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Developing an online CAD tool for architecture
boon_ong575
Member Posts: 11 ✭
I am thinking about developing a simple CAD tool for architecture very similar to Trimble SketchUp for Web, except even simpler but for a specific purpose. Can I reconfigure Onshape's user interface to do this? If so, how? I couldn't find anything on the help documentation.
Best Answer
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MichaelPascoe
Member Posts: 2,803 PRO
Not quite. However Onshape allows you to make custom tools (Features) with their own language (FeatureScript). It doesn't allow you to change the default menu's, but you can have the UI of custom features fit your needs for the tool you are making.
Do you have an example of exactly what you are trying to do? Like insert furniture from a catalog? Or build a basic house with pre-built walls and floors?
For example, here is a custom feature for adding texture to things: https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/16576/texture-new-custom-feature…
And here is one for applying panels to cabinets: https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/15560/pattern-sweep-new-custom-feature…You could easily have one that does something related to architecture.
Alternatively Onshape has a great API so you could make an app that has any interface you want. This may be better or worse depending on your needs. You could possibly hide Onshape's native UI and show only your app's interface. But this would be quite a bit of work.
RENDERCAD
rendercad.ai - Photorealistic product rendering.
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Answers
Not quite. However Onshape allows you to make custom tools (Features) with their own language (FeatureScript). It doesn't allow you to change the default menu's, but you can have the UI of custom features fit your needs for the tool you are making.
Do you have an example of exactly what you are trying to do? Like insert furniture from a catalog? Or build a basic house with pre-built walls and floors?
For example, here is a custom feature for adding texture to things: https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/16576/texture-new-custom-feature…
And here is one for applying panels to cabinets: https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/15560/pattern-sweep-new-custom-feature…
You could easily have one that does something related to architecture.
Alternatively Onshape has a great API so you could make an app that has any interface you want. This may be better or worse depending on your needs. You could possibly hide Onshape's native UI and show only your app's interface. But this would be quite a bit of work.
RENDERCAD
rendercad.ai - Photorealistic product rendering.
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Shameless plug but here is our customer story of doing exactly that.
https://www.onshape.com/en/resource-center/case-studies/premier-custom-built
We have spent a number of years essentially superimposing a cabinet CAD system over top of Onshape with over 100 custom features, multiple apps using Onshape's API, and heavily tailored configured part studios. Here is my presentation at LiveWorx where I demo a few of them and talk about the benefits of customizing a CAD system.
https://www.ptc.com/en/resources/liveworx-on-demand/customize-your-cad-with-featurescript
chadstoltzfus@premiercb.com
@chadstoltzfus You guys ever think about releasing a cabinet builder app people could purchase?
RENDERCAD
rendercad.ai - Photorealistic product rendering.
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@MichaelPascoe We have definitely thought about it, but at the moment we have a very small development team. And currently our suite is very specific to us and we would essentially need to build out another system to be able to sell it. Our software is made for a hyper custom cabinet company to the point where it might have a bit too much fluff for most other cabinet companies.
chadstoltzfus@premiercb.com
Many thanks, @MichaelPascoe and @chadstoltzfus. It looks like a lot more work than I am prepared to do and I'm thinking the existing interface might be OK for now. I'll explore another approach.