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CAD Software Programs: A Young Designers’ Guide to Computer Drawing Tools in 2025
Table of Contents
What is CAD?
CAD means Computer-Aided Design. It is a tool that helps people make things on a computer. CAD is like drawing on a computer, but it is more special. It helps make buildings, cars, toys, and many other things.
At Istar Machining, we use CAD every day. CAD helps us make parts for many things. We use CAD before we do .
Why Do People Use CAD?
People use CAD because it helps them:
- Make things fast
- Make things the right size
- See how things look before they make them
- Fix mistakes before they make the real thing
- Share their ideas with other people
Types of CAD Programs
There are many CAD programs. Some are for big kids and grown-ups. Some are for people who make special things.
CAD for Making Things (Mechanical Engineering)
These CAD tools help make parts for cars, toys, and machines:
| Program Name | What It’s Good For | Who Uses It Most |
| CATIA | Making cars and planes | Big companies |
| Solid Edge | Making small parts | Small shops |
| Fusion 360 | Making all kinds of things | Students and small shops |
Fusion 360 is a good choice for many people. It costs about $70 each month. Many of our friends at Istar Machining use it to make plans for precision cnc machining.
CAD for Buildings (Architecture)
These CAD tools help make houses and big buildings:
- Revit: Good for making whole buildings with all the pipes and wires
- AutoCAD: Good for making floor plans and maps
AutoCAD is the most used CAD program. About 22% of all CAD users pick AutoCAD.
CAD for Making Metal Parts (Manufacturing)
These CAD tools are good for making metal parts:
- SolidWorks: Good for making parts that fit together
- Creo: Good for making parts for machines
At Istar Machining, we use these kinds of programs to plan our cnc parts machining.
Free CAD Tools
Not all CAD tools cost money. Some good free ones are:
- FreeCAD: Good for making 3D things
- LibreCAD: Good for making 2D drawings
Important CAD Features
When you pick a CAD tool, look for these things:
Smart Design Tools
Some CAD programs can help you make better designs:
- Generative design: The computer helps make the best shape
- Parametric design: You can change the size of things easy
Working with Friends
Some CAD tools let many people work on the same thing:
- Cloud collaboration: Work with friends on the internet
- File sharing: Send your designs to other people
Testing Your Ideas
Good CAD tools let you test your ideas:
- Simulation: See if your part will break
- Motion analysis: See if moving parts work right
Making Real Things
Some CAD tools help you make real things:
- CAM integration: Helps machines make your parts
- 3D printing: Helps 3D printers make your designs
This is very important for us at Istar Machining because we use CAD files to make real parts with our 5 axis machining centers.
How to Pick the Right CAD Program
To pick the best CAD program, ask these questions:
What Are You Making?
- Machines or parts? Try SolidWorks or Fusion 360
- Buildings? Try Revit or AutoCAD
- Art or toys? Try Blender or Tinkercad
How Many People Will Use It?
- Just you? A simple program might be fine
- A team? You might need a program that lets people work together
How Much Money Can You Spend?
- No money? Try FreeCAD or LibreCAD
- Some money? Try Fusion 360
- Lots of money? Try CATIA or SolidWorks
Here’s how much some CAD programs cost:
| CAD Program | Cost |
| AutoCAD | $1,975 per year |
| Fusion 360 | $70 per month |
| FreeCAD | $0 (free) |
How Good Are You at CAD?
- Beginner? Try Tinkercad or SketchUp
- Middle? Try Fusion 360
- Expert? Try CATIA or SolidWorks
New Things in CAD
CAD programs are getting better all the time. Here are some new things:
- AI helpers: The computer helps you design better
- Cloud CAD: You can work on your design from any computer
- VR design: You can see your design like it’s real
About 40% of people use AutoCAD, Revit, or Fusion 360. These are all made by the same company, Autodesk.
CAD for Different Jobs
Different jobs use different CAD programs:
For Making Airplanes and Rockets
People who make airplanes use CATIA and SolidWorks a lot. These programs help make parts that are very safe.
For Making Buildings
People who make buildings use Revit and AutoCAD. These programs help make sure buildings don’t fall down.
For Making Cars and Trucks
Car makers use CATIA and NX. These programs help make cars that work well.
For Making Medical Things
People who make medical tools use SolidWorks and Fusion 360. At Istar Machining, we use CAD to plan parts for medical micro machining.
CAD and Manufacturing
CAD is very important for making things. Here’s how CAD helps:
- First, someone makes a design in CAD
- Then, the CAD file tells machines what to make
- Machines like CNC mills make the real part
This is what we do at Istar Machining. We turn CAD files into real parts with our cnc milling machines.
Common CAD Questions
Which CAD is best for 3D printing?
For 3D printing, many people like Fusion 360, TinkerCAD, and Blender. They make files that 3D printers can use.
Is AutoCAD still the best?
AutoCAD is still the most used CAD program. About 22% of CAD users pick AutoCAD. But other programs like Revit and Fusion 360 are also very good.
What free CAD do experts use?
Many experts use FreeCAD and LibreCAD when they don’t want to spend money. These programs are good enough for many jobs.
How to Learn CAD
Learning CAD can be fun! Here are ways to learn:
- Take classes at school
- Watch videos on YouTube
- Try free versions of CAD programs
- Start with easy programs like TinkerCAD
CAD for Kids
Kids can learn CAD too! Good CAD programs for kids are:
- TinkerCAD: Very easy to use
- SketchUp Free: Good for making buildings and rooms
- Blockscad: Uses blocks like Minecraft or Lego
Conclusion
CAD software programs help people make all kinds of things. From buildings to toys to car parts, CAD makes designing easier and better.
Different people need different CAD programs. Some are free, and some cost money. Some are easy, and some are hard. Pick the one that is right for you!
At Istar Machining, we use CAD every day to make parts for our customers. CAD helps us make perfect parts with our cnc machining service.
Remember: The best CAD program is the one that helps you make what you want to make!
Footnotes
[^1]: Data from Datanyze market share report, showing AutoCAD’s 21.94% market share. [^2]: Information from Engineering.com’s report on popular CAD programs. [^3]: Pricing data sourced from Apollo Technical’s report on CAD software companies use.
