Your Laptop is Your Desktop; Your Office is Wherever

CAD work doesn't need to look like this anymore thanks to advances in hardware and the cloud. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Today’s laptops are more affordable and powerful than ever. If you go to any of the top hardware companies—whether it be Dell, HP, BOXX, you name it—you’ll be able to find a mobile workstation that includes an i7 or Xeon processor, 32 GB or 64 GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an NVIDIA Quadro GPU in the ballpark of $2,400–$5,000+.

The most interesting thing about modern mobile workstations is that their price points have started to intersect with their desktop counterparts. While it true that desktop workstations are capable of being loaded with more powerful hardware, mobile workstations can more than hold their own when it comes to CAD. Simulation, though, might be another matter.

So, what’s the biggest reason for switching to a mobile workstation? Well, given their form factor and relatively lighter weight, mobile CAD workstations allow designers to be, well, more mobile. Instead of bringing a client into an office for a project review, a design team can meet the client and do on-site design reviews that may lead to deeper product development insight.

Calling Down the Cloud

While powerful laptops are one way to take your CAD workflow on the road, the cloud also offers another option for CAD techs on the go. Whether you opt to use Amazon Web Services, Frame or any other cloud computing service, the option to lighten your laptop load is becoming increasingly more compelling.

The cloud can be a powerful asset for designers on the go. (Image courtesy of Jisc.)

Sure, some may argue that cloud- or browser-based CAD tools don’t offer the features that a full-blown Windows-based CAD application can provide—and they’re right. However, cloud-based CAD doesn’t have to be a hobbled CAD operation. In fact, with today’s cloud solutions, virtual machines (VMs) can be spun up at any time and full Windows-based CAD applications can be used just as they would from a workstation or bulky CAD-centric laptop.

But what does that kind of power cost? Not surprisingly, very little. With the proliferation of GPUs and the continually falling prices of computing power, VMs can be called up for pennies an hour. Let’s take a look at two examples.

First we’ll start with Fra.me (Frame).

According to Frame, its top-tier “Plus” plan has a monthly fee of $27.99/month. With that money, you get 1,000 credits, your own cloud computer, access to worldwide data centers, a 1-GB symmetric connection to ensure latency issues aren’t holding your work hostage and the option to buy additional credits at $0.015 each.

Frame VM configuration come in four basic packages: the Air (both 4-GB and 8-GB configurations) and Pro (16-GB and 64-GB configurations). For most designers, the 8-GB model should suffice for most modeling work and a switch to a 16-GB VM can be made when simulation or rendering is needed. In a heavy simulation setting, a 64-GB machine can be called down to crunch large animation renderings or multi-physics simulations.

“With Frame, I can get rid of my boat anchor of a laptop and literally take a weight off my shoulders,” said Milt Venetos, founder of Wyatt Enterprises, in a quote given to Frame. “Now I can use SOLIDWORKS anywhere, even at the beach.”

While Frame is a popular start-up option for cloud-based CAD internet, leviathan Amazon also offers a solution of streaming Windows-based application from its servers. Called AppStream, the Amazon app takes full advantage of the enormous resources at the company’s disposal.

“For example, if one user streams a session for 45 minutes and 30 seconds and another user streams a session for 120 minutes and 20 seconds, the total amount billed will be for 165 minutes and 50 seconds, which is equivalent to 2.764 hours.” Says Amazon. “If the application was streamed from US-East, then at $0.830/hr, these two sessions will incur a charge of $2.29.”

But the long and the short of this mobile CAD alternative is that with the ability to leverage VMs that are as powerful as a workstation, why would anyone bother carrying around a bulky machine? Why not use a netbook (roughly $500) or a Macbook (around $1,299) or even a tablet? They’re much easier to carry around and for the most part, they’re cheaper than their “mobile-workstation” cousins.

The Future of Mobile CAD and VR

Will VR be a part of mobile CAD's future? (Image courtesy of Microsoft.)

So mobility, power and the ability to expand your computational resources are driving today’s vision of mobile CAD, but what’s in store for CAD in the future?

Well, the one aspect of 3D modeling that’s always been a drag has been the fact that CAD happens on a 2D screen. Sure, CAD is more than functional in 2D, but being able to design in a virtual environment, or at least one that’s augmented, could lead to a whole new language for doing CAD work.

Image yourself creating complex surfaces today. The process is tedious and often times requires multiple sketches and 3D profiles that have to be just right or they won’t make. Now, imagine tossing that workflow to the wayside and replacing it with a gesture-based control system that would allow surfaces to be made with the wave of hand.

For augmented- and virtual-reality (AR/VR) CAD interfaces to be possible, mobile devices are going to have to get a bit more robust. Today, VR-ready laptops aren’t flying off the shelves, but they are being touted by manufacturers. If the history of hardware development continues at its current pace, however, hardware such as mobile workstations might soon be replaced by devices like the Microsoft Hololens as the primary tool for product designers.

The Potential Pitfalls of Mobile CAD

One of the biggest and most obvious pitfalls that comes with mobile CAD is the need to re-learn how to interact with a piece of software. For those who are stuck to a mouse, the learning curve for using a pencil and touchscreen might be a bit steep. There is, of course, the option to get a wireless mouse, but how well do those things work in those barely comfortable seats in the airport lounge? Awkward and uncomfortable doesn’t begin to describe the UI sensation.

Beyond adapting to new tools, mobile CAD users will have to be very careful of falling down the slippery slope of overworking.

Back in the day, once you left the office, the workstation stayed behind and your free time became your own. Now that CAD can be run from your tablet or laptop, your projects can follow you whenever and wherever you are. I do understand that some projects are enrapturing and others just have to get done on a tight deadline, but in most cases, work should be left at work. Taking time away from CAD can spur on more ideas, make it possible to find better design solutions and more importantly, enjoy a life outside of your machine.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Design firms are slowly moving toward mobile design tools, although this transition is not as fast as the transitions in other manufacturing industries. While computing power is no longer an issue with mobile devices, the ability to view and design on a small screen will always hinder detailed design tasks. However, the improvements that are being made continue to entice design firms as well as professionals and encourage them to transition to these devices.

Large-enterprise design departments may never convert their desktop or tower workstations fully to mobile workstations. Many designers and engineers who work with large assemblies and massive amounts of data, constantly rendering or running simulations, will cling to their machines. However, improvements in CPU and graphics performance have led several designers to consider high-performance laptops or mobile workstations, inspiring many—especially those who need to work in more than one location—to abandon their desk-bound computers.

More and more power is coming in yet smaller and lighter devices. Even the latest, thinnest laptop, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, can look like a monster compared to the company’s recently introduced tablet/keyboard combo, the Yoga P40. The power and portability of some of these new devices are leading many engineers to question the need for super power in a box that stays in one place or their laptop — which suddenly looks large and feels heavy. Maybe a super tablet or convertible would be good enough most of the time?

In this article, we examine a few of the very mobile computers that are available now — or will be soon.

How Mobile Is Mobile?

While the “mobile” label can be applied to any computer that can be deemed portable (up to and including 20-pound behemoths with 19-inch screens and power supplies as big as bricks) let us look at what is truly mobile and functional enough for engineering. For this article, mobile means devices you can pick up and carry over to show a coworker something — without breaking your back.

Power and mobility such as this is offered by some of the new, larger tablets and a fast-growing class of mobile hardware, such as the tablet/keyboard combination or “convertibles,” currently being led by the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.

Android Tablet

Can a Tablet Be Your Only Computer?

The transition to tablets for engineering and designing can be impeded by the size of the tablet screen. For example, the iPad Air 2 with a 9.7-inch (diagonal) screen may be fine for viewing and mark-up, but you couldn’t work on it all day. Tablets are getting bigger, however. The iPad Pro has just burst onto the scene with a 12.9-inch screen. The Panasonic FZ-Y1 tablet is the biggest of all in this article with a 20-inch screen and could be conceivably be looked at all day—though for most full-time CAD and CAE use, a single screen would be considered a graphical downgrade. A tablet should at least include a docking device to which larger or multiple screens could be added. Still, we will include them here for all the following advantages:

• Rough sketching – Freely sketching to communicate with a customer or to start a design idea such as a product shape, color, etc. or sketching floor plans in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.
• Annotations and mark-up – Annotating an existing design to make changes to the detailed design later or to add material or function-based notes on a machined part.
• Calculation – Calculating wall thickness of parts, drilling location from edges or wall thickness, measuring perimeter, area, etc.
• Collaboration – Collaborating and communicating within teams or offsite with suppliers and on the manufacturing floor to relay design changes quickly.
• Re-use and overlaying – Design firms of all sizes also report that they are able to replace and reuse components from a library of parts into assemblies during design meetings. Overlaying features in assembly to check with new or existing parts in assembly has also has proven productive for many designers.

You Can Touch This

Mobile tablet features such as touch and a pen or stylus come in handy to navigate through the design. Over time, these features have been introduced on laptops that may or may not have a detachable tablet attached to a keyboard.

Where Are the Apps?

Most CAD vendors have released viewers, sketching and light design-editing applications on the popular iOS (iPad/iPhone), Android and Windows platforms. CAD vendors have to work with the limitations imposed by the hardware performance and software of Apple’s iPad that restricts the free release of productive features. On the other hand, the Android platform caters more toward a phone-based operating system. It may surprise engineers to learn that the iOS platform ranks highest in the number of light design applications released. The Android applications are currently only at 70 percent of the number of iOS applications.

Most heavy-duty engineering applications, such CAD and CAE, are still based on Microsoft Windows.

The Tablet/Keyboard Combo

Recognizing the portability and popularity of the tablet, a number of companies has sought to add to those features that engineers found lacking. Chief among them were a real keyboard, a mouse (or at least a touchpad), bigger or multiple screens and graphics horsepower—these would be necessary before engineers could totally ditch their deskbound workstations.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has opened the door for CAD vendors to improve features and replicate workstation functions and a laptop-like experience on a powerful, affordable tablet/keyboard combination. Now in its third design iteration, many reviewers are saying that it is finally worthy of being considered a laptop and even a desktop replacement—though that might take a bit of accessorizing. Its specially designed keyboard includes a touchpad. A docking accessory lets you add big monitors and a mouse. Graphics performance for large assemblies still needs to be tested before it can be branded a workstation killer, but Microsoft seems to be the closest to doing so.

Such success from a company known almost entirely as a software vendor has not escaped the notice of hardware companies that seem intent in not letting Microsoft steal the show.

What’s Available in Truly Mobile Devices for Engineering Use

The following table provides an overview of the available options of computers that enable mobility for serious designers. The list does not cover smartphones with their small screens, or laptops and mobile workstations, as all of them are meant to be used while stationary.

The vendors in this list may offer cheaper or more expensive options, other than what is included here. This list does not provide a comparison of different CAD mobile devices. It aims provide an overview of various devices that have been tested or certified by design professionals for mobility as well as ability to perform detailed design functions.

Vendor and Product	Features/Specs	Cost
Apple iPad Pro	12.9-in. retina display; runs iOs; A9X, third generation 64-bit; 6.9 mm thin; 1.57 lbs.; optional keypad and "Apple Pencil"; Apple does not offer a mouse or trackpad or docking station for multiple or large monitors	Starts at $799 to $1,079 for cellular and 128GB memory; keyboard is $169
HP Spectre x360	Windows-based; 13.3-in. screen; 1920 x 1080 resolution; 12.79 in. x 8.6 in. x 0.63 in. (32.4 cm x 21.8 cm x 1.6 cm); 3.26 lbs. (1.47 kg); 15.9 mm thick; 12.5 hours of battery life	Starts at $899
Lenovo ThinkPad P40 Yoga (new)	Windows-based; 2560 x 1440 WQHD+ (3200 x 1800); 3.9 lbs.; 19 mm thick; up to 9 hours of battery life	$1,399
Google Pixel C (not yet available)	Android; 10.2-in. screen; 2560 x 1800 resolution	$499 (32GB); $599 (64GB); $149 for keyboard
Dell XPS 12	Windows OS; 12.5-in. screen; up to 3840 x 2160 resolution; starts at 1.75 lbs.; 16 mm to 25 mm thick; docking station for mouse, large monitor (available 2016)	Starts at $999
Microsoft Surface Book	Windows OS; suitable for 3D modeling; up to 16GB memory - i5/i7; NVIDIA GeForce graphics (GPU); Detachable screen to use like a clipboard; rotate and reattach the screen to use the full hardware	Starts at $1,499
Panasonic FZ-Y1 Performance Model	Windows OS; 20-in. 4K display; supports OpenGL to handle 3D modeling applications; specifically targets 3D and CAD engineers; Intel Core vPro processor; AMD FirePro M5100 graphics; 12.5 mm thick	€5,200
Microsoft Surface Pro 4	Windows OS; 3D modeling with i7 models; 12.3-in. screen; 2736 x 1824 resolution; smaller in size than Surface Book; m3 Intel HD graphics 515; i5 Intel HD graphics 520; i7 Intel Iris graphics; 1.69 lbs.	Starts at $1,599 for i7 models; $129.99 for keyboard; $59.99 for pen
FUJITSU LIFEBOOK T936	Windows OS; 13.3-in. screen; up to 2560 x 1440 resolution; pen stylus and 4G LTE; Intel Core i7-6600U processor (2.6 GHz up to 3.4 GHz, 4 MB); 3.5 lbs.; 19.3 mm thick; up to 11 hours of battery life	Prices not available

About the Author
Sanjeev Pal is an analyst and software architect with his firm, Neovion Group. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of product development (CAD/CAM/CAE-PLM) and enterprise technologies. Previously, he worked as a research manager with IDC, in services and R&D at Dassault Systèmes and as a design professional at Timex watches.