Orange Juice Studios Kickstarts Mobile CAD Project CADO

Orange Juice Studios is trying to create a fully mobile CAD program.  They are calling it CADO.  CADO is planned to be a full 2D mobile CAD program running on iOS and the iPad. It will be compatible with DWG and DXF files and have a full set of drafting tools.  This project has been in development for about two years and the developers are looking to finish things up.  They are hoping to raise £50,000 by Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014 through Kickstarter.  This Kickstarter round is to help raise some capitol and to help gauge the interest in the program.  I spoke with the developers and was able to get an idea of what they want to accomplish with CADO and their plans for the future.

The company founders, Vimal Peeler (mechanical engineer) and Attzaz Rashid (architect), long time CAD users themselves, asked the question, “Why can’t CAD companies make mobile better?” That’s the point to their venture into mobile app development. Others were using the iPad in a mobile, yet productive manner and they felt designers should be able to use it for drawing, sketching and CAD work. They didn’t understand why the major CAD companies weren’t taking advantage of this great tool.  Az (Attaz) said that “Architects don’t want to be hunched over a desk all day. They want the ability to sketch freely.”

Orange Juice Studios sees CADO being used by do it yourselfers, for mobile CAD use, meetings, out of the office CAD work, sketching, and 2D design work. CADO is not intended to replace a work station, but it could provide enough CAD power in many cases.  They knew they wanted to be able to do real CAD work when out of the office so other CAD users must have this desire too.  One of their goals is to make sure professional CAD users have all of the tools they need.

Vimal and Attaz had several goals for CADO.  They wanted it to be able to draw quickly so they are keeping it simple.  The tools that it will have will be done well.  One advantage CADO has over other long standing CAD programs is that there is no legacy software to integrate.  CADO is being done from scratch.  It will run on OpenGL and they are currently five to six months away from finishing the product.  So far they are the only ones that have invested any money into CADO and they need a bit more capitol to finish it.  Vimal and Attaz work all day then come home and work on CADO.  They have a developer helping them out but they are the master minds behind the design. What they have so far has proven to them that their concept works.  They have created a patent pending interface they are calling OMouse.  According to their website, with OMouse users will “never worry about your finger getting in the way again” and that it gives users “unprecedented accuracy and control on a touch screen device.”

Their plans for CADO include having two versions.  One version will contain about 90% of all functionality and will be free.  The second version will be a pro version.  Right now they feel it will be priced around £100.  After the first launch to the iPad they hope to be able to bring it to Android.  Future releases will also include 3D capabilities and a Paper Space drawing area.

One aspect that many users might find interesting about CADO (I know I did) is that it does not require an internet connection to use.  Users do not have to join a group, they don;t have to log on to an account to access their files, everything is right on the device.  Your files are your files just like on a desktop workstation.  Files can be shared via email or Dropbox.

Their Kickstarter plan has several donation levels.  Some of them include giving you a lifetime license for CADO.  I spoke to these two gentlemen about their design process, goals, and hopes for CADO.  They are two CAD users that are creating a simple 2D CAD tool for users.  I feel that gives them an advantage because they are using these types of tools every day.  They are actual CAD users.  They have used AutoCAD, Solidworks, Revit, and other CAD programs throughout their careers.  If they haven’t seen it all they have seen most of it.  I’m excited to get my hands on CADO to try it out.  If this sounds like something you might be interested in check out their website and check out their Kickstarter.


CADO Kickstarter Link

Orange Juice Studios Website