DesignSpark Mechanical — The Complete Guide: Direct Modelling of Parts and Enclosures, Commercial Use Included
DesignSpark Mechanical from RS Group is built on SpaceClaim technology and takes a direct modelling approach: select a face and move it, deepen a hole or extend an edge, with no history tree to manage. It suits anyone who wants to change a model quickly, for example to fit an enclosure around a component. It runs on Windows.
DesignSpark Mechanical
RS Group (DesignSpark)
Direct 3D modelling of parts and products, with a free Explorer plan that also allows commercial use.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Direct modelling — push and pull faces, offset, rotate and copy.
- Constrained sketches — including equations to drive dimensions.
- Component library — ready-made models of parts to check fit inside an enclosure.
- Measurement and parts list — distances, areas and a basic BOM.
- Print preparation — STL export straight to a 3D printer.
What is free and what is paid
The Explorer plan is free with no time limit, allows commercial use and needs a DesignSpark account. The main limit is files: export is mostly restricted to STL, OBJ and 3D PDF. Production drawings with GD&T, assemblies, reverse engineering from STL, and STEP, IGES, DWG and DXF import and export are reserved for the paid Creator and Engineer plans — so exchanging files with suppliers and workshops is hard on the free plan.
Related tools
For open-source parametric design with STEP and drawings — FreeCAD. For cloud CAD — Onshape Free. For personal use with manufacturing tools — Fusion for personal use.
FreeCAD
FreeCAD Project
Open-source parametric 3D modeller with workbenches for solid modelling, FEM, drafting and BIM.
Get it from the vendor
Onshape (free plan)
PTC
Parametric CAD in the browser with version control. On the free plan every document is public.
Get it from the vendor
Autodesk Fusion (personal use licence)
Autodesk
Cloud CAD/CAM. Free personal licence for non-commercial home projects, with reduced capability.
Get it from the vendorSolid Edge Community Edition
Siemens Digital Industries Software
Siemens’ professional 3D CAD for parts, assemblies, sheet metal and drawings — free for personal non-commercial use.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
Fast, comfortable direct modelling, free even for business, as long as STL export is enough. When you need STEP or production drawings, choose another tool or a paid plan.