FreeCAD vs. GrabCAD Workbench (discontinued)

It is a great cad software if you are wanting to try something without the commitment of a payment plan. It has the ability to do most of what other cad systems do and has some functionality that is way superior to other cad systems. It could be better with things like assemblies and larger part count developments

Incentivized

GrabCad Workbench is well suited for group projects, where all my team members can view the designs at the same time, and by integrating it with CAD software like SolidWorks, all my team members can see the live changes in the projects based on the recommendations received. I can also do conversations with my team, which are project-specific, thus reducing time in email and video conferences. For assemblies, I can generate a Bill of materials with a single click. However, there are some drawbacks like every member needs to have an account in order to sync files with everyone, and the platform requires good internet connectivity otherwise file uploading will be time-consuming.

Incentivized

• Importing CAD formats
• Converting mesh formats to solid and surface objects geometry
• Fixing errors in geometry cad

Incentivized

• GrabCAD is the source of truth for the files being used
• GrabCAD is free
• Easy to use and get started

Incentivized

• Would be great if it was cloud based
• If it had some basic analysis tools
• Had a rendering function

Incentivized

• The software is not intuitive.
• You must have an account to share files.

Incentivized

Never needed.

Incentivized

Freecad is used often when receiving files from multiple sources and the need to work with cad in various forms from meshes to solid cad. Often when receiving scans of 3d objects the format is easy to work with and convert to traditional cad later on. There is no other cad that can bridge the gap between all the cad formats that we found yet.

Incentivized

It’s the bottom of the barrel.

Incentivized

• It has allowed us to do some cad work that no other systems has allowed us to do and is key to getting that done fast
• It has lots of online support through forums and blogs for trouble shooting
• It could have an updated interface to make the functionality more user friendly for first time users

Incentivized

• GrabCad Workbench is the best in terms of integration with other CAD software like SolidWorks where live changes can be made to a product.
• GrabCad Workbench has a common parts library, which allows us to use repetitive parts without redesigning them again and again. Hence saving a lot of time.
• I can do all the conversations in the file itself, reducing time in email and other modes.
• It automatically generates BOM for my assembly files.
• It tracks versions, all the files are updated automatically for all members once a new version is created.
• It would be good if it can be updated to read drawing and sketch files.
• The team needs to improve the stability of the platform.

Incentivized