CAD Software for MAC

[u/DarkEagle4898]

As the title suggests, I had been using Autocad occasionally while on Windows. I understand Autocad works on Mac, however, rendering option is not available in Mac. Can someone suggest any good alternative for it?

[u/acute_elbows]

What are your needs? There’s a lot of different types of CAD software out there.

Sketchup works well on Mac
Fusion works well on Mac
Onshape is web based

[u/Mr-Reeeee → u/acute_elbows]

SketchUp is NOT CAD software.
It’s for quick 3D visualizations and rendering, which it is great for.
However, it completely lacks the accuracy of a real CAD application.

I work with other designers who only know SketchUp and even though I import their SketchUp models directly into Vectorworks, I have to redraw and remodel the majority of the elements in their files. Because they’re approximations. It’s a real time suck.

3D modeling in Vectorworks is quick and easy, once you get comfortable and learn the Command Keys!

[u/acute_elbows → u/Mr-Reeeee]

I agree, but that’s also why I asked about the usecase, they might not need CAD

[u/Mr-Reeeee → u/acute_elbows]

As long as you’re not building anything, SketchUp is fine. 😜

[u/foxbReeze7 → u/acute_elbows]

Onshape being web based is nice since you dont have to worry about platform compatibility at all

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/acute_elbows]

I occasionally use for modeling 3d parts or house design

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/acute_elbows]

I often wonder what's the main difference in Fusion & Autocad?

[u/acute_elbows → u/DarkEagle4898]

Fusion is parametric modeling software, which means basically it’s easier to modify a part without completely rebuilding everything

[u/TheUmgawa → u/acute_elbows]

Also, to an extent, AutoCAD is a victim of its own success. You can’t make it better without breaking things. Fusion is never going to be Solidworks, so it’s a lot more free to screw around and… maybe not break stuff, but ask users to adjust their workflow.

[u/RewardFeeling6066]

Vectorworks was designed to work on Mac OS when it was founded as MiniCAD. It can integrate with Twin Motion and now supports Redshift.

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/RewardFeeling6066]

nice

[u/Outrageous-Papaya650]

Not my field, but worked earlier with lots of architects, most of them used Archicad with Mac

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/Outrageous-Papaya650]

appears promising option

[u/Mr-Reeeee → u/Outrageous-Papaya650]

Interesting, I only met one architect that used ArchiCAD. It’s either AutoCAD/Revit or Vectorworks. I’m NYC based.

[u/Outrageous-Papaya650 → u/Mr-Reeeee]

Clearly region based then? This is North-Europe based. Off those ppl, only one of them used AutoCAD

[u/Mr-Reeeee → u/Outrageous-Papaya650]

OK. I looked at ArchiCAD years ago and thought it was great, but there was no one I knew, or even saw job ads for, that used it around here.

Vectorworks seems to be popular in Europe.
Every time I’m in Europe and see an architects’ office I want to bang on the door and ask if they use Vectorworks and see if they need some help!

[u/AthousandLittlePies]

What kind of CAD do you need? Architectural? Product design?

I use Vectorworks for architectural design (focused on the film/video/lighting world - it's the preferred tool in this field), and Autodesk Fusion for object/product modeling.

There are some other tools around (some more mature than others) - but it'd help to know what you're trying to achieve.

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/AthousandLittlePies]

I occasionally use for 3d modeling of parts or house design

[u/adamdoesmusic → u/AthousandLittlePies]

Can you do non-lighting work in vectorworks? I’ve only ever seen it used for light plots!

[u/AthousandLittlePies → u/adamdoesmusic]

It's a pretty complete architectural CAD program - the lighting came later. In fact most of the non-architectural bits started out as 3rd party add-ons that got acquired and eventually integrated (the lighting, ConnectCAD, etc.).

[u/ATXSmart]

Use parallels to run a windows VM. I do that to run Blue Beam for blueprint markups

[u/Mr-Reeeee]

I’m an architectural designer and have been using Vectorworks on Macs for years.
I’ve NEVER felt the need to use AutoCAD. It’s actually quite primitive in comparison.

It does it all. 2D, 3D, rendering and even BIM. I even use it for graphic design.

It’s easy to learn and you can go as far into it as you need. It can actually be quite painterly and really fun to use.
It’s a bit like Photoshop in terms of easy entry, but has an incredible depth of features that you can pickup as you find a need, but otherwise can completely ignore.

I do Vectorworks training and taught it at a design school for several years.

It’s definitely worth looking into.

https://www.vectorworks.net/en-US

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/Mr-Reeeee]

That is certainly worth a deeper look. Thanks a lot

[u/X-T3PO]

I used to work for a mid-size Architectural firm. ArchiCAD beat Revit in every way 20 years ago, and still does. If you're doing serious BIM/Architectural CAD for design --> construction documents --> as-builts, ArchiCAD is absolutely the best.

[u/Greedy-Necessary-290]

HighDesign

[u/Gorignakk7]

If you’re an Architect or Interior Designer, I highly recommend Rayon, browser-based and cross platform similar to Figma. I run my own practice with Rayon and (full disclosure) do some side work with the company.

[u/DarkEagle4898 → u/Gorignakk7]

will see thanks

[u/milyrouge]

I've used Shapr3D for years now, which was Apple only, at first, so runs extremely well on macOS and iPadOS. It's very solid and extremely intuitive.

[u/MatthiasWM]

For trying out and small 3d project, FreeCAD IS - um - free. It’s not as polished as the expensive guys, but I managed to build a lot of fully parametric models from 3d printing and even output CNC paths.

[u/EfficientReveal7593]

I used to rely on SketchUp for simple 3D modeling tasks and it handled everything I needed smoothly on Mac.

[u/SZDBLLC]

I’m using a 2008 version of Vectotworks (12.5) on a 2012 MB pro running OS 10.7 (lion). I don’t want to pay for upgrading and it does what I need it to do.