Digital Engineering – August 2019

DESIGN |||Software Review

44 DE| Technology for Optimal Engineering Design August 2019 /// DigitalEngineering247.com

But unlike most CAD programs, both the Onshape software

and your CAD data reside in the cloud. That means anyone

anywhere in the world can access the same system at any time

using any device. On a computer, Onshape runs in a web browser.

There is no software to install. You simply go to the Onshape

website, log in and go to work. Any projects you already started or

that have been shared with you are immediately available. For An-

droid or iOS tablets and phones, after installing the app, you have

access to nearly the same functionality as the browser version.

Because the software runs in the cloud, there are no down-

loads, license keys, service packs or compatibility concerns.

Everyone always has the latest version of the software. And since

projects are stored in the cloud, there are no files to download and

there is no need to check in or check out files like in a traditional

product data management system. Anyone on the design team

can access projects anywhere, any time. Administrators can adjust

access privileges so you retain control over your work, and you

can immediately see who changed what and when it was changed.

A Host of Improvements

Because the software lives entirely online and every customer is

always on the latest release, the company rolls out updates on a

nearly monthly basis. Since we last reviewed Onshape (DE June

2018; digitalengineering247.com/article/cad-gets-in-shape), the

program has gained hundreds of new features and capabilities.

For example, you can now create and organize features in a fea-

ture list folder. Features can be reordered within the folder and

the folder can be reordered within the feature list. You can also

now filter the feature list based on part, type, or name and filter

a folder to reveal only the features within a folder of that name.

You are no longer limited to applying draft along a plane or

planar face. A new parting line option lets you define the pull

Cloud-Based CAD Platform

Offers Access Anywhere

Onshape’s latest features focus on performance, integration and usability.

BY DAVID COHN

B

Y NOW, MOST Digital Engineering readers have

heard of Onshape. Developed by many of the

same people who originally created SolidWorks,

Onshape is a full parametric platform that

incorporates 3D part and assembly modeling, associative 2D

drawings and data management combined with sharing and

collaboration, version control, release management and tools

that enable users to create custom features.

Implied mate connectors can be

de ned on the  y, which is faster than

 rst de ning a sketch and a vertex

reference.

A new parting line option lets you use

edges to create parting lines.

You can now create and organize

Onshape features in a feature list

folder. Images courtesy of David Cohn.

DE_0819_Review_Onshape_Cohn.indd 44 7/11/19 11:26 AM