Onshape

Avantages

I adore Onshape so much! My approach to 3D design and modeling has changed as a result. I can access my projects from any location thanks to the cloud-based platform, which also makes sharing and collaborating simple. I'm able to easily construct complex designs because to Onshape's outstanding array of tools and functionality. The ability to collaborate in real-time with team members, which eliminates version control problems, is a game-changer. It's really easy to be able to work across many platforms and devices because it allows me the freedom to design on the gadget of my choice. Even for someone like myself who is just getting started with 3D design, Onshape's user-friendly interface and simple navigation make it a pleasure to use.

Inconvénients

Even though I adore using Onshape, there is one thing that I find a little difficult. For beginners or those switching from other design applications, some of the more complex capabilities can have a high learning curve. To completely understand the nuances of the more advanced tools and functionalities, it requires some time and effort.

Avantages

Being able to push and pull the edges of the 3D CAD model to manipulate it's shape and have the model automatically adjust all the other features accordingly in real time and with a live preview, like how pulling an edge would affect the connecting radius on the 3D CAD model, was and is light years ahead of anything I have ever used before. I also love the ability of the history tree to be able to go back and adjust a dimension from earlier and have it auto calculate everything moving forward makes it so much faster to get modeling done.

Inconvénients

The 2D drawing selection could be improved when creating sketches. Sometimes I want to select all the outer edges of a part and use it in a sketch, but it only gets it right or works about 50% of the time. The other half of the time I need to select each edge manually, or even once I get them selected, for some reason it doesn't let me use it within the sketch.

Avantages

I enjoy working on and inspecting designs made by me and my team. It is easy to start with.

Inconvénients

Sometimes it takes long to load, but this is more a internet issue than an Onshape issue.

Avantages

I have been using Onshape for a while and for one of my Senior Graduate class project, I sued Onshape to help new CAD students get some experience as well. It is definitely a very popular online CAD program among many Mechanical Engineering students. It definitely cannot beat Solidworks in terms of ease of use but I would recommend it for following reasons
- Its FREE to use
Why not get your feet wet into the CAD design world with a tool that is free to use. One can easil get the basics of CAD modeling through this software.
- Online Cloud based software
We all know anything that is online and cloud based means it can be accessed anywhere if you have access to internet. No need to install huge GB of software on your machine instead just get a high speed internet and get on with the modeling.
And yes, it doesn't care if you have a Windows are a Mac so that's a plus.
- Features
Sketch, Extrude, Hole, Mirror, Chafing anything you need to do for CAD, Onshape has it. It is fast and assembly and mating process is intuitive and works really well.

For something that is free, cloud based, online and easily accessible this is one of the best CAD programs I have used and I would recommend it to anyone. Onshape has tons of documentation so learning is fun. For a beginner in CAD Onshape is the way to go.

Inconvénients

This software has some cons which is not a dealbreaker bit definitely something to keep an eye out for,
- Crashes
During my project and online use it did crash on me multiple times. Refreshing the page helped but sometimes I did have to start a new project.
- Almost as good as Solidworks but not quite
If i were to compare it I would say it is 70% as good as solidworks
- Has it's own terminologies
Onshape has it's own features and terminologies which one has to be accustomed to. Onshape does provide online lot of documents and vocabularies so if you have time to spend reading that, it is not that bad.

Avantages

During this pandemic period I bought a 3D printer and started using it printing mainly already defined and available 3D models on the internet. Then I realized that I could myself produce my own 3D models and I found on Onshape the perfect tool for it. It also has great features that allows you to produce perfect models.

Inconvénients

At the beginning Onshape seems complicated to use, but it is not, you just need to watch on Youtube some tutorials to start modeling your own 3D models. Anyway I can not complain about this tool, as the free version delivers what I need and much more.

Avantages

Ease of use, mating of components (only one required and very flexible), amazing online tutorials, quick to learn, stability, speed, roll back features, versioning, no expensive hardware is required, free public version available which makes it great for learning and hobby (has some restrictions in high end features like revision management); very nice design configuration options using various tables.

Inconvénients

Some weaknesses are under development, being a fairly new system. Like FEA, material imaging, weldments.

Avantages

Very lite due to its cloud based platform - don't require high configuration systemWorks lag freeversatile tools and capable to create almost all types of shapes

Inconvénients

Due to its cloud based platform this works good only with a system having good amount of speed.Feels little expensive for this level technical advancements and tools.Difficult to use in large assemblies and surfacing projects - where its really high in price.

Alternatives envisagées 

Avantages

Collaboration features and branches of the same design is great and allows great design exploration

Inconvénients

Can be slow to upload files. The file structure is not that clear sometimes

Avantages

It really helps with the making of products in the workplace because once you see the product on screen, you can tell if you want to make the product or not

Inconvénients

There is nothing to say about Onshape, this is a great tool to use in the work environment and in the classroom

Avantages

I liked that I can access it anywhere anytime. I can just pull it up on the browser and work on my designs.

Inconvénients

It doesn't have as robust features as everyone might need, but they're constantly releasing new updates with new features.

Avantages

Web-based, easy of use (from a former Solid Edge user), no PC requirements, free-for-use for personal use

Inconvénients

Missing some advanced features, but it's under constant development

Avantages

The best thing is that the software is not complicated to learn and with the tutorial vids that are available on the website makes it easier to learn. As well as the supporting team which is always available to respond to the questions is one of the outstanding things someone can get from the service they are paying for.

Inconvénients

There are still some features that I feel like the company has to still work on, like having more options if you want to mate parts in an assembly. As well as making it much more easier to automatically change parts that have been created in-context of the parts you are working on. But with time I still believe this can be the best designing software.

Avantages

OnShape is a simple-to-use yet powerful parametric modern cloud based software that allows me to collaborate easily with my team.

Forget about heavy and expensive CAD work station. I've been most of all my mechanical design on a MacBook Air in Safari.

As a frequent traveler, I can access and work on my model on any computer as long as there's reasonable internet connection and google chrome.

The data system is so powerful that I've never experienced a single error message caused by data corruption. This was a serious problem I had with Solidworks in the past. Since it's a cloud based system, my data is securely backed up with full traceability down to every single change I made to the model.

Whenever I have questions or see a bug in the system, I can easily report it to OnShape's technical using the feedback system. Bugs are usually fixed within days after it's reported.

Forget about upgrading or installing new patches, it's always the latest version as soon as you login. Thanks to it's cloud based technology! OnShape is frequently updated so that patches and new features can be incorporated in no time!

Inconvénients

The only issue I have is offline access to the models I have OnShape. OnShape does provide the option of exporting models into numerous formats so that you could open them with conventional non-cloud based software.

However, I still have trouble opening them with common software like eDrawings.

Ultimate, I would prefer to have an OnShape software on my computer that could sync the data I would like to view whenever I go offline. This is important, as I don't always have an internet connection when I need to present my models to my client when traveling overseas. So it'd be great if OnShape could look at better view-only offline support. Where I can view a read-only model and jot down comments. When I'm back online, I can edit it on my browser.

Avantages

The (deceptively) simple, very powerful user interface
Amazing, multi-part part studios
The reliabity of the software and the way it "just works"
Being better suited to woodworking than anything else I am aware of
Being able to pick up on a design at home after work without having done ANYTHING
Quality, speed and pleasantness of support!
The problem being keeping up with releases rather than waiting 18 months to find that X wasn't included after all!
Being able to add in your own features using FeatureScript!
The amazing new 3D curves and surface generating features allowing me to accomplish things I hadn't succeeded in doing with other CAD software!
The app store for all the addons that are not core-CAD
Feeling "listened to" when making suggestions or struggling with something!
The effort the team put into "joined up thinking", getting things "right" and the many decisions they have got right already

Inconvénients

No internet = no CAD (but not actually been a problem yet!)
The lack of configurations (as yet)
The lack of any visual representation of materials in the workspace beyond colour and transparancy (wood, metal, glass, plastic re: SW or inventor)
The way variables (parameters) are managed (looking forward to what is coming but this one has felt like a long wait)

Avantages

I love the combination of direct editing with parametric modeling. The options opened up with direct editing is simply amazing. I often work in my job with models that came for outside of my organization, leaving me without the full feature history to work with, so direct editing is a game changer.

The cloud based access is also incredibly helpful. I’m no longer tied to a particular device to access my models. Working in the office, at home or on road, it doesn’t matter. I wondered at first if working in a browser would be tough given that cad programs are so computationally heavy, but I have never had an issue.

Inconvénients

The only time I’ve wished I had a feature not available was when I needed a font that wasn’t available.

Avantages

Ease of use, and the interaction with the developers. The training webinars, and interest in helping the users. The ability to make user features is really interesting, and I have used is some. I am still learning...but it has been very positive experience so far. The integrated versioning tools are also quite helpful, and well thought out. I was using the tool almost daily, but lately, conflicting work has taken me away...have to get back.

Inconvénients

My machines use chains, and the tools inability to deal with those, especially in an assembly, is problematic. Parts that move in 3-space when the chains move, is key also. I tweaked a pulley example, that works partially in a part window, but then disappears in the assembly. Sprockets and chain details - I have not incorporated...but those still do not move the sprockets. Also, part of the machines are cables. here I mean force transmitting cable, not electrical ones. Lining up sheaves, and visualizing the cable paths would also be a great addition. I am hoping these get supported eventually. The last thing I will mention is no external interface. I am developing the control software for the machines, but i cannot pass the kinematic and dynamic data in and how to have the software run the machine, so I am forced to investigate video game software engines to do that...That has useful results, but makes for a more complex integration and evaluation effort. I feel like I am unloading here, but the ideas might be food for thought.

Avantages

I like the features and ease of reusing existing geometry. It easily allows for multi-body part modeling and enables the parts to be treated as individual parts with their own properties etc. The architecture of program makes it one of the fastest I have ever used for conceptual design and then easily transitions the designs into production.

Inconvénients

The learning curve switching from solidworks/pro-E was a little steeper than I anticipated but, once we made the switch, the benefits really started to payoff. Although it can import and edit 2D dwg type files, it is not a good solution or does not have the ability to create 2D as easily as an autocad program when creating schematics or the like (the drawing package for documenting Onshape files is very functional).

Avantages

The information that I create is safe. I do not need a big computer, so the big files can work fine. It not have crashes, so I do not lose time by that. The idea of work with multiple solids in a same "fiel" have a lot of advantage, and the assembly mate is faster.

Inconvénients

I need to test the new surface tools, It was limited, but I see the tutorial and think that this new tools was strong.
I need to put my own profiles (or customise profiles) in weldment or structural tools.
The draft angle analysis is important.
The idea to use partners or apps, it grate, but It is expensive or maybe I need to understand how to use to pay only the time that I need. I do not have a risk to have a monthly charge in my credit card if I forget uncheck something.
Sometimes is important project a sketch or curve one surface.

Avantages

I don't need expensive cad hardware and the program is available at any place with internet connection. Onshape can import other cad file format so it is possible for me to cooperate with companies using other Cad programs. Onshape give me as a design consultan possibility to cooperate with other designers I don't have to invest in expensive cad programs. It is easy to present and discuss design development in project groups. The pricing is fair set.

Inconvénients

Missing some funktionalities i.e. In my project with rock drill rigs I need to position boom and feed (7 degrees of freedom) to different positions. I hope a nice feature to handle the movement will come. A great benefit for onshape is the ability to transfer files but the recipian must have a license and they are reluctant to invest in a license . A possibility to temporarily give rights on the fly to load files with a free license can be a solution

Avantages

Cloud based CAD that can be ran on a multitude of platforms from PC/Mac to mobile. Ability to collaborate with our team and customer in real time with multiple individuals working simultaneously in the application. Rapid development of the platform with new releases on a regular and rapid basis

Inconvénients

Lack of offline caching causes Models to need to be reloaded when experiencing poor network coverage such as riding down the interstate while working on a customer design

Avantages

The user interface of Onshape is a game changer. The sheet metal tool is one of the easiest available. User input is greatly valued and well heard. The webinars and tech tips are extremely helpful. Onshape is always being updated with new tools and features. Customers are not inconvenienced by updates, you are always using the newest version. Easy cross-compatibility with other cad packages. Featurescript gives lots of flexibility and options.

Inconvénients

CAM functionality very lacking. The lack of 3d sculpting tools can sometimes be a challenge. The Webinars, while extremely helpful can feel unfocused and a bit unorganized.

Avantages

One of the greatest features is that I can use my Mac Book Pro with out running a virtual Windows! And the support and constant feature upgrades. I have had several suggestions that have been added in relatively short order. I love that I have a direct link to the developers thru the support system. OnShape is great.

Inconvénients

It's hard to have a complaint, by the biggest one I still have is the dimensioning doesn't work well in sketches or parts of the software - but mostly in sketches. When dimensioning in sketches, the dim leader always goes to the center of the line for example. Which then makes it hard to dimension other things to the line, for example, because the leader is "over" the top of half of the line. It really makes it difficult.
Sometimes when dimensioning, a point to a line for example, the dim lines jump off a one of the entities and is just in the "air" - and the dim is wrong. It happens often, but is not easily repeatable. But it is a regular issue for me.

The only other thing would be the setting up drawing templates are not easy.

Avantages

It is easy to use and as it does not require installation on a computer, you can always have your files available

Inconvénients

Despite having a good handling in 3d, when it comes to passing the model to blueprints I always end up operating in a different software to be able to be more in the details

Avantages

Onshape is designed by engineers who made SolidWorks so it is almost as powerful and intuitive. The biggest advantage is that Onshape is completely online, and doesn't ​require downloading of bulky software on the local drive. The online aspect allows you to work from any computer, and have your personal workspace​ ready for you, and it makes collaboration very easy.

Inconvénients

No cons so far, I'm loving everything about Onshape.

Avantages

Because I'm the only CAD person then being able to Share/Control documents with just a few clicks
is very important and saves me lots of time. And being able to import designs from my old Inventor CAD system.

Inconvénients

No real issues; I pack a lot of information into assembly drawings and try to finish off in Onshape but sometimes have to push into 2d Draftsight to finish off. i.e. reduce line weights. Adding a circle and rectangle tool in drawings might help. If i could get my spreadsheet parts list into Onshape via Openbom would save a lot of time, I have mentioned this to Oleg.