

Detail your designs in 2D engineering drawings with notes, geometric tolerances, hole tables, BoM tables, welding symbols and surface finish tool. DSM supports multiple industry standards for your annotations (ASME, JIS, ISO and GB) and conforms to the ASME Y14.5 standard for GD&T symbol creation.

Model-based definition provides greater clarity of datum / control features over 2D drawings for in-depth 3D visualization with MBD through semantic GD&T and 3D dimension annotations. Easily convey manufacturing requirements and reuse specific parts in multiple projects. 

Sketch with Equations and apply constraints

Available in: Explorer, Creator and Engineer plans.

Use parametric equations to define custom curve patterns in 2D and 3D space, or choose from available curve types including Archimedes spiral, Catenary, Sine wave, Helix, Slinky, Spirals, Lemniscate (Bernoulli), Trochoid, Tractrix, Lissajous, and Viviani’s curve.

Apply constraints such as collinearity, tangency, and symmetry to create precise geometric relationships and use a construction line to mirror constrained features.

Integrated 3D model library

Available in: Explorer, Creator and Engineer plans.

Choose from over one billion manufacturer approved part 3D models. Seamlessly insert into your current project or download for later use. Models are tagged with RS product codes so you can easily create a bill of materials and get a production quote.

Measure and Quality tools

Available in: Explorer, Creator and Engineer plans.

Dedicated tools to check for errors, estimate size, mass, and volume of objects, display body interference and assess the quality of design surfaces by helping to identify anomalies.

Customisation options

Available in: Explorer, Creator and Engineer plans.

Customise keyboard shortcuts, workspace views, rendering and shading settings, anti-aliasing, color schemes, toolbar layout etc. to make DSM suitable for day-to-day use.

The choice is yours. Become a DesignSpark member by simply validating your email address, then move between our DesignSpark Explorer free plan or unlock more powerful features with DesignSpark Creator and Engineer plans for a low cost, monthly fee.

You control when to upgrade and downgrade your plan. Visit the subscriptions and pricing page or our support FAQs for more information.