6 Questions to ask every CAD Vendor

                                                                                         

Choosing CAD software is quite a difficult task, where many parameters must be taken into account. Switching to a new CAD software vendor carries many implications for a fashion design company. In order to make this mission a little easier, I have put together a short list of issues any fashion design company must pose when inspecting a new CAD software vendor.

1. Does your system provide opportunities to send and receive files from or to any available software and hardware in the market?
The ability to seamlessly import or export files from your existing CAD system, plotter, cutter or digitizer is highly important in order to maintain your production abilities, ensure complete transfer of your native data and keep the integrity of your files during the migration process.

2. Pattern Performance? How do I create, edit, grade, mark, drape and engineer patterns quickly, accurately and easily?
All the above software abilities are necessary for any company in order to attain a production line. Combining the above abilities with efficient 3D animation software, API/COM and XML interfaces, small-sized files and great graphics (GUI) will give your sales team affordable tools with faster Time-to-Market, enhanced user experience and productivity, throughout the working day.


3. Can I send piece and cost calculations into Excel? Word? Familiar computing environment? Can I work in 2D and 3D in parallel?
It is imperative to be able to design and drape as you work in one single interface, with no need to switch back and forth between different applications. You should get a modern Windows-based 'open-architecture' based on customer driven development. 3D files should be available easily without the vendor's software. They should be embedded in applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint or you can simply just drag and drop directly into Internet Explorer or view inside a web page.

4. How is your company defining the future? What are your latest innovations and how will you support it? How often do you release new versions? Upgrades? Service packs? ?
CAD software solutions are usually expensive software solutions, which is why you should make sure the software vendor you choose is highly attentive and responsive. You should be able to choose a flexible solution with excellent support, ready to answer your questions and solve your problems on an immediate basis. You should get software upgrades and new versions to be able to stay in line with market changes and react faster to competition.

5. Can you provide realistic textile simulation?
Realistic 3D textile simulation is highly important in order to equip your sales team with the most efficient and cost-effective marketing and sales tools. With the right 3D simulation software, you will reduce dramatically, sometimes even annul the need to produce samples before production, which will cut marketing costs and Time-to-Market.
A realistic cloth simulation should allow you to choose among a custom modifiable fabric list, control fabric weight, bending stretch, X/Y forces, shearing, shrinkage, edge force, folding, transparency, shininess, glow .etc. You should be able to even add realistic lighting and shadow casting.

6. Do you offer a good made-to-measure (MTM) solution?
A good made-to-measure (MTM) software solution minimizes costs, streamlines the production of patterns, improves efficiency in sending files to plotting or cutting, improves quality and helps meet deadlines. When choosing an MTM solution, remember to check that it is capable of importing patterns from other CAD systems.


Good luck with making the right choice!

About the author:
Mr. Saar Machtinger, Director Business Development, OptiTex™ Fashion design software, which specializes in the development of innovative, easy-to-operate, 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional CAD/CAM Fashion Design software.

http://www.optitex.com

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