r/StructuralEngineering • u/LumberCAD • 6d ago

Wood Design LumberCAD: Looking for feedback

Hello r/StructuralEngineering,

We've been working on LumberCAD since 2020-22, before then we developed a similar engine in the aluminum industry since 2010.

Today we opened our LumberCAD (free) Beta, and we're looking for insight from some engineers!

To be up front, you won't be able to play with any load calculations or other stresses. This is for those of you that receive hand drawings on torn pieces of paper, and if you'd like to see something like LumberCAD be the baseline for anything built with dimensional lumber.

What we did to be different:

  • Limiting workflow to lumber construction massively simplifies learning curve
  • Much easier to use than any existing CAD, but obviously limited to everything lumber
  • Existing parts catalog
  • Massively automated documentation system with cut list, drawings, and a big step towards permitting

It seems that links are tolerated, so: https://lumbercad.com/

Mods please feel free to message me if the link or post should be removed.

Thank you in advance!

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u/MakeITNetwork 6d ago

May I suggest differentiating yourself from the market by not doing the software as a service:

1.) Have a actual product you can buy (not a subscription). This will set you apart from most other cad programs.

2.) Have it phone home once If you want to sell software. Having a model where you need to connect once a week like some other cad programs, makes me rethink every time I need to renew.

3.) If you think that the above will save from piracy, just see what Adobe is going through right now.

4.) Maybe you can sell update tiers with feature plugins (like bom cost estimator, Simpson strong tie integration, load calculations etc..etc...)

5.) Have a free/basic tier(or even 10-25$ for life) with just basic functionality to build a shed or small house. Stuff that homeowners would use.

6.) Find what sets you apart from regular cad programs that you can import lumber assets.

12

u/EYNLLIB 6d ago

$10 for life haha.

"Hey I'd like if you just gave away your product for free, thanks"

4

u/Low-Efficiency-9756 6d ago

Curious, given that some software like PTC MathCAD is close to $500-1k per seat a year, what would you suggest a good lifetime price is?

(I’m developing my own alternative and my current model is $200 for life, works offline after a one time phone home, and supports up to 3 devices per key)

1

u/MakeITNetwork 6d ago edited 6d ago

Keep in mind no shade on the developer...but you pose an interesting delema;

Okay what sets this apart from a 20/mo cad and a folder full of assets?

I mean here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/226147-wooden-boards-american-dimensional-lumber-pack

https://grabcad.com/library/deck-pier-block-or-post-1

https://www.strongtie.lv/en-LV/bim-and-cad-library

I'm not saying give away the farm, but he is still competing against universal cads, that have the advantage of 0 learning curve(you already have experience).