Computer Aided Design11
AutoCad
Drafting and 3D CAD. DWG files remain the format most molders and tool shops expect.
CadMax (defunct)
No working website as of October 2026. The original domain no longer resolves and no current site was found; record kept for reference only.
Catia
High-end surfacing and assembly. Standard in aerospace and automotive body engineering.
IronCAD
Direct-modeling CAD on ACIS and Parasolid. Quick for concept work before committing to a feature tree.
PTC
Parametric CAD and PLM. Common where change control is audited, such as medical devices.
Siemens NX
Siemens CAD, CAM and CAE. Mold design and NC machining are why tool shops use it.
Siemens Teamcenter (PLM)
Siemens Teamcenter. Revision control, BOM and change orders.
Solid Edge
Mid-range direct and parametric CAD. Handles imported supplier geometry well.
SolidWorks
Mid-market CAD with draft analysis and mold tools built in.
think3 thinkdesign
History-based 2D and 3D design with a surfacing heritage. A lighter seat than the major CAD systems.
VX CAD-CAM
Hybrid modeling CAD with mold tools and machining in the same seat.
Forums7
Core77 discussion boards
Core77 discussion boards. Industrial design and CMF questions.
Dexigner
Daily design news covering product, transport and furniture design.
Eng-Tips
Engineer Q&A with plastics, moldmaking and failure subforums.
Feed Screw Designs (defunct)
No working website as of October 2026. The original domain no longer resolves and no current site was found; record kept for reference only.
MoldMaking Technology
US moldmaking publication. Tooling, EDM and machining practice.
Plastics.com communities
Industry forum and supplier directory. Sign-in required to read threads.
PolySort
Polymer literature search service. The blog covers materials and processing research.
| Name | Group | Region | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoCad | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Drafting and 3D CAD. DWG files remain the format most molders and tool shops expect. |
| CadMax (defunct) | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | No working website as of October 2026. The original domain no longer resolves and no current site was found; record kept for reference only. |
| Catia | Computer Aided Design | EU | software | High-end surfacing and assembly. Standard in aerospace and automotive body engineering. |
| IronCAD | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Direct-modeling CAD on ACIS and Parasolid. Quick for concept work before committing to a feature tree. |
| PTC | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Parametric CAD and PLM. Common where change control is audited, such as medical devices. |
| Siemens NX | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Siemens CAD, CAM and CAE. Mold design and NC machining are why tool shops use it. |
| Siemens Teamcenter (PLM) | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Siemens Teamcenter. Revision control, BOM and change orders. |
| Solid Edge | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Mid-range direct and parametric CAD. Handles imported supplier geometry well. |
| SolidWorks | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Mid-market CAD with draft analysis and mold tools built in. |
| think3 thinkdesign | Computer Aided Design | EU | software | History-based 2D and 3D design with a surfacing heritage. A lighter seat than the major CAD systems. |
| VX CAD-CAM | Computer Aided Design | USA | software | Hybrid modeling CAD with mold tools and machining in the same seat. |
| Core77 discussion boards | Forums | USA | forum | Core77 discussion boards. Industrial design and CMF questions. |
| Dexigner | Forums | EU | publication | Daily design news covering product, transport and furniture design. |
| Eng-Tips | Forums | USA | forum | Engineer Q&A with plastics, moldmaking and failure subforums. |
| Feed Screw Designs (defunct) | Forums | USA | reference | No working website as of October 2026. The original domain no longer resolves and no current site was found; record kept for reference only. |
| MoldMaking Technology | Forums | US moldmaking publication. Tooling, EDM and machining practice. | ||
| Plastics.com communities | Forums | USA | forum | Industry forum and supplier directory. Sign-in required to read threads. |
| PolySort | Forums | EU | reference | Polymer literature search service. The blog covers materials and processing research. |