A simple Unity-based CAD/CAM software?

Hello,
I've checked forums and nothing.
I would like to ask smarter people is it worth trying to go for creating a simple CAD software with Unity engine? Simple functions really, using .STL file format. In general, import STL file, make some changes to it and then design an object attached to its surface.

Would appreciate every hint.
Thank you.

 

I use Autocad for work.
I suppose you could make one but it would mostly be for fun.
You would also need to support printing and creating PDF files in various sizes.
Putting lines on the screen is the easy part.

I havent looked, but I suppose there are free or very low cost cad programs available ( not done in Unity ).

 

Nope.

 

Thanks. Didn't get the pdf file part though. I assume you thought about printing CAD plans as documents. No need for that.
I know Autocad and others. But they need some skill to use. The general idea is to create a software for a very narrow, specific goal that even layman can use in a step by step matter, in a fast, user friendly pattern.

 

Everyone wants drawings delivered as PDF files, so they can be viewed and printed.
Staples cant print plot files, they can only print PDF.
There is no point in making cad drawings if you cant view them outside a program.
So PDF viewed on screen is ok, also printed on paper either directly from the program or from a PDF.

 

They can handle way more than just PDF. Below in the spoiler is the complete list they provided me when I clicked on the link titled "Supported file formats" in the print job interface. Some of the formats are kinda silly (eg EXE format) but the most common image formats are in there.

https://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/copy-and-print/printing-services/

Spoiler

Code (CSharp):

1. Extension    File Type
2. ai    Illustrator File
3. ami    Ami Pro
4. bmp    Bitmap
5. cdr    Corel Draw
6. cgm    Computer Graphics Metafile
7. cmv    FrameMaker vector
8. cmx    Corel Clipart
9. dbs    DBase
10. dez    DataEase
11. dif    DIF
12. doc    Microsoft Word Document
13. docx    Microsoft Word Document
14. drw    Micrografx
15. dsf    Micrografx Designer
16. dx    DEC DX
17. dxf    AutoCad
18. emf    Enhanced Windows Metafile
19. en4    Enable Word Processor
20. ens    Enable Spreadsheet
21. enw    Enable WordProcessor
22. eps    Encapsulated PostScript
23. epub    Electronic Publication
24. eshr    Escher
25. exe    EXE
26. fax    Group 3 Fax
27. fcd    First Choice DB
28. fcs    First Choics SS
29. fft    IBM FFT
30. flw    Freelance
31. fmv    FrameMaker Vector
32. fpx    Kodak Flash Pix
33. fwk    Framework
34. gdf    IBM Graphics
35. gdsf    Interface for FLT
36. gem    GEM Vector
37. gif    Graphics Interchange Format
38. gp4    CALS
39. gzip    UNIX GZIP
40. hgs    Harvard Graphics
41. hgw    Harvard Graphics
42. html    HTML
43. ich    Ichitaro
44. ich6    Ichitaro
45. igs    IGES Drawing
46. img    GEM Image
47. iwp    Wang IWP
48. jpeg    Joint Photographics Experts Group Format
49. jpg    Joint Photographics Experts Group Format
50. jw    JustWrite
51. leg    Legacy Wordstar
52. lwp    Lotus WordPro
53. lwp7    Lotus WordPro
54. lzh    LZH
55. m11    Mass 11
56. manu    Lotus Manuscript
57. mcw    MacWrite
58. met    OS/2 Metafile
59. mif    FrameMaker MIF
60. mm    MultiMate
61. mm4    MultiMate
62. mmfn    MultiMate Note
63. mobi    Mobipocket file format
64. mp    Mulitplan
65. mpp    Microsoft Project text
66. msg    Microsoft Outlook
67. mwkd    Mac Works Database
68. mwks    Mac Works Spreadsheet
69. mwp2    Mac WordPerfect
70. mwpf    Mac WordPerfect
71. mwrk    Mac Works
72. odp    PowerPoint Presentation
73. ods    Excel Spreadsheet
74. odt    Microsoft Word Document
75. otf    OpenType Fonts
76. ow    OfficeWriter
77. pbm    Portable bitmap
78. pcd    Kodak Photo CD
79. pcx    Paintbrush
80. pdf    Adobe PDF
81. pdx    Paradox
82. pfs    PFS
83. pgl    HP Graphics
84. pic    Lotus PIC
85. pict    Mac PICT
86. pif    Picture Interchange Format
87. png    PNG
88. pntg    MacPaint
89. ppkg    ppkg
90. ppl    PFS Plan
91. ppt    PowerPoint Presentation
92. pptx    PowerPoint Presentation
93. ps    PostScript
94. psd    PhotoShop
95. psp    Paintshop Pro
96. psp6    Paint Shop Pro
97. pub    Microsoft Publisher Document
98. qa    Q&A Write
99. qad    Q&A Database
100. qp6    Quattro Pro
101. qp9    Quattro Pro
102. ras    Sun Raster
103. rbs    R-Base
104. rft    IBM DCA
105. rfx    Reflex
106. rnd    AutoShade Rendering
107. rtf    Rich Text Format
108. sam    Samna
109. sc5    SuperCalc 5
110. sdw    Ami Draw
111. shw3    Novell Presentations
112. smd    Smart Database
113. sms    Smart Spreadsheet
114. smt    Smartware
115. snap    Lotus Snapshot
116. soc    StarOffice Calc
117. soi    StarOffice Impress
118. sow    StarOffice Writer
119. spt    Sprint
120. svg    Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
121. taz    Unix Compress
122. tga    Targa
123. tif    TIFF
124. tiff    TIFF
125. ttf    TrueType Font
126. tw    Total Word
127. txt    Text Document
128. vcrd    vCard
129. viso    Visio
130. vsd    Visio
131. vsd    Visio
132. vw3    Volkswriter
133. wbmp    Wireless graphics format
134. wg2    Lotus 123 for OS/2
135. wk4    Lotus 123
136. wk6    Lotus 123
137. wks    Lotus 123
138. wm    WordMarc
139. wmf    Windows Metafile
140. wml    Wireless Markup Language
141. work    Microsoft Works
142. wp5    WordPerfect
143. wp6    WordPerfect
144. wpd    WordPerfect Documents
145. wpf    WordPerfect
146. wpg    WordPerfect Graphic
147. wpg2    WordPerfect Graphic
148. wpl    Dec WPS
149. wpw    PerfectWorks
150. ws    WordStar
151. ws2    WordStar
152. xbm    X-Windows Bitmap
153. xls    Excel Spreadsheet
154. xlsx    Excel Spreadsheet
155. xpm    X-Windows Pixmap
156. xwd    X-Windows Dump
157. xy    XyWrite

 

In printer language 'supported' is a loose term. Besides, its not just printers that need to read the file. CAD drawings need to be viewable on locked down enterprise systems that only have basic functionality. There is no way anyone is going to accept a CAD drawing without both a source file readable by standard CAD programs, and a pdf.

 

I bet it'd help loads if the OP actually said what they were attempting to do in clear, exact terms.

 

Yup

Regarding Staples, many of those formats are just image types and they dont really print to a precise scale.
Its more a matter of what Autocad exports to scale, PDF is the standard now.

Autocad can print to file, PLT = plot file. When you print that on a machine with proper drivers installed you get a drawing on paper to perfect scale. Printing services can do this but Staples cant. So most people print to a PDF file and send it to staples.

Many print service companies went out of business and consolidated after 2010.
The two I used went out of business, the one I used later sold out 2 years ago to a bigger printer, so I use them now.

 

He's not targeting enterprise though. He's targeting people who can't be bothered to learn the software to do a proper job with it. Based on his use of the term "layman" I'm working off the assumption he's targeting hobbyists.

 

Indeed. There are some narrow groups which need some quick design and RP of very specific objects (really simple). We are not talking about making rocket engines here , but AutoCAD and other software are too complex for them. They need more like step-by-step process.
No printed plans are needed - just a proper file which can be imported to the 3D printer.