CADfriendly

CADfriendly is an informal term used in product design and manufacturing to describe products, digital assets, or design practices that prioritize compatibility with computer-aided design (CAD) software and workflows. A CADfriendly asset is structured to minimize translation issues and to integrate smoothly into engineering pipelines.

Key characteristics include clean geometric topology, well-defined units and origin, and scalable, parametric definitions where possible. Models should use neutral or widely supported file formats such as STEP, IGES, JT, or (where appropriate) DWG/DXF and OBJ, to maximize cross-software compatibility. Metadata for materials, tolerances, and bill of materials, as well as consistent naming conventions, further support interoperability.

Applications span mechanical design, product development, architecture, aerospace, and supplier libraries. CADfriendly assets are common in vendor catalogs, engineering libraries, and digital twin workflows, where quick import and reliable behavior across tools are essential.

Benefits include reduced data translation errors, faster collaboration, and smoother iteration cycles. Limitations may involve remaining software-specific limitations, licensing constraints on native formats, and the need for upfront preparation to meet established standards.

See also: CAD, neutral file format, interoperability, BIM, product data management, digital twin.