List of Application Packages Used for Engineering Drawing
The days of professional pen-and-paper illustrations are mostly over, thanks to the emergence of technical illustration software. These tools allow designers to quickly and more effectively produce illustrations that communicate technical information, whether it be geometry, aesthetics, functionality, or other important visual aspects of a project. There are many types of technical illustration software, each with their unique tools and advantages, so this article will help show the best available options as well as where each excels.
What are technical illustrations, and what is technical illustration software?
Technical illustrations are used to display proportions, visual impressions, perspective, and other technical information. They are most often used to provide a visual understanding for non-technical audiences (think Lego instructions or Ikea furniture instructions); however, these illustrations are also used in engineering, science, fields of expertise, and places where precise visual specifications are needed. There are four main types of technical illustrations, though more certainly exist:
- Line drawings
- Exploded view drawings
- Cutaway drawings
- Clip art images
Technical illustration software contains tools for generating illustrations that convey visual information on a project/system. Many 3D modeling software packages include technical drawing tools; however, dedicated technical illustration software is primarily concerned with understanding and much less with accuracy, and so eliminates unnecessary complexity where needed. Technical illustration software allows users to set up their designs using an accurate perspective with the appropriate symbols and features needed to convey information easily. This may include arrows, distance/size scales, dimensions, or anything else that will help an observer understand how the product works. They may allow for 3D model importing, making the illustration process much faster and more accurate, but this depends on the program. Technical illustration software accepts and publishes differing file formats than 3D modeling software such as raster (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP), vector (SVG, CGM, EPS, DXF), and other file types, but there is much overlap thanks to added integration. In any case, these software packages are built to reduce completion times, increase comprehension, and allow for more user options that result in impressive technical illustrations for any application.
How Can Technical Illustration Software be Utilized?
Technical Illustration Software has a number of uses within an organization. Creating illustrations using these tools can help team members across various disciplines work together in a collaborative manner that increases visibility into the details of a project earlier in the development cycle. Having this improved insight increases efficiency, reduces product development time, helps prevent errors and design mistakes from slipping into a production run, and reduces overall life cycle costs. Some examples of how this type of software can be used include:
- In the early phases of a product design, when engineering collaboration is needed to coordinate between the multiple disciplines involved in a project – for example, between system engineers, electrical design, mechanical design, and thermal design specialists.
- As an aid to design reviews, both internal and with customers, to visualize the details of a product before it is produced in large production quantities
- As a tool to assist remote engineering resources, enabling remote teams to participate in the design and production processes without being physically present in one location.
- To assist with CAD collaboration, where there is a need for teams to mark-up or annotate specific points in CAD models that need to be assigned for investigation and resolution
Next, we will explore 11 of the best technical illustration software packages available in 2021.
11 Best Technical Illustration Software Packages in 2021
Below are the 10 best technical illustration software packages, determined by MarketsandMarkets's global report on the technical illustration software market. Each software summary below contains information pertaining to the general skill level, software capabilities, and unique features, as well as a link to where each can be purchased.
Best Powerhouse Illustrator: Canvas X by Canvas GFX
Image credit: CanvasGFX
Canvas GFX's Canvas X software is one of the most accurate and powerful software options on this list, with accuracies up to 0.035 microns and the ability to accept/edit over 70 file formats.
Canvas X captures the functionality of many different software tools into one program, allowing users to edit both vector and raster images to industry standards or to completely custom geometries.
Their comprehensive text tools can publish full-length documents alongside technical illustrations with proofing and annotation tools that rival even the best of word processors. Used to create maintenance manuals, assembly instructions, data visualization, scheduling documents, presentation, marketing assets, and more, Canvas X is popular among names such as Yale, Raytheon, NASA, General Dynamics, 3M, and many more industry leaders.
View all the details below:
Canvas X Draw for Windows
Best Design & Manufacturing Collaboration Software: CoLab
Built to address the needs of design engineering and manufacturing teams, the CoLab platform is a centralized application that integrates with the team's 2D and 3D CAD data to enable improved collaboration from the initial conceptual design through production. CoLab's applications allow teams to share 3D content from CAD models, annotate design decisions, perform and document design reviews, assign and manage issues, redline drawings, and work closely with supply chain partners. Secure file sharing enables teams to manage critical content via one platform and set permissions for user access depending on their role and needs. CoLab provides the tools to enable collaboration between both internal and external partners while maintaining control to provide protection of intellectual property.
View all the details on CoLab's website.
Best 2D Artistic Illustrator: Adobe Illustrator
Adobe's suite of software is the industry standard for most graphic design applications, and Adobe Illustrator is no different. This vector-based graphics editor is perfect for 2D artistic and technical projects alike, allowing beginner-to-advanced users to select, draw, type, paint, reshape, slice, cut, zoom, graph, measure, and organize their work in any manner they choose. While its capabilities stretch far beyond technical illustrations and are mostly limited to 2D work, Illustrator is a versatile software that is only held back by the user's imagination and familiarity with the program.
View all the details on Adobe's website.
Best CAD-Integrated Illustrator: Creo Illustrate by PTC
Parametric Technology Corporation is no stranger to technical design with its famous Creo 3D modeling software; they now offer Creo Illustrate, a multifunctional platform capable of 3D technical illustrations, 2D drawings, animations, augmented reality integration, and much more. Creo Illustrate reuses imported CAD data to generate technical illustrations and bill of material (BOM) data, allowing for fast transitions between 3D modeling and illustrating. Creo Illustrate also allows for various surface shading styles, section views, measurements, exploded views, annotations, and automatic updating when the 3D model changes. Built for professionals familiar with Creo and other 3D modelers, Creo Illustrate is a fantastic CAD-integrated illustration option.
View all the details on PTC's website.
Best non-CAD User Software: XVL Technical Illustration Suite by Lattice Technology
Lattice Technology offers its XVL Technical Illustration suite, a technical illustration software package made for users with little to no CAD experience. With interactive and automated processes for generating technical illustrations, the XVL Illustration suite is an easy-to-use yet advanced software package that accepts a variety of raster, vector, or interactive 3D formats. The XVL Illustration Suite is best used for marketing and sales material, owner's manuals, parts catalogs, product manuals, service manuals, and technical documentation, but can also create 3D interactive illustrations for web pages.
View all the details on Lattice Technology's website.
Best Simplified Illustrator: Publisher3D by Quadrispace
If looking for a quick method of turning a 3D model into a cohesive technical illustration, look no further than Quadrispace's Publisher3D software. Publisher3D uses metadata from existing CAD models to populate parts lists and generate various technical illustrations with very little hassle. Focusing on barebones technical communication, Publisher3D has many symbology tools such as balloons, markups, and more, and can organize illustrations into storyboards which allows for more illustrations on the same file. While not as advanced as others on this list, Publisher3D is a great standalone tool for technical illustrators.
View all the details on Quadrispace's website.
Best Comprehensive Illustrator: CorelDRAW Technical Suite 2020 by CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW Technical Suite 2020 is a complete software package for all visual communications needs. Accepting many file formats, CorelDRAW's Technical Suite contains nine technical illustration applications for professionals in the field of technical communications that will enhance productivity, capabilities, and aesthetics. CorelDRAW is designed specifically for Windows and tablet devices, allowing a direct stylus/touch-based approach to technical illustration that is powered by AI and machine-learning algorithms. CorelDRAW's Suite is by far one of the most comprehensive options on this list that can be sure to serve any technical illustration need.
View all the details on CorelDRAW's website.
Best Product Development Illustrator: Solid Edge Illustrations
Solid Edge Illustrations by Siemens is part of the Solid Edge portfolio of product development software and is built to integrate all product development aspects into one framework. Solid Edge Illustrations creates high-quality 3D PDF documents for Solid Edge files and 3D CAD formats, along with annotations, animations, communication tools, and much more. Focusing on enhancing workflow in the Solid Edge suite, Solid Edge Illustrations makes raster and vector graphics easy to generate with no additional plugins. If you are already familiar with the Solid Edge environment, Solid Edge Illustrations is your best option for technical illustrations.
View all the details on Siemen's website.
Best Customer Service Illustrator: Auto-Trol by Ignite Technologies
Ignite Technologies' Auto-Trol Solutions combines electronic document/management, product lifecycle management, and CAD capabilities into one package. The included Konfig and Technical Illustrator software allows professional users to keep track of documentation and facilitates the creation of technical illustrations for product assembly, operation, training materials, and many more applications. Ignite excels at their commitment to customer service, providing three tiers of Ignite Customer Support with 24/7 availability, forever upgrades at no cost, and reduced professional service fees from Ignite's consulting offerings.
View all the details on Ignite Technologies website.
Best Industrial Illustrator: Dassault Systèmes CATIA Composer
Dassault Systèmes CATIA Composer is an industrial 3D technical illustration software meant to convey technical communication via existing 3D models and assemblies. There are numerous 2D, 3D, and animation tools used to display product information to both expert and non-expert viewers, and its user base includes industry manufacturing engineers, design engineers, technical illustrators, aftermarket service providers, and other professionals. CATIA Composer makes creating exploded views and other illustrations in high resolution easy, reducing time to market, and increasing efficiency while also allowing for web viewing and interaction features.
View all the details on Dassault Systèmes website.
Best Multipurpose Illustrator: Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD is a versatile software used by architects, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and many more industry professionals for all CAD-related needs. While having a substantial learning curve, few software packages can beat the number of specialized tools, mobile connectivity options, and operating system compatibilities that Autodesk provides. With numerous technical illustration tools alongside 3D modeling capabilities, AutoCAD is a complete package for professionals willing to learn the full range of capabilities that it has to offer.
View all the details on Autodesk's website.
Summary
This article summarized some of the best technical illustration software, as determined by MarketandMarket.com's report on the technical illustration software market. For more information on related concepts and products, consult our other guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform to locate potential sources of supply or view details on specific products.
Sources:
- https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_illustration
- https://clickhelp.com/clickhelp-technical-writing-blog/what-is-technical-illustration/
- http://www.prodone.com/sites/default/files/downloads/tech_illustrations_21st_century.pdf
More from Other
List of Application Packages Used for Engineering Drawing
Source: https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/other/best-technical-illustration-software/
0 Response to "List of Application Packages Used for Engineering Drawing"
Post a Comment