Here at PTC on the Onshape team, we’re gearing up for a Thanksgiving feast that’s sure to challenge the structural integrity of our dining tables. As we reflect on this season of gratitude, we’re taking a moment to appreciate what matters most: our customers. You're out there on the front lines building products, talking to customers, and getting things done – the very reason Onshape was founded in the first place.
Onshape co-founder and CEO Jon Hirschtick and other core members of the original SOLIDWORKS team started Onshape because they were fed up with what they saw around them:
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Too many valuable design engineers wasting time grappling with CAD files that proliferated through copies, workarounds, and pure mischance.
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Too many vendors offering cloud-based product development software that turned out to just be cloud-storage.
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Too many users are settling for hybrid-cloud, where CAD runs locally, PDM runs in the cloud, and data is stored in local files uploaded and downloaded to the cloud.
Onshape is a cloud-native CAD solution with built-in PDM and pushes improvements out every three weeks.
Let’s dive into 7 reasons why our customers are grateful for cloud-native CAD, straight from their own experiences:
1. No More Computer-Throwing Necessary
When Apogee Bikes set out to revolutionize mountain bike construction with their innovative Free-Float Module (FFM), they needed a CAD system that could handle complex modular design without the traditional headaches of file management. Onshape's parallel design capabilities proved to be a game-changer. The in-process design tree and part compare features allow their team to explore design iterations while ensuring compatibility with existing components – crucial for their modular bike architecture.
“We needed a CAD system that could scale and allow manufacturing teams to work hand-in-hand with the design team to cut down on development time,” wrote Will Hilgenberg, Head of Product at Apogee.
2. Seamless Collaboration and Communication
Onshape was designed to be multi-user; in other words, it’s architected so everyone can “eat together.” That means you no longer have to dread team projects, something to celebrate because you can collaborate simultaneously and communicate within your design.
3. Regular Enhancements That Actually Matter
Every three weeks, like clockwork, Onshape delivers fresh, new features. BETA Technologies lead engineer Lino Verna, who designs electric vertical aircraft, shared his excitement: “I really like how the updates often have a surprise in there for you that's something you've been looking for. So many times I’ve thought, ‘Oh, I've been really waiting for something like this and now it's available!’"
Some of the latest enhancements include Thickness Analysis and Product Structure View.
4. Revolutionary Mate Connectors
Onshape’s Mate Connectors have truly distinguished themselves in the realm of cloud CAD, earning praise from a G2 reviewer who aptly described the platform as "Cloud-based CAD probably based in Heaven."
Onshape's Mate Connectors, they say, simplify the often intricate task of 3D modeling and contribute to a streamlined design process. Even amid the transition from SOLIDWORKS, the user perceived Onshape as a strategic advancement, attributing this positive shift to the advanced capabilities of Onshape's Mate Connectors.
5. Solid Reliability (No Crashes!)
That’s the power of cloud-native CAD – all data is stored instantaneously and redundantly in the cloud. Our customers consistently report that crashes, a common headache with traditional CAD systems, are simply not part of their experience with Onshape. As one user noted, “I have never had a crash in all this time…”
6. Built-in PDM/PLM
We can’t resist the Thanksgiving-themed humor. Don’t be a turkey and buy an additional PDM system. Onshape has it built-in. It's like getting the cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy all in one cloud-native go.
The Onshape-Arena Connection takes it further, bringing CAD, PDM, and PLM together. In this user’s words, “... there is no need to purchase PLM tools; it [Onshape] has in-built PLM.”
7. The Power of "Infinite Undo"
Black Swift Technologies founder Jack Elston, who designs scientific research drones for extreme weather conditions, particularly values Onshape’s comprehensive Edit History.
“Version management in [file-based CAD] is an absolute nightmare. There was never an easy way to roll back to an earlier version,” he said. “We’d try our best to keep snapshots of where we were at certain points, but it was very tricky. We’d discover something we’d want to change and going back to a previous version was sometimes an impossibility.”
A Grateful Community
As we round off this Thanksgiving message, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the Onshape community. We get to work with some of the most passionate, innovative, and creative engineering and manufacturing teams in the world. Your success stories and feedback drive us to keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cloud-native CAD.
For those celebrating, we wish you a joyful Thanksgiving filled with good food, great company, and maybe even a few inspired design ideas!
Friends Don’t Let Friends Use Old CAD!
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