Free Design Tool for Engineers

Available completely free of charge, DesignSpark Mechanical is a powerful 3D CAD modelling software tool that is very easy to learn, and provides a highly intuitive user experience to help engineers create design concepts in 3D faster than ever before. Developed in conjunction with SpaceClaim, the leading provider of flexible and powerful 3D modelling software for engineers, DesignSpark Mechanical overcomes two major barriers to entry faced by potential users that are new to 3D design: prohibitive cost and the considerable investment in learning time associated with traditional 3D CAD tools.

Based on ‘direct modelling’ technology, users can create geometry easily with powerful and intuitive gesture-based modelling techniques. The tool’s simplicity of use means that engineers and others involved in product development can become fully conversant with the software within minutes, rather than the weeks or months required to become skilled with traditional 3D CAD tools. Built-in functionality enables access to over 100 million 3D CAD models and also allows the import of PCB layout files in IDF format from any PCB design tool including DesignSpark PCB among others, enabling an even faster design cycle. And there is no time limit on the licence and no restrictions on terms of use.

DesignSpark Mechanical allows the export of designs in the industry-standard STL format to enable quick and easy production on a 3D printer thereby enabling even faster rapid prototyping of concepts and product designs.

Key features

Shortest learning curve of any 3D design software available to engineers

Moving from 2D drafting to 3D design can bring huge benefits in productivity. These include producing more compelling proposals, increasing collaboration, faster design times and simpler product costing. DesignSpark Mechanical features a Microsoft Office style user interface that immediately feels familiar, and its intuitive interaction with 3D CAD models takes just minutes to learn – making DesignSpark Mechanical the ideal engineering tool to move from 2D to 3D product design.

Easy import of electrical designs

In today’s product design processes, close collaboration is needed between electrical and mechanical design. This can be complex where different engineers are using different tools. DesignSpark Mechanical allows the import of PCB layout files from electronic design software, and drawing files from 2D electrical software allowing greater collaboration and fewer surprises later in the design process when errors and oversights can be very costly to correct.

Extensive libraries and simple costing

Creating CAD Models from scratch is a laborious and error prone task. DesignSpark Mechanical removes this design bottleneck by providing access to thousands of standard components from their extensive 3D library. Bill of materials management and product costing is an essential but time consuming part of many designs. DesignSpark Mechanical’s quoting features make it simple to get instant pricing for your design, ensuring even faster product design.

Export files for 3D printing

Today 3D printing is becoming more and more accessible, with costs of hardware and printing services becoming more attractive. DesignSpark Mechanical allows you to export in STL format for easy printing from your own 3D printing facility or a third party.

Collaborate and share designs with everyone

Premium Modules

DesignSpark Mechanical has lots of incredible features built-in already, but there may come a time when you need more functionality, our two premium add-on modules boost DesignSpark Mechanical's abilities to those found on much more expensive industry standard software packages.

DesignSpark Mechanical Exchange

The Exchange module adds advanced import/export capabilities to the free 3D CAD DesignSpark Mechanical software suite. It lets you freely import, modify and export the industry standard STEP and IGES file formats, allowing you to fully exchange design data with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Catia, ProEngineer and AutoCAD. This module turns the free DesignSpark Mechanical software into a low cost 3D CAD design solution, ideal for companies wanting to create fabulous product concepts, without having to invest in 3D CAD licences & training or relying on contractors for final design creation and manufacturing.

The Exchange Add-on Module Provides:

• • Edit imported STEP, IGES file geometry
  • Export geometry to STEP and IGES formats

DesignSpark Mechanical Drawing

The Drawing module adds SpaceClaim's Associative Drawing environment to the free 3D CAD DesignSpark Mechanical software suite. It lets you change designs, as well as create and modify geometry from within drawing views. The drawing environment provides a familiar work space for those accustomed to working in 2D. This add-on supports annotations, including geometric dimensioning and tolerances, notes and leaders, to JIS, ISO, and ANSI® standards, and much more.

Drawing Add-on Module Provides:

• • Create or view 2D drawings with support annotations and full GD&T
  • Thread tool - create standard & custom threads
  • Customize drawing sheets
  • Create and insert barcodes into drawings
  • Create and modify perspective views on 2D drawings from a 3D object

Both of these premium add-ons are available to purchase individually or as a bundle from RS Components.

Hardware requirements

CPU:

• Pentium® 4 2.0 GHZ or Athlon® 2000+ or faster, 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

RAM:

• Minimum: 512MB RAM (32-bit), 1Gb RAM (64-bit)
• Recommended: 2GB RAM or higher

Video Card:

• Please ensure that you have the latest graphics driver for your card and that Direct3D Acceleration is enabled.
• Run this diagnostic tool to check if your graphics hardware meets the above requirements

Recommended video cards:

Radeon®:
ATI® Radeon R300, R420, R520, R600, or R700 series.
Radeon 9x00 cards (9700, 9800) or newer

NVIDIA®:
NVIDIA GeForce® FX, 6, 7, or 8 series. NVIDIA FX5200s or newer

Others:

• 2 Button Mouse with Wheel
• Optional - 3D Mouse (e.g. 3Dconnexion)

Multi-touch:

Multi-touch now works on all Windows 7, 8 and 10 (64-bit) devices via the native pen-and-touch interface.

Software requirements

Operating Systems:

• Microsoft® Windows 7 - 32-bit and 64-bit
• Microsoft® Windows 8 - 32-bit and 64-bit
• Microsoft® Windows 10 - 64-bit
• DesignSpark Mechanical is not officially supported on virtual platforms.
• Intel-based Apple hardware running native Windows using Boot Camp is subject to the same hardware requirements as other Intel-based hardware and will require special licensing.
• Note on virtual platforms: Users report successfully operating DS Mechanical on VMware Workstation 7.x and Player 3.x, Oracle Virtual Box 4.3 and higher.