cadwork is mainly known for their timber industry wood products, but in Switzerland, it is a leading software for civil engineers. In 2004, cadwork started the development of Lexocad, a BIM-level design-planning-construction software that pushes the boundaries of the construction industry technology development.
cadwork 2D: The entry-level module to cadwork 2d with two-dimensional lines and surfaces with different hatches. It is a '2.5D CAD system' , in addition to two-dimensional editing, cadwork 2d also allows for height information. Height information is particularly suitable for construction planning while transitioning from 2D to the 3D module, which in 3d provides for developing a tender for construction project competitions. An alternative to cadwork 2D is AutoCAD. A module of cadwork 2d allows for reinforced concrete and geographic information system plans. The file format is.2d.
cadwork 3D: A timber 3D CAD/CAM design product. In cadwork 3d, one works with volumes to depict walls, generate wooden and steel rakes, and to plan three-dimensional node space. The primary areas of application are in timber and steel construction. cadwork 3D offers free volume models; an internal axis makes it possible to assemble the individual components easily into complex, three-dimensional structures. There are several additional modules, such as a wizard for entering a roof, an assistant for the elementation of walls, or also the output of the individual components as a dimensioned 2D component drawing or on computer numerical control joinery machines. The Timber Engineering Reference described cadwork 3d as broadly featured with modules for heavy timber roof, heavy timber frame, log structures, panelization, CAM fabrication, parametric variant module, glulam lamination design, and a bill of materials. The file format is.3d.
cadwork 2dr/cadwork Engineer: An infrastructure design product with engineering features for topographic and road. The file format is.2dr.
cadwork Lexocad: A commercial BIM 3D design product, which includes 4D scheduling, 5D pricing, and 6D execution. When combined with cadwork 2dr, Lexocad provides a BIM planning and construction interface for construction crews and construction engineers. Lexocad has free cadwork viewers, which allows zooming, panning, and printing; however, the freeware version does not allow modifying a file. The file format is.lxz.
cadwork BIMteam: A webGL model interface with total station functions, an alternative is Autodesk BIM 360.
* cadwork informatik AG is an active member of the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, Stanford University. In collaboration with world-renowned theorist in the built environment, Professor Fischer, cadwork advances knowledge in infrastructure BIM products including infra-BIM features for 3D design, 4D scheduling, 5D pricing, and 6D execution.
Software: BuildingSMART; collaboration on infra-BIM for roads, rail, bridges, and waterways.
Education and certifications
The cadwork customer base is a network of practitioners; through a long-term client relationship cadwork continues software support, development of custom solutions, and application education. In education cadwork works with collaborators to provide continuing education opportunities, such as with the Tall Wood Institute. In North America, cadwork collaborates with the Timber Framers Guild apprenticeship education in collaboration with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
Manufacturing
cadwork is the primary fabrication software used by timber manufacturers globally, as such, cadwork has a diverse network of manufacturers throughout the world. To work in the timber manufacturing, knowledge of cadwork is a criterion so to allow for operating and programming of CNC machines. Modeling: Timber Frame Headquarters Fabricators
Timber Artisans
Rocky Mountain Joinery
Euclid Timber Frames
Equipment
Dürr AG HOMAG woodworking tools
Hundegger machinery
Company history
cadwork informatik AG was founded in 1988 as a continuation of the research by the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. In 1992, cadwork expanded outside the Swiss market by opening cadwork Germany in Hildesheim.
1980, the initial developers envisioned cadwork as a tool for the watch industry; developed by the :fr:Centre suisse d'électronique et de microtechnique|Centre suisse d'électronique et de microtechnique :fr:Centre suisse d'électronique et de microtechnique|.
1989, Cadwork informatik was founded as a Swiss society in Basel, Switzerland.
1992, cadwork informatik Software GmbH founded in Hildesheim.
1996, cadwork dropped support for workstations and became Microsoft Windows compliant.
2004, cadwork started the development of Lexocad.
2016, cadwork France Sàrl founded in the East of France.
Recognition of industry practitioners
The ‘cadwork competition' provides recognition for aesthetically pleasing timber construction. There are various categories, in 2019, Laminated Timber Solutions received a public buildings award for their Molenbeek-Saint-Jean passive building constructed entirely of cross-laminated timber. This residential structure consists of 17 units with ancillary common parts.
