We’re all becoming experts at remote working. We’ve learnt about the benefits it can have to wellbeing – more time with family, lesser commute times, more flexibility, not to mention the environmental benefits. On the job, many people find they’re more focused and productive … but, without the right tools and processes in place, working remotely can negatively impact collaboration and interaction.
In our industry, effective product and mechanical design requires input and discussion with other design team members, the customer, production, and other stakeholders. Individuals or teams working remotely on CAD or design can find this challenging, but with today’s office tools and CAD programs, working remotely can actually improve a company’s productivity, especially during peak workload periods.
Get Setup for Working CAD Remotely
1. Know your CAD software and how the CAD software licencing is setup
There are three main license types, with terminology differing depending in CAD software:
Standalone, or machine licensing, is generally activated and tied to a particular workstation. With standalone licenses, it is possible to install the CAD software on more than one PC with a single license, but the CAD software can only be activated on a single machine per license. The license can be active and deactivated on the PC depending which machine is in uses or can follow the user by web login.
Network licensing is typically the best option for medium to large organizations. It allows establishing a license server which hosts the CAD software licenses. Any client PC that can ping the network license server will then be able to access a license. This allows for easy sharing of licences without having to purchase a licence for every user.
Web-based licences are become more prevalent, especially with the recent emergence of powerful, competitively priced cloud-based CAD software.
The licence is activated by the simply logging in to the desktop program or on a browser on any device.
Ideally, a floating licence code where a licence code or login follows the user, and not the computer or network, is better for remote working. This would typically be arranged at the time of purchasing your CAD software.
Some CAD software packages prevent older software versions from opening models saved by newer version of the same CAD. Depending on your licence, it’s just a matter of upgrading everyone’s CAD software or keeping everyone at the same software version for a period.
2. Understand how your team works
Having clarity around how your design and engineering teams work and collaborate will help you decide the best tools to use.
- Does each person have a defined project (or sub-project) that is their own from start to end?
- Are many people involved and there is a high level of collaboration day to day?
- Or is there an in between where each person is responsible for the design at each stage, to then hand over to the next person? i.e. from a concept designer to a detailed designer then to a drafter.
- Are there different disciplines using information from the CAD model? These disciplines could include, electronics (PCB layout), stress or moulding analyst, other hardware / systems integration, workshop using CNC machining, profile cutting or pipe bending, additive manufacturing.
It’s important to have workflow clarity as there are solutions to streamline collaboration ranging from the surprisingly simple to the super effective but expensive, depending on the organisation’s requirements.
3. Use the best remote work tools for your situation
A VPN allows you to access your office server(s) from your home computer through secured ‘tunnels’. You can run applications directly on the PC you’re working on and access your office network’s environment (PDM/Vault, network drives, printers, etc.) VPN is well suited for non- or low-graphically intensive applications, such as Microsoft Office, e-mail, and even some light CAD work.
Some typical VPN tools include Citrix Gateway, Google Cloud VPN, Perimeter 81, NordLayer, Twingate, ExpressVPN, FortiNet.
Remote desktop allows a user to access the organisation’s data remotely by securely logging into a computer onsite. Only the screen image and commands are transmitted to the remote computer. This can be of benefit if, for example,
- Moving the powerful CAD PC from the office is a problem, then using a home/remote computer can be an option,
- The remote computer is not powerful enough to run the CAD software, or
- CAD files are large and the VPN connection to download and upload files takes too long.
Some typical remote desktop tools include Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop, Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, LogMeIn, AnyDesk, RemotePC, Parsec.
4. Develop systems for internal CAD models and data sharing
Different CAD packages offer different solutions for file sharing and tracking changes, some as standard and others as addons. Being able to share data easily prevents teams from overwriting each other’s work and allows teams to collaborate easily. Three common ways for CAD data share are:
- Using a Product Data Management (PDM) application or plugin over the company network and access through to the network through a VPN.
- Some newer CAD packages offer cloud-based storage and sharing, allowing for remote work with a simple web-based login.
- Less formally, each employee knows what they are working on and will request access to a CAD model if that model is being used by another person. Generally, that would be stored on the company’s network. This requires a great deal of individual discipline to ensure the read/write status of files is correct.
5. Develop systems for external CAD models and data sharing
Customers and suppliers may need access to your CAD model. Here are some options:
- There are neutral file types to universally export your models without having to worry about which CAD programs the other is using.
- There are also free viewers available for everyone to visualise the model or the model can be exported as a 3D pdf.
- If the CAD model does require modifying, then refer to the file sharing section, noting that many CAD programs don’t provide the complete functionality to modify a model created in different CAD software.
- Using web-based meeting tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom, you can easily share screens and take control of others’ computers remotely. This helps with design reviews and collaboration without having to be crowded at a single desk, location, or dealing with software installs on each computer.
These Covi lockdowns have been a time for us all to develop, or fine-tune, our remote working practices. From Caliber’s perspective, it’s been a fine-tuning exercise because we always work remotely. Normally, it’s from our Caliber teammates when we’re seconded to work in-situ with our clients. But through Covid times, it’s remote from Caliber and the client.
Our systems and processes ensure we maintain close communication and sharing of ideas, resources, techniques, methods, process, and knowledge to support our clients. So, our clients get the benefit of our collective engineering workforce; not just the individual engineer … and the engineer knows that there’s a team of experts that’ll always have their back.
If you’re having issues with your remote CAD setup, feel free to drop us a line. We’re happy to share what we know.