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/
Extension File Type
ai Illustrator File
ami Ami Pro
bmp Bitmap
cdr Corel Draw
cgm Computer Graphics Metafile
cmv FrameMaker vector
cmx Corel Clipart
dbs DBase
dez DataEase
dif DIF
doc Microsoft Word Document
docx Microsoft Word Document
drw Micrografx
dsf Micrografx Designer
dx DEC DX
dxf AutoCad
emf Enhanced Windows Metafile
en4 Enable Word Processor
ens Enable Spreadsheet
enw Enable WordProcessor
eps Encapsulated PostScript
epub Electronic Publication
eshr Escher
exe EXE
fax Group 3 Fax
fcd First Choice DB
fcs First Choics SS
fft IBM FFT
flw Freelance
fmv FrameMaker Vector
fpx Kodak Flash Pix
fwk Framework
gdf IBM Graphics
gdsf Interface for FLT
gem GEM Vector
gif Graphics Interchange Format
gp4 CALS
gzip UNIX GZIP
hgs Harvard Graphics
hgw Harvard Graphics
html HTML
ich Ichitaro
ich6 Ichitaro
igs IGES Drawing
img GEM Image
iwp Wang IWP
jpeg Joint Photographics Experts Group Format
jpg Joint Photographics Experts Group Format
jw JustWrite
leg Legacy Wordstar
lwp Lotus WordPro
lwp7 Lotus WordPro
lzh LZH
m11 Mass 11
manu Lotus Manuscript
mcw MacWrite
met OS/2 Metafile
mif FrameMaker MIF
mm MultiMate
mm4 MultiMate
mmfn MultiMate Note
mobi Mobipocket file format
mp Mulitplan
mpp Microsoft Project text
msg Microsoft Outlook
mwkd Mac Works Database
mwks Mac Works Spreadsheet
mwp2 Mac WordPerfect
mwpf Mac WordPerfect
mwrk Mac Works
odp PowerPoint Presentation
ods Excel Spreadsheet
odt Microsoft Word Document
otf OpenType Fonts
ow OfficeWriter
pbm Portable bitmap
pcd Kodak Photo CD
pcx Paintbrush
pdf Adobe PDF
pdx Paradox
pfs PFS
pgl HP Graphics
pic Lotus PIC
pict Mac PICT
pif Picture Interchange Format
png PNG
pntg MacPaint
ppkg ppkg
ppl PFS Plan
ppt PowerPoint Presentation
pptx PowerPoint Presentation
ps PostScript
psd PhotoShop
psp Paintshop Pro
psp6 Paint Shop Pro
pub Microsoft Publisher Document
qa Q&A Write
qad Q&A Database
qp6 Quattro Pro
qp9 Quattro Pro
ras Sun Raster
rbs R-Base
rft IBM DCA
rfx Reflex
rnd AutoShade Rendering
rtf Rich Text Format
sam Samna
sc5 SuperCalc 5
sdw Ami Draw
shw3 Novell Presentations
smd Smart Database
sms Smart Spreadsheet
smt Smartware
snap Lotus Snapshot
soc StarOffice Calc
soi StarOffice Impress
sow StarOffice Writer
spt Sprint
svg Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
taz Unix Compress
tga Targa
tif TIFF
tiff TIFF
ttf TrueType Font
tw Total Word
txt Text Document
vcrd vCard
viso Visio
vsd Visio
vsd Visio
vw3 Volkswriter
wbmp Wireless graphics format
wg2 Lotus 123 for OS/2
wk4 Lotus 123
wk6 Lotus 123
wks Lotus 123
wm WordMarc
wmf Windows Metafile
wml Wireless Markup Language
work Microsoft Works
wp5 WordPerfect
wp6 WordPerfect
wpd WordPerfect Documents
wpf WordPerfect
wpg WordPerfect Graphic
wpg2 WordPerfect Graphic
wpl Dec WPS
wpw PerfectWorks
ws WordStar
ws2 WordStar
xbm X-Windows Bitmap
xls Excel Spreadsheet
xlsx Excel Spreadsheet
xpm X-Windows Pixmap
xwd X-Windows Dump
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.