Onshape makes design and collaboration easy
December 19, 2017
Onshape makes design and collaboration easy
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Onshape
We are using Onshape in the design of wind turbine devices. We have used it both to create models to feed into CFD analysis in SimScale and to design more-detailed components, prototype mounting frames, etc. It is used across the whole organization.
- Assemblies - the new assembly tool is much faster and easier to use than any other CAD system that I have used.
- Collaboration - Onshape is specifically designed for collaboration, and allows teams to create whole projects and share them with each other. Advanced version control, and the ability to send view-only links through a web browser, even to people who don't have the tool, makes collaboration very useful.
- Updates - because it is hosted in the cloud, OnShape is able to more quickly push software updates without having to worry about developing for a large number of operating systems and computer versions.
- I'm learning the sheet metal tool right now, and I found it to be not particularly intuitive. Still haven't reached out for support, but a lot of the automatic features do not seem to be working the way that I would expect.
- Minor point, but I wish it was easier to import different file formats. When working with companies who use different CAD systems, it has taken time to figure out how to share and import files that they provided. Imports of assemblies from solidworks goes ok, but requires that it be pre-packaged into the pack and go tool before import.
- Can't think of another con - overall it's a great tool and I have had very few problems with it!
- We are in the R&D phase now, so nothing concrete yet - but it has definitely helped us to CAD more quickly due to it's easy to use interface, and at a reasonable price.
- Solidworks
The main reason that I selected Onshape over Solidworks is that it is significantly cheaper. Additionally, with the cloud-based updates, they are able to add functionality more quickly through updates, so in the long term I think their functionality will outpace that of Solidworks. I also love the assembly interface in Onshape which makes assembly creation much faster! Finally, for collaboration Onshape can't be beat. They've done a great job at designing it so files are sharable and editable by multiple people, while still remaining transparent.
There are occasionally small things that Solidworks offered in functionality that I still miss, but most things are very doable in Onshape.
There are occasionally small things that Solidworks offered in functionality that I still miss, but most things are very doable in Onshape.