Ideal for: Small machine shops needing simple CAD-to-CMM comparison.
The QA-CAD price seems high until you calculate the cost of not having automated CAD validation.
Do not say "We use CATIA." Say "We use CATIA V5-6R2024 and NX 2206." This prevents the sales engineer from quoting unnecessary translators. qa-cad price
If the QA-CAD price exceeds your budget, consider these alternatives. However, be aware of feature trade-offs.
| Software | Starting Price | Best For | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | GOM Inspect (Free) | $0 (Free version) | Basic mesh-to-CAD comparison. No AS9102 reporting. | | Meshlab | Free | Academic/research. Steep learning curve, no drawing tools. | | PolyWorks (Inspector) | ~$8,000 - $12,000/year | High-end metrology. More powerful than QA-CAD but harder to learn. | | Quindos (Hexagon) | Contact for price (~$6k+) | Advanced CMM programming. Not a direct QA-CAD competitor. | | 3DReshaper | ~$4,000 one-time | Mining & civil engineering; not great for mechanical drawings. | Ideal for: Small machine shops needing simple CAD-to-CMM
Verdict: QA-CAD remains unique for drawing-centric FAI. GOM Inspect is free for 3D comparison but fails at 2D drawing ballooning.
A: Yes. Universities pay roughly $500 – $800 for a teaching license. Commercial restrictions apply (cannot be used for paid contract work). The base license includes standard export (BMP, JPEG, PNG)
The base license includes standard export (BMP, JPEG, PNG). For serious technical publishing, you need the Illustrator/Vector Plus module. This adds approximately $1,500 to $2,000 to the license cost.
No. This is a critical hidden cost.