The Best Places to Download CAD Models for Free
Engineers are under extreme pressure to decrease their time to market while increasing the accuracy of their designs. What's often overlooked is that today's engineering designs are comprised of many "COTS" or commercial-off-the-shelf parts. These are parts designed and manufactured by "Company A" and sourced by "Company B" for a project. Depending on the industry, 40%-80% of each design is made of these purchased parts. If these parts are in a project, engineers need an accurate CAD model of each for their design.
Instead of designing, engineers often spend much of their day scouring the internet for these CAD models for their plans and designs
- 3Dfindit
- Manufacturer's websites
- Within CAD or PLM Software
- Distributor Websites
Deep dive: The Top resources to find and download CAD models for free!
3Dfindit is an all-new FREE 3D Search site. It is a visual 3D search engine to help engineers, designers, and architects, find CAD & BIM parts quickly. 3Dfindit has an international audience of 18 million registered users who love it because it's loaded with hundreds of manufacturer catalogs.
Engineers can search to find the exact part they're looking for, then download in the precise CAD format they prefer. Many of the 2000+ catalogs available on 3Dfindit provide native files so engineers can download in their preferred CAD format. With more than 150 formats available, there is something for everyone here.
Where 3Dfindit really shines is its visual 3D search engine. 3Dfindit enables engineers to find the part they're looking for in seconds, with a variety of unique search methods. Engineers can search using a sketch, a photo, shape search using existing geometry, parametric text search, and color search to find parts quicker than ever before!
Download CAD Models Directly from Manufacturer Websites:
The best way to get CAD content is directly from the manufacturer's website!
Look for manufacturers who provide an interactive 3D preview and CAD files in native formats. These part can be configured on-demand, meaning the underlying data is up to date. When an engineer downloads a model of the created part, you know the data is accurate and up to date!
Be aware that some manufacturers only offer static files in neutral formats. Due to their static nature, these files can sometimes be out of date and the source of future engineering problems.
- Colson Casters is the world's largest wheel and caster manufacturer.
- Misumi is one of the world's most extensive manufacturer catalogs. Misumi manufacturers configurable and fixed components for factory automation.
- Toshiba International Corporation (TIC) TIC provides application solutions to a wide range of industries.
- NKK Switches designs and manufactures the industry's most extensive selection of electromechanical switches.
- Molex manufacturer of electronic connectors and components.
- US Tsubaki interactive chain design and configuration tool.
- AW Lake manufactures and services flow measurement technology.
- Nason manufactures a full line of space-saving cylinders, switches, and transducers.
- Samtec manufactures electronic wire components, assemblies, and interconnects.
- Eaton sells products to customers worldwide, in over 150 countries!
- Eaton Architectural Products Eaton has BIM content too!
- Parker Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial and aerospace markets worldwide.
Engineers may not know that often they can search for free CAD content directly in their CAD or PLM platform. These built-in catalogs make it easier to find free CAD models without interrupting the design process.
- PTC Windchill -
- Siemens Teamcenter - Siemens Reuse Library
- Siemens NX - Siemens Reuse Library
- Siemens Solid Edge 2021 with 3Dfindit built in
- Autodesk 360 -
- Autodesk Vault
- Onshape Online CAD Library
Another great resource for CAD data is a place many engineers are already using to source components; distributor websites. Many have partnered with the manufacturers they represent, enabling the distributor to reuse the 3D preview and CAD downloads directly on their website. This is one of those win-win-win situations where the manufacturer, distributor and end-user all benefit.
In today's world, engineers are busier than ever. It's essential to offer fast and accurate free downloads to improve engineers' workday, get back to value-adding design time! Make sure you consider these top 5 resources for engineers to find and download free CAD!
Remember, the best way to get CAD content is always directly from the manufacturer's website! Be sure to look for essential signs such as - a 3D interactive preview, a configurator that builds on-demand, and native file formats. This way, you'll know that the free files downloaded are also up-to-date and accurate!
