When a project has tricky geometry, tight deadlines, and several people working on the same model, the right metal fabrication CAD software needs to do more than draw. It should let you move between 2D and 3D without friction, turn models into shop-ready documents, work with the other tools on your project, and keep your data organized. Get those four things right, and the rest of the workflow gets a lot easier.
Smooth 2D and 3D Working in One Place
Plenty of fabrication jobs start as a 2D sketch or an architect’s plan and end up as a detailed 3D model. Good metal fabrication CAD software lets you go back and forth between the two without rebuilding anything. HiCAD, offered by ISD Group, calls this 2D/3D continuity. Integrated 2D and 3D design tools help teams develop models and generate corresponding technical drawings within the same environment.
Production Documents Without the Manual Grind
Typing out a parts list by hand gets old quickly, and it’s also where small errors sneak in. CAD software can generate production documentation and bills of materials from design data, reducing the need for manual data entry. Another thing worth checking is machine output.
For instance, HiCAD provides support for both NC data and laser cutting output in 2D and 3D, so the design can be processed by the machine with no need to redraw or modify it.
Compatibility With the Rest of Your Tools
Very few projects live in a single program, so check what your CAD can talk to. A few things worth confirming:
- Support for file formats like IFC, STEP, DXF, and DWG
- BIM workflow support
- Precise 3D measurement options, such as FARO scanners, for checking designs against real surroundings
If a package falls short here, even strong modeling tools can slow you down.
Keeping Project Data Under Control
Big projects go through a lot of revisions, and usually more than one person is editing the files. That’s where things get messy fast: someone works off an old drawing, or a file lands in the wrong hands. HiCAD PDM, from ISD Group, deals with this by letting you organize and share project data securely, manage revisions, and decide who gets access. It also works with HiCAD itself, so you can pull up project data and design files without leaving the HiCAD interface.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, you want a tool that follows your work from the first design to the production stage, so you aren’t hopping between disconnected programs. Run your options through the four points above, and choosing metal fabrication CAD software gets a lot more straightforward.
FAQs
- Can HiCAD turn 2D designs into 3D models?
Yes, it is capable of 2D/3D continuity, meaning that you can create a 3D model from a 2D design and convert the 3D model back to the 2D drawing.
- Which file formats does HiCAD support?
It communicates with other software through formats such as IFC, STEP, DXF, and DWG.
- Does HiCAD create bills of materials automatically?
Yes, it generates production documents and bills of materials directly from your design files.
Want to see HiCAD in action? Visit ISD Group USA at 20808 N Main Street, Suite 101, Cornelius, NC 28031, call +1 704 837 4106, or head to www.isdgroup.us
