Onshape CAD

Onshape is a cloud CAD.

The program runtime on the computer requires the browser with WebGL support (for example Chrome or Firefox). The special server, special Internet connection, rather normal Wi-Fi is not necessary. For an input in Onshape the e-mail address and the password is used.

On March 9, 2015 it became known of the forthcoming exit of cloud CAD Onshape from the company of the same name. A system will be available in the version to desktop PCs, platforms iOS and Android^[1].

For work with Onshape on iOS and Android special applications are developed. The version for iOS can be loaded from Apple Store, and the application will be available to Android in the near future, developers reported.

The cloud computing architecture allowed to become this application of a full-function CAD with opportunities of editing three-dimensional model, version control and notes. On server side the developed means of three-dimensional modeling, as in the browser version are used.

The user of Onshape, in whatever place in the world it was, works with the only version of a system. There is no offline version or versions for the private cloud (unrolled on own servers).

In Onshape there is web API.

Version control and joint work

System architecture of Onshape differs from architecture of traditional CAD. In them the user works with files. In Onshape there are no files, work goes with the compound documents which are stored in a cloud as entities in the database. These documents can consist of a part, assembly, the G-code, drawings. It is implemented so that they look as files, but these are not files.

There is a possibility of loading of the CAD file in some popular format (ACIS, Parasolid, STEP, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, etc.), it can be broadcast in the document Onshape and to load back as the file (in the formats STEP, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS).

One of features of Onshape - a possibility of simultaneous modification of model (parts, assembly or the drawing) several people. It is made similar to editing documents in Google Docs when the user in real time sees the changes made by other users.

User interface Onshape, 2015

Cost

For March 9, 2015 Onshape is available in the form of free and paid versions. The price — $100 a month is previously announced. The free version allows to hold open 5 private documents and does not impose any restrictions for functionality 3D - modeling, joint editing, preserving, broadcasting, etc.

In the paid version there are no restrictions for the number of active documents. It is considered that schemes of payment also are in the mode of beta testing and can change in the future.

For March 9, 2015 developers prepare a system for a beta release exit.

Notes