Comparison
AI, CAD or an outside drafter – when does each fit?
It isn't either-or. Metal Draw AI does not replace CAD. It is meant for the small, repetitive requests that don't justify a full drafting cycle.
| Metal Draw AI | CAD software | Outside drafter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple to medium custom parts | Any part, including complex assemblies | Any part |
| Skills needed | Describing the part in words | CAD training | None (you hand it off) |
| Time to first drawing | Minutes | Depends on the drafter and workload | Depends on the supplier's availability |
| Cost | Free up to 20 drawings/month, Pro $49/month | Software license plus drafter salary | Per job |
| Automatic BOM | Yes | Depends on the software and setup | Depends on the supplier |
| DXF export | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes |
| Assemblies and high precision | Not a fit | Yes | Yes |
| Engineering responsibility | Reviewed and approved by a professional | With the user | With the supplier/engineer |
Which one when
Choose Metal Draw AI when
An incoming request needs a drawing for quoting or production fast, the part is simple, and no drafter is free.
Choose CAD when
Assemblies, tight tolerances, a 3D model or full engineering documentation.
Choose an outside drafter when
A large or one-off project, with no in-house team.
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