With DesignSpark Mechanical, you can design as quickly as you can think

At DesignSpark, we think that using 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) should be easy.

When the Boeing 777 first entered service in 1995, it was the first commercial aircraft to be designed entirely using 3D CAD modelling. Using the CATIA system developed by IBM and Dassault, Boeing understood the advantages that designing with computers would offer.

More than a quarter of a century later, the technology of 3D CAD has evolved hugely, but the advantages remain the same. Using electronic drawings, it is possible for engineers who may be separated by thousands of miles to collaborate on the same design. The ability to change a design rapidly makes the process much quicker, and the visualization tools of 3D CAD software make it easier to review and share information.

But traditional 3D CAD software is costly and complex. A system that is comprehensive enough to design an airliner is understandably difficult to use. The investment required for the systems, software and training needed to get the best of 3D CAD can be considerable.

However, not everyone is designing the latest airliner or even the latest smartphone. For many users, 3D CAD can be brought to bear on smaller tasks, and the advantages that it gave Boeing can be applied to engineers the world over. The ability to share and collaborate, to design quickly and to show the results easily is very powerful for smaller users.

DesignSpark Mechanical is direct modelling software. It lets you create a model as if it were a digital lump of clay, giving a whole generation of non-CAD engineers the chance to start modelling. This intuitive design method lets you create a shape as quickly as you can imagine it.

Suddenly, the whole team can contribute to the project, making new product development open and democratic. Unlike the procedure-driven, complex tools that require a significant investment in training, DesignSpark Mechanical lets you start creating immediately.

DesignSpark Mechanical is free to download for all members. With Creator and Engineer subscriptions, more options become available, making it into a tool that allows you to reverse-engineer your solution from a scanned mesh and export your designs in some of the most popular 3D model formats.

Why not upgrade to Creator today? You can take advantage of the free 7-day trial and see if DesignSpark Mechanical is the CAD software you were looking for. And remember, even once you've subscribed you can pause your membership for those months when you have other things on your to-do list.