Deck Building Software

While SketchUp excels in many areas, there are a few drawbacks, especially when it comes to 3D printing. The software isn’t specifically designed for creating models intended for 3D printing, which can lead to issues like non-manifold geometry, overlapping faces, or gaps in the model. These issues often require additional time for troubleshooting and fixing before a model is ready for printing.

Additionally, the precision tools in SketchUp, while sufficient for many design tasks, can sometimes feel limiting when exact measurements and tolerances are critical for 3D printing. This can result in models that don’t print as intended without further refinement in more specialized 3D printing software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

SketchUp solves several key problems in the design process, particularly in visualization and communication. One of the biggest challenges in architecture and design is translating complex ideas into clear, visual representations that clients and collaborators can easily understand. SketchUp’s intuitive interface and powerful modeling tools allow me to quickly create detailed 3D models, making it easier to convey design concepts and explore different options in real time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Only a "cosmetic" dislike, icons not just as crisp as they could be. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main reason for moving to ZWCAD was on cost, but have to say I wish we had found this earlier. So number 1 is that there has been a big cost saving with no detriment to functionality.

We are very profficient in CAD so the switch to ZWCAD was not for a specific feature but have found that ZWCAD is very stable and (fingers crossed) have not a single crash since using ZW. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Inability to open/ save files in previous versions Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Creating accurate digital representations of buildings that include both graphical and non-graphical information about the building becomes essential for everyone working in the AEC sector. In addition to helping create accurate digital representations of buildings, Revit enables end users to add their own additional properties as needed. The main benefit of Revit is that it produces attributes based on actual building data and takes into consideration different elements in different ways. With real-time updates and shared data, all teams can collaborate on the same model using Revit's BIM platform. Additionally, Revit saves time because an architect doesn't have to draw elevations and sections independently as revit provides the same functionality while creating plans. With the use of Revit's energy analysis tools, designers can simulate energy consumption, optimize building performance, and evaluate how different design choices may affect sustainability. As a professional working in BIM, Revit helps me personally by saving my time and effort when developing accurate building models compared to creating merely plans. It also makes quality assurance of models easier because I only need to make changes in one view to update changes across numerous views. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Do not have auto BOM dimensions of parts.

Lacking some basic drawing functionality, like ex. break and section in same view. Lack of integrated 3D sketch. Does not have possibility to export DXF from ASSY parts ,need to be located in PArt Studio to have this option. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We are in need af a CAD system in our work. Its our one biggest tool for being able to do our work.

Apart from other CAD systems we are benefiting on easy administration and need for less computer power.

Never loosing any work and the good solutions for collaboration. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Only AutoCAD is the high cost of licenses Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

For me as a BIM Manager, AutoCAD’s ability to produce highly detailed drawings is essential for integrating designs into broader building information models. Its compatibility with BIM tools Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While Revizto’s feature set is impressive, handling large models can lead to some lag, especially when using VR mode. The setup phase for first-time integrations can also require extra configuration, which can delay ease of implementation. Additionally, although customer support has been helpful, there’s a learning curve for new users unfamiliar with 3D tools, which could benefit from additional training resources or more accessible onboarding. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Revizto helps us centralize project data, reducing miscommunication between teams and minimizing errors. By identifying and resolving issues early in the process, we’ve seen a notable increase in productivity and a decrease in costly project delays. This streamlined communication ultimately benefits our clients, as they receive higher-quality project outcomes with fewer revisions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really miss the old designs.

Siemens has chosen to make it more similiar to NX anad other siemens products.

Some user interfaces are now are harder to use then before, I guess it will need to get use to.

Other then that need to get it running more fast on large assemblies. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We are acheiving faster market times.

We have greatly reduced times for going into manufacturing, faster design itterations and increased overall productivity.

Total of 4 workstations we have in our factory and we can streamline design reviews and communicate better.

Very strong sheetmetal tools help us desgin customized solutions for our customers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Nothing springs to mind as I write this review and in my world if something isn't right or likable then ask questions and usually there will be a work around so something which may seem to be a negative should really be treated as a learning experience and look for ways through the issue. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

CMS Intellicad is giving me a platform on which to create 3d models and 2D working drawings for my designs of large scale model railway stock. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There is a problem with the Trim command. You can't trtim doing crossings, only by individually clicking the line to be trimmed.Irritating, but not a deal killer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As a sole proprietor primarily using SketchUp to create 3D models, I use DraftSight to convert CAD files received from clients to a format compatible with the version of SketchUp I'm running (Version 7 from 2007--the last free version to import AutoCAD and DXF files). As chief cook and bottle washer, I also do regular CAD drafting with DraftSight. It keeps me compatible with the modern bloatware versions of AutoCAD while remaining relatively fast-loading, accurate, and easy to use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The license fees are too high, as the delopes keep dropping an updated version yearly. Would appreciate if they get some bigger new fuetures integrated to insure more fluid working space, as well as solvgn some minor things here and there. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

documentaiton, 3D, rendering and others. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Require some more import funcionality then it will be more useful to us Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We have a large team over here and with ARES we have good collaborative features like Commenting on the drawing, picture note and Version history. Which really helped us to cut down our overall project completion time.

With ARES we have productivity tools like smart dimension, powertrim etc. also which we are getting benefits in our projects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main interface needs modification to open faster. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

AutoCAD Architecture speeds up design work with intelligent objects, reduces errors with its precise tools, and makes it easier to visualize projects in 3D. This means more efficient workflows, fewer mistakes, and a clearer view of the final product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It is possible that it lacks some basic tools, such as the option to create cones, which is essential for designing models that will be molded later. In the field of textures, I would like to see everything in a more realistic image, although it already looks spectacular right now. Exporting the V's for use in other rendering software is somewhat complicated. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We are creating plastic housings for electronic components and we need to make many iterations. For us, it's very important that designing is easy since we spend many hours on it. The interaction with the iPad is very important as it is our essential work tool. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

You need to master how planes work, if you intend to asemble your parts and components easily, simulating real world relationship between the parts via the asssembly enviroment.

You need to fully understand assembly modeling especially if you are working on a large project with over a thousand part. etc

You need to understand the file structuring and basic file handling within inventor, else you would run into constant erros trying to reuse or locate design files. Sometimes the errors can cost you the clients trust if not managed properly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The ilogic feature in inventor basically hands me the power to automate my design, create variations and initaite design configurationns in a controlled manner. This leads to my ability to meet clients need in the shortest possible time.

Adopting Inventor for my product design workflow makes the entire experince smooth. I am giving the ability to implement and insert fastners, mechanical weldments, belt and chain drives, mechanical frames an others, through calculated, and analysis-based processes,thus making informed design decisions.

Basically, an ADMS console is required to set up a server, then an Autodesk vault client is set up for authoring of design data into the sever, via dedicated file structures. All i did was to link Inventor to my Autodesk vault, then all my designs from inventor was easily checked in and out of the vault, ensuring proper design documentation , control, and secuirty, to mention a few. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The only thing I would change is having more options for construction-related items that you would find more on CAD drawings and having the ability to save more documents on the site vs. using our own cloud storage. Other than that, it is perfect and meets our needs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Not having to use an engineer for permit drawings and presentations. We were able to pull these items in house for substantial savings. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It's parametric block design compared to AutoCAD's dynamic blocks. I HATE how the visibility states can be outside of the block so that when you explode a block that has visibilities will then be put into the dwg outside of the block. This causes crazy lag if you need to explode multiple blocks. This requires you to use the DEPARAMETRIZE command before you explode, but this also removes the imported fields inside the blocks. Not ideal. I also do not like how when you copy and paste an entity inside of a block that is tied to a visibility, it copies and pastes that visibility again. (Because you can have more than one visibility inside of a block... cool idea, but now I see why AutoCAD doesn't allow it) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The price of AutoCAD is crazy high, so we went to BricsCAD which as a daily user (excluding parametric block creation), is the same. So, it saves us buckets of cash year after year. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find that some key features are locked behind the paid plan, and the rendering speed could be faster Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Efficient Visualization: Coohom helps quickly turn design concepts into realistic 3D visuals, making it easier to communicate ideas to clients or colleagues.

Time-Saving Design Tools: By offering templates, an extensive library, and drag-and-drop tools, Coohom streamlines the design process, saving you time on manual tasks.

Accessible Design for Non-Experts: Coohom’s intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners or non-designers to create professional designs.

Cost Reduction in Prototyping: The realistic visualizations reduce the need for physical prototypes, which can lower costs in the design stage.

Enhanced Client Satisfaction: Clear visual representations of designs can increase client confidence and satisfaction, improving overall project success. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There is few negatives but once we create a NWD file it becomes hard to delete unwanted models, for example itf we updated a model we need to create a new NWD file with all the old models plus the model that was updated the latest, and it can add up unneccessary time wasted on one file that could updated by 2 clicks instead of going through the whole process of intergrating models that most of time are very large files that needs time to be imported. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It helps communicate between different softwares, creating a whole model with different disciplines getting a model ready to be delivered to be employed with no errors as all the rapports from Naivs works helps professionals create plans to prevent the problems found. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Two aspects of Autodesk Fusion 360 that I find less favorable are its dependency on an internet connection and its CAD file compatibility. While being a cloud-based software generally offers significant advantages, features like real-time collaboration and automatic saving can be challenging in areas with limited connectivity. Additionally, despite supporting many file formats, the conversion of files during export is often limited, resulting in the loss of details or geometries when importing to other softwares. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The design workflow for preparing objects for 3D printing in Fusion 360 offers numerous benefits. The ability to directly export models to 3D printing software like Ultimaker Cura or Formlabs reduces the need for multiple tools, creating a seamless workflow. The mesh editing and repair tools for STL and OBJ files are especially useful when working with scanned objects or imported medical image files, as they help identify and fix common issues like holes, non-manifold edges, and intersecting faces.

As a cloud-based software, Fusion 360 allows me to access CAD files from anywhere and on any device, improving collaboration with clients and stakeholders who might not have the software installed on their devices.

The cloud-based computation for simulation tools, such as finite element analysis and static or thermal stress tests, frees up my local computing resources. As an individual designer, it gives me access to advanced analyses that would otherwise require significant computational power.

Finally, in Mechanical Computer-Aided Design, the ability to use both parametric and direct modeling is a great feature. It allows me to easily make changes and adapt designs before fully constraining a mechanical model. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One thing I would say that can be improved is adding more components to the "Manufacturer Part Search." Another thing, which may be a little niche for my scenario, is making the software somewhat easier to navigate without a mouse. I work a lot from my laptop and do not always have a mouse with me. Right clicking and dragging on a mouse pad is incredibly obnoxious (mostly the laptop designers fault not altium). My only other suggestion comes when defining board size. Recently I needed a board that was exactly 50mm x 50mm. It can be really hard to draw lines that are exactly a certain size. My solution was to set the grid size to 1mm and just figure it out. It could be cool to have a display of how long your line drawings are or the dimensions of the figure you have drawn. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It is helping use solve being able to design and manufacture PCB's quicker. It has many features and rules to use that help us make PCB's exactly what we want. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.