What’s New in IronCAD Design Collaboration Suite 2026

Oct 20, 2025 | , , , , , , , , ,

Designed to empower CAD designers in Industrial Equipment Machinery and Metal/Steel Fabrication manufacturing, IronCAD 2026 introduces powerful features to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and enhance design precision. Below is a detailed yet concise breakdown of each new feature included in the 2026 Release.

Key Highlights of IronCAD 2026 Include:

Multiple Application Window Support for Scene and Drawings (ICD and DRAFT)
Work seamlessly across multiple monitors with dedicated 3D Scene and 2D Drawing windows, each featuring a tailored Ribbon Bar UI in the same single instance of IronCAD. Changes in the 3D Scene update instantly in the Drawing with a single click, enhancing multitasking, speeding up iterations, and improving the overall user experience.

Smart Annotation Add-On License
IronCAD introduces a new add-on license for Smart Annotations, offering automated dimensioning with precise control. Users can define specific dimensioning locations on objects, supporting adjustments to models or components in patterns. These points enable exact precision in automated dimensioning, accelerating drawing creation, minimizing manual cleanup, and ensuring manufacturing-ready drawings.

Continued Improvement to IronCAD’s AI Chatbot with AI Design Assistant Foundation
IronCAD 2026 introduces Stage 2 of its AI capabilities with the AI Design Assistant Foundation, featuring enhanced Python scripting support. This includes:

  • Multiple Database Support: Enhanced backend support for multiple database connections, enabling customer- and industry-specific knowledge integration, supporting both public and private AI learning models.
  • Python Scripting Foundation: Leverage IronCAD’s API and automation programming in a Python scripting environment, standard in AI development, for seamless design automation.
  • AI-Driven Chatbot: Real-time optimization suggestions analyze design questions, recommending manufacturability, cost reduction, and technical considerations directly within IronCAD’s interface, providing instant answers and model guidance without leaving the workspace.
  • AI-Driven Modeling: Machine learning algorithms suggest design components from catalog content and established parameters, accelerating the design of assemblies by recommending components and setting parameters to meet requirements. Future capabilities will include building designs with intelligent rules, enhancing productivity and configure-to-quote processes.
    This new foundation streamlines design workflows, enhances decision-making, and accelerates productivity with AI-powered automation and real-world design considerations.

General Modeling Improvements

  • Quick Parameter Display and Edit: Edit driving parameters (e.g., length, width, radius) directly in the 3D Scene using a quick-access parameter editor upon selection, speeding up parametric adjustments and simplifying iterative design.
  • Disc CAM Generator: Create Disc CAMs with customizable motion paths (linear, harmonic, cycloidal, polynomial) and extrudable 2D sketches, enabling rapid and precise CAM design for mechanical systems.
  • Improved Sketch Region Selection: Handle closed boundaries for extrusions, simplifying complex sketch extrusions and reducing cleanup time.

IronCAD Drawing Improvements

  • 2D TriBall for ICD Curve Placement: A 2D TriBall enables precise curve placement, copying, and patterning in ICD curves, accelerating template creation and ensuring 2D/3D workflow consistency.
  • Smart Cursor for ICD Annotations: Graphical alignment support ensures accurate dimension annotation placement in ICD, enhancing drawing clarity and reducing manual adjustments.

Sheet Metal Design Improvements

  • Sheet Metal Corner Seams for Three-Corner Conditions: Close complex sheet metal corners with varying side lengths, rivaling Inventor’s capabilities, simplifying enclosure design and enhancing fabrication precision.

IronCAD Native Translator Enhancements
The IronCAD Native Translator Add-on has been updated to support the latest file formats from leading 3D CAD systems, ensuring seamless interoperability. Supported formats include:

  • CATIA V5: V5R8 – V5–6R2025
  • Pro/E (CREO): 16 – Creo 12.4
  • UG NX: 11 – NX 2506
  • Inventor: V11 – V2026
  • SolidWorks: 98 – 2025
  • SolidEdge: V18 – SE 2025
  • JT Import: 8 – 10.2, 10.3, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, and 10.10
  • IFC: IFC 2×3, IFC 4×2, IFC 4×3
  • Rhino: V2–8
  • DXF/DWG: 2.5 – 2026

 

Application Framework Improvements

General Modeling Improvements

2D Sketch Improvements

IronCAD Drawing Improvements

Sheet Metal Design Improvements

Structure Part Design, PMI, and 3D Curve Improvements

System Improvements

Application Framework Improvements

Key functionality changes to IronCAD’s framework to improve general work processes when designing in IronCAD.

Multiple Monitor Windows Support for Scene and Drawings

Description: IronCAD 2026 enables users to open a 3D Scene on one monitor and a 2D Drawing (ICD or CAXA DRAFT) on another, each with its own dedicated Ribbon Bar UI in the same single instance of IronCAD. Changes made in the Scene are instantly reflected in the Drawing with a single click, eliminating the need to switch documents or reconfigure the UI.

Benefits:

  • Enhances multitasking by allowing simultaneous 3D and 2D work.
  • Speeds up design iterations with real-time updates.
  • Improves user experience with tailored Ribbon Bars for each workspace.
  • Ideal for Industrial Equipment designers managing complex assemblies and detailed drawings.

Large Assembly Performance Optimization

Description: Addresses performance issues in handling large assemblies by optimizing rendering and interaction. Improved algorithms reduce lag when navigating, editing, or updating complex part assemblies.

Benefits:

  • Enables faster manipulation of large machinery designs.
  • Reduces frustration and downtime for designers working on intricate assemblies.
  • Enhances scalability for Industrial Equipment projects with thousands of parts.

Smart Annotation Automated Dimensioning Add-On License Availability

Description: IronCAD introduces a new add-on license for Smart Annotations, offering automated dimensioning with precise control. With this license, Users can define specific dimensioning locations on objects, supporting adjustments to models or components in patterns. These points enable exact precision in automated dimensioning, accelerating drawing creation, minimizing manual cleanup, and ensuring manufacturing-ready drawings. In addition, users could also automatically pull in call-out information to precise locations to extend beyond dimensions only. This new capability offers a new level of capability making full use of existing functionality like Bulk Drawing Creation. With this capability, you can gain a leap in productivity in the detailing process by providing faster production-ready drawings.

Benefits:

  • Accelerates drawing creation with smarter automation.
  • Reduces manual cleanup for Industrial Equipment and Fabrication drawings.
  • Improves readability and compliance with manufacturing standards.
  • Saves time by minimizing redundant dimensions.

General Modeling Improvements

Improvements in the general 3D modeling capabilities of IronCAD. The focus is to improve productivity and strengthen the depth of functionality and capabilities of IronCAD commands.

Quick Parameter Display and Edit

Description: Adds a “Quick Edit” option in the parameter table to display and edit driving parameters (e.g., length, width, radius) via leader annotations shown on Parts/Assemblies in the 3D Scene on selection. Users can check a box to show editable values when selecting parts, assemblies, or features. In addition, users can enable the “Quick Edit” to show on drop from a Catalog to speed up direct design access of parameters.

Benefits:

  • Speeds up parametric design adjustments for Metal Fabrication parts.
  • Reduces navigation to parameter tables, enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • Empowers designers to make on-the-fly changes with confidence.
  • Simplifies iterative design for custom machinery components.

Mirror Part/Assembly as Externally Linked File

Description: Supports mirroring parts and assemblies as separate, externally linked files while maintaining update links to the original. Includes improved UI to distinguish links and handle repositioning.

Benefits:

  • Simplifies creation of mirrored components for Industrial Equipment.
  • Reduces errors in managing linked mirrored parts.
  • Enhances efficiency in symmetric machinery designs.
  • Saves time by automating link updates.

Flip Extrude Direction Command (Ctrl-F)

Description: Converts the “Flip Extrude Direction” option into a command with a customizable keyboard shortcut (default: Ctrl-F), accessible beyond the right-click menu.

Benefits:

  • Accelerates design iterations for Industrial Equipment parts.
  • Enhances workflow speed with quick keyboard access.
  • Improves user experience for frequent extrude adjustments.
  • Reduces mouse navigation for repetitive tasks.

Check Interference Exclude List with Wildcard Support

Description: Enhances the Check Interference tool to allow wildcard (*) entries for Property Name and Value, enabling bulk exclusion of parts based on properties.

Benefits:

  • Simplifies interference checks for large Industrial Equipment assemblies.
  • Reduces manual selection of excluded parts, saving time.
  • Improves accuracy in identifying critical interferences.
  • Enhances scalability for complex machinery designs.

Volume-Based Units with Density

Description: Introduces volume-based unit calculations incorporating material density, moving beyond length-based measurements for more accurate mass properties.

Benefits:

  • Enhances material planning for Industrial Equipment and Fabrication projects.
  • Improves accuracy in weight and cost estimations.
  • Simplifies compliance with manufacturing specifications.
  • Saves time in manual mass calculations.

Drag Multiple Selections to Catalog as Individual Items

Description: Adds the ability to drag multiple selected items (Right-Click Drag) to the catalog as an option to create individual entries or grouped items.

Benefits:

  • Speeds up catalog creation for reusable Fabrication components.
  • Enhances flexibility in managing part libraries.
  • Reduces manual steps in organizing catalog items.
  • Improves efficiency for repetitive design tasks.

Pattern Bolt Hole Feature Creation

Description: Ensures that pattern features created with the IC Mech Bolt tool automatically generate corresponding hole features, matching the behavior of linked bolts.

Benefits:

  • Streamlines bolt pattern creation for Metal Fabrication assemblies.
  • Reduces manual hole creation, saving time.
  • Improves consistency in fastener integration.
  • Enhances accuracy in manufacturing drawings.

Disc CAM Generator for Customizable CAM Design

Description:
The new Disc CAM Generator in IronCAD enables users to create Disc CAMs with customizable motion paths, including linear, harmonic, cycloidal, and polynomial options. It can be used to generate extrudable 2D sketches, facilitating rapid and precise CAM design for mechanical systems.

Key Benefits:

  • Accelerates CAM design with flexible motion path customization.
  • Enhances precision by generating accurate, extrudable 2D sketches for mechanical systems.
  • Simplifies workflows with intuitive options for linear, harmonic, cycloidal, and polynomial paths.
  • Improves design efficiency for complex mechanical assemblies requiring custom CAMs.

 

2D Sketch Improvements

In a continued effort to improve 2D sketching functionality for precise features, our focus in the 2026 release is to bring new speed to the sketch environment and more power when utilizing sketches to reduce advantages found in competitive software.

Improved Sketch Region Selection

Description: Enhances sketch region selection to handle more complex selection cases of closed boundary regions, aligning with Inventor and SolidWorks capabilities for extrude operations. By default, IronCAD will select the outermost region, and you can shift select to select inner regions to be included in the selection.

Benefits:

  • Simplifies complex sketch extrusions for Metal Fabrication parts.
  • Reduces manual sketch cleanup for non-standard regions.
  • Enhances flexibility in creating custom machinery profiles.
  • Saves time in preparing sketches for 3D modeling.

Support for Full-Radius Fillet Between Parallel Lines

Description:
A new function in the Fillet tool allows users to easily apply a full-radius arc curve between parallel lines, similar to the “Full Round Blend” in other CAD systems. Start the Fillet tool, select the endpoints of the two lines to create the full-radius arc.

Key Benefits:

  • Simplifies creation of smooth transitions in profiles.
  • Reduces the need for manual construction geometry.
  • Supports common design patterns in mechanical parts.
  • Enhances compatibility for users transitioning from AutoCAD.

Separate Button for Project Constraint

Description:
The Project Constraint tool now has a dedicated button in the Scene environment, making it more visible and accessible.

Key Benefits:

  • Increases discoverability of a key constraint tool.
  • Encourages consistent use of projection constraints.
  • Reduces time spent navigating dropdown menus.
  • Improves workflow for constrained modeling.

Sketch – Delete Original Line After Offset

Description:
Users can now delete the original line immediately after creating an offset in the sketch environment, improving editing flexibility.

Key Benefits:

  • Speeds up sketch cleanup and refinement.
  • Reduces manual steps in geometry editing.
  • Enhances control over sketch modifications.
  • Improves usability for complex profiles.

IronCAD Drawing Improvements

The IronCAD Drawing environment has been a continuous focus with our team to increase the overall productivity in the detailed drawing creation. This release extends on that effort with better support for creation and automation with the Bulk Drawing Creation and Auto-Dimensioning improvements.

2D TriBall for ICD Curve Placement

Description: Introduces a 2D TriBall for precise curve placement, copying, and patterning (linear, circular, bi-linear) in ICD sketches, mirroring 3D TriBall functionality.

Benefits:

  • Accelerates 2D template creation for Metal Fabrication drawings.
  • Enhances precision in curve positioning and replication.
  • Improves consistency between 2D and 3D design workflows.
  • Saves time in repetitive sketch tasks.

Smart Cursor for ICD Annotations

Description: Adds Smart Cursor support for graphical alignment during creation and editing of ICD annotations, improving placement accuracy.

Benefits:

  • Enhances precision in annotation placement for Fabrication drawings.
  • Reduces manual alignment adjustments, saving time.
  • Improves drawing clarity for manufacturing compliance.
  • Streamlines annotation workflows for complex machinery designs.

Bulk Drawing Enhancements for Configuration Support

Description:
Enhancements to bulk drawing creation include support for configurations set views. This allows you to define specific templates with a set configuration to be used in the Bulk Drawing Creation process. For example, you can now create a view for an exploded configuration that would automatically place when running the tool.

Key Benefits:

  • Automates repetitive view creation tasks.
  • Improves efficiency in large-scale drawing generation.
  • Supports consistent configuration management.
  • Saves time in high-volume production environments.

Auto-Dimension Tool – Ignore Arc/Blend Start and End Points

Description:
The Auto-Dimension tool now includes an option to ignore start and end points of arcs and blend shapes, focusing instead on center points for cleaner dimensioning.

Key Benefits:

  • Reduces clutter in dimensioned drawings.
  • Aligns with standard drafting practices.
  • Improves clarity and readability of annotations.
  • Saves time during drawing cleanup.

Auto-Dimension Tool – Exclude Chamfer Start and End Points

Description:
Users can now exclude chamfer start and end points from automatic dimensioning, allowing for more intentional and relevant annotations.

Key Benefits:

  • Prevents over-dimensioning of minor features.
  • Focuses attention on critical geometry.
  • Enhances drawing clarity.
  • Reduces manual editing.

Auto-Dimension Tool – Avoid Hidden Geometry

Description:
A new setting prevents the Auto-Dimension tool from placing annotations on hidden geometry or edges.

Key Benefits:

  • Eliminates confusing or irrelevant dimensions.
  • Improves drawing accuracy and presentation.
  • Reduces need for manual correction.
  • Supports best practices in technical documentation.

Auto Center Mark – Exclude Radii

Description:
Users can now choose to exclude radius geometry from automatic center mark placement, focusing only on complete holes.

Key Benefits:

  • Prevents unnecessary center marks on fillets or corner radii.
  • Improves clarity in structural and mechanical drawings.
  • Reduces visual noise in detailed views.
  • Aligns with industry drafting standards.

Auto-Dimension – Group Identical Holes

Description:
The tool now detects multiple identical holes and applies a single dimension with a quantity (e.g., 4X Ø10), instead of dimensioning each hole individually.

Key Benefits:

  • Reduces redundant annotations.
  • Improves drawing readability.
  • Saves time in annotation and review.
  • Supports efficient communication with fabricators.

Auto Set Focus on Text Edit for Annotations

Description: Enables auto-focus on text edit when dropping text or text-with-leader annotations in ICD, including dialog pop-ups for weld symbols.

Benefits:

  • Speeds up annotation placement for Industrial Equipment drawings.
  • Reduces clicks for repetitive text editing tasks.
  • Enhances workflow fluidity for high-volume annotation work.
  • Improves user experience with intuitive editing.

Removal of Auto Spacing in Text Boxes When Sizebox Grows

Description:
Text boxes in IronCAD now automatically add spacing when the text box grows. This causes issues with alignment and consistent detail notes. This spacing will not be fixed to prevent this issue on newly created text boxes.

Key Benefits:

  • Prevents misalignment and inconsistent drawing display.
  • Reduces manual resizing effort.
  • Improves consistency in annotations and labels.
  • Enhances readability in technical documentation.

Style Selection Prior to Placing Smart Dimensions

Description:
Users can now select the desired dimension or annotation style before placing it in the drawing, similar to workflows in AutoCAD.

Key Benefits:

  • Speeds up annotation workflows by reducing post-placement edits.
  • Ensures consistent styling across all annotations.
  • Improves user control and customization.
  • Enhances drawing clarity and standardization.

Improved Logo Quality in PDF Export

Description:
Enhancements to the PDF export engine support import of transparent logos and export to PDF while maintaining embedded image look in drawings.

Key Benefits:

  • Ensures professional-quality branding in exported documents.
  • Reduces grainy or pixelated logos in client-facing PDFs.
  • Improves visual clarity in printed and digital documentation.
  • Aligns with corporate identity standards.

Text Properties in Left Pane

Description: Displays text properties in the left pane of the ICD Drawing environment, utilizing previously empty space for faster text adjustments.

Benefits:

  • Accelerates text formatting for Metal Fabrication drawings.
  • Reduces navigation to separate property dialogs.
  • Enhances UI efficiency with context-aware controls.
  • Saves time in managing drawing annotations.

Dimension Text Too Large in Property Browser

Description:
Font scaling in the Property Browser has been adjusted to prevent oversized text that previously made fields unreadable.

Key Benefits:

  • Improves interface usability.
  • Ensures consistent text scaling across UI elements.
  • Enhances accessibility for all users.
  • Reduces visual clutter in property dialogs.

Support for Scroll Through Drawing Tabs

Description:
Users can now use Ctrl-Page Up/Down keys or scroll gestures to quickly navigate between drawing sheets in ICD, improving multi-sheet editing workflows.

Key Benefits:

  • Speeds up navigation in large drawing sets.
  • Reduces mouse clicks and window switching.
  • Enhances productivity in repetitive editing tasks.
  • Supports efficient multi-sheet documentation.

New Drawing Browser for Enhanced Component Control

Description:
The new Drawing Browser in IronCAD allows users to drill down into individual parts and assemblies to configure shading and display settings with ease. This feature simplifies the process of setting visibility or shading for specific components directly within the drawing environment.

Key Benefits:

  • Streamlines workflows by enabling precise control over individual component visibility and shading.
  • Enhances ease of use with intuitive drill-down navigation for parts and assemblies.
  • Improves drawing customization by allowing tailored display settings for each component.
  • Boosts efficiency by reducing the need for manual adjustments across complex assemblies.

Set Default Folder for Bulk Drawing Creation (BDC)

Description:
Users can now define a default folder path for Bulk Drawing Creation, eliminating the need to manually browse to the desired location each time.

Key Benefits:

  • Saves time during repetitive drawing generation.
  • Reduces navigation errors and setup steps.
  • Improves consistency in file organization.
  • Enhances user experience in high-volume workflows.

Section View Based on Percentage of Geometry Boundary

Description:
A new option allows users to define section views based on a percentage of the bounding box (e.g., 50% from the top), rather than selecting geometry points.

Key Benefits:

  • Simplifies section view creation in templates.
  • Supports consistent sectioning across multiple parts.
  • Ideal for furniture and enclosure design workflows.
  • Reduces manual adjustments in Bulk Drawing Creation.

Catalog Drag-and-Drop: Enable Text Edit on Drop

Description:
When right-clicking and dragging text-based items (e.g., leader lines, weld symbols) from the catalog, IronCAD now automatically enters text edit mode.

Key Benefits:

  • Speeds up annotation placement.
  • Reduces extra clicks and manual activation.
  • Improves efficiency in repetitive documentation tasks.
  • Enhances user experience in catalog-driven workflows.

Piping Route Lines in ICD

Description:
IronCAD now supports drawing pipe route lines in ICD based on 3D piping components, with the ability to toggle visibility.

Key Benefits:

  • Enhances clarity in piping documentation.
  • Supports accurate layout and routing visualization.
  • Improves communication between design and fabrication teams.
  • Enables better control over drawing presentation.

Piping Length Display in BOM

Description:
Pipe lengths from 3D piping modules can now be automatically included in the Bill of Materials.

Key Benefits:

  • Provides accurate material estimates.
  • Reduces manual measurement and entry.
  • Supports automated BOM generation.
  • Improves procurement and planning accuracy.

Improved Thread Trimming for Hole Threads in IronCAD Drawings

Description: Hole Threads transferred to IronCAD Drawings are now automatically trimmed to align with geometry edges, ensuring accurate representation of thread lines in both visible and hidden line views. This enhancement also correctly trims threads when they cross open boundaries, even if the thread length exceeds the geometry boundary.

Key Benefits:

  • Enhances visual accuracy by properly trimming thread lines to geometry edges.
  • Improves clarity in drawings with precise display of visible and hidden thread lines.
  • Eliminates manual adjustments for threads extending beyond geometry boundaries.
  • Ensures consistent and professional drawing outputs across complex geometries.

 

Sheet Metal Design Improvements

IronCAD sheet metal is a leader in the industry for ease of use and depth of capabilities. The 2026 version extends the depth of functionality with focused improvements for close corner conditions and efforts to support bends along a circular path. In addition, we are advancing the sketch bend capability to support extended needs in the corrugated packaging industry.

Sheet Metal Corner Seams for Three-Corner Conditions

Description: Adds support for closing sheet metal corners with varying side lengths, addressing complex three-corner conditions similar to Inventor’s capabilities.

Benefits:

  • Simplifies sheet metal design for Industrial Equipment enclosures.
  • Reduces manual workarounds for complex corner closures.
  • Enhances precision in sheet metal fabrication outputs.
  • Positions IronCAD as a strong alternative to Inventor.

Inverted Bends at Sheet Metal Edges

Description:
IronCAD now supports placing inverted bends directly at the edge of sheet metal parts, useful for corrugated packaging and similar applications.

Key Benefits:

  • Expands design flexibility for packaging and enclosures.
  • Supports more complex sheet metal geometries.
  • Reduces the need for workarounds or manual edits.
  • Improves manufacturability of edge-formed parts.

Move Multiple Sketched Bends While Maintaining Spacing

Description:
Users can now move multiple selected sketched bends in sheet metal while preserving the spacing between them.

Key Benefits:

  • Simplifies editing of patterned bends.
  • Maintains design intent during modifications.
  • Reduces manual repositioning effort.
  • Enhances usability in corrugated and folded designs.

Break Bend Lines Near Cutouts

Description:
IronCAD now supports breaking bend lines that are close to cutouts, based on a defined tolerance range.

Key Benefits:

  • Prevents interference between bends and cutouts.
  • Improves accuracy in flat pattern generation.
  • Supports better control over bend behavior.
  • Enhances manufacturability of complex sheet metal parts.

Sketched Bend Cut Line Starting with Arc

Description:
Users can now define sketched bend cut lines that begin with an arc, not just straight segments.

Key Benefits:

  • Expands design flexibility for custom bend paths.
  • Supports more organic and curved sheet metal forms.
  • Improves compatibility with artistic and ergonomic designs.
  • Reduces the need for workaround geometry.

Override Global Bend Allowance at Part Level

Description:
Users can now override the global bend allowance setting at the part or stock level, specifically for sketched bends.

Key Benefits:

  • Provides localized control over bend behavior.
  • Supports mixed-material or multi-process designs.
  • Improves accuracy in bend compensation.
  • Enhances flexibility in sheet metal modeling.

 

Structure Part Design, PMI, and 3D Curve Improvements

IronCAD will continue to extend our more advanced capabilities to offer more control and flexibility when using structure parts, PMI and 3D Curve capabilities.

Structured Parts – Export of Body Colors

Description:
When exporting multi-body structured parts, IronCAD now preserves individual body colors instead of applying the parent part color.

Key Benefits:

  • Improves visual clarity in exported models.
  • Supports color-coded manufacturing and assembly.
  • Enhances compatibility with downstream viewers.
  • Reduces need for manual face coloring.

Structured Parts – Apply Text Properties to Multiple Bodies

Description:
Users can now apply text properties (e.g., BOM fields) to multiple bodies simultaneously, similar to parts and assemblies.

Key Benefits:

  • Speeds up BOM preparation for multi-body parts.
  • Reduces repetitive property entry.
  • Supports grouped property management.
  • Enhances usability in structured frame design.

Structured Parts – Part Mass Ignores Body Masses

Description:
Fixes an issue where part-level mass was calculated without considering individual body densities, ensuring accurate mass reporting.

Key Benefits:

  • Provides correct mass values for structured parts.
  • Supports accurate weight-based design decisions.
  • Improves trust in simulation and analysis results.
  • Aligns with industry expectations for mass reporting.

3D Curve – Constrain to Center Point

Description:
Improves constraint behavior by allowing users to select a 3D curve and automatically snap to its center point, similar to 2D sketches.

Key Benefits:

  • Enhances consistency between 2D and 3D workflows.
  • Simplifies constraint creation in 3D space.
  • Reduces frustration in curve-based modeling.
  • Improves precision in geometric relationships.

PMI in Catalog

Description:
Support for storing Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) in catalogs has been improved, including tolerances and annotations.

Key Benefits:

  • Enables reuse of annotated components.
  • Supports model-based definition (MBD) workflows.
  • Reduces repetitive annotation tasks.
  • Enhances consistency in documentation.

System Improvements

General system improvement will be a focus for 2026 for migrating custom settings, stronger AI capabilities with our AI Chatbot functionality, and our collaboration capabilities with improvements in our translators.

Migration Tool for New Releases

Description: Introduces a migration tool that prompts users to import settings, customizations, templates, and catalogs from older IronCAD versions during new release installation.

Benefits:

  • Eases transition to new versions for Industrial Equipment teams.
  • Reduces setup time for customized workflows.
  • Enhances user confidence in upgrading to IronCAD 2026.
  • Saves support time for resellers assisting clients.

Continued Improvement to IronCAD’s AI Chatbot with AI Design Assistant Foundation

IronCAD 2026 introduces Stage 2 of its AI capabilities with the AI Design Assistant Foundation, featuring enhanced Python scripting support. This includes:

  • Multiple Database Support: Enhanced backend support for multiple database connections, enabling customer- and industry-specific knowledge integration, supporting both public and private AI learning models.
  • Python Scripting Foundation: Leverage IronCAD’s API and automation programming in a Python scripting environment, standard in AI development, for seamless design automation.
  • AI-Driven Chatbot: Real-time optimization suggestions analyze design questions, recommending manufacturability, cost reduction, and technical considerations directly within IronCAD’s interface, providing instant answers and model guidance without leaving the workspace.
  • AI-Driven Modeling: Machine learning algorithms suggest design components from catalog content and established parameters, accelerating the design of assemblies by recommending components and setting parameters to meet requirements. Future capabilities will include building designs with intelligent rules, enhancing productivity and configure-to-quote processes.
    This new foundation streamlines design workflows, enhances decision-making, and accelerates productivity with AI-powered automation and real-world design considerations.

Maximize AI Chatbot Window

Description:
Adds a maximize button to expand the AI chatbot to full screen for easier reading and interaction.

Key Benefits:

  • Improves visibility of long responses.
  • Enhances usability for detailed queries.
  • Supports better focus during complex interactions.
  • Aligns with standard window behavior.

Close All Documents – Include ICC Catalog Files

Description:
The “Close All” command now also closes open ICC Catalog files, streamlining workspace cleanup.

Key Benefits:

  • Ensures all resources are closed together.
  • Reduces clutter in the workspace.
  • Improves session management.
  • Enhances user experience in catalog-heavy workflows.

IronCAD Native Translator

Description: The IronCAD Native Translator Add-on extension has been updated to support the latest file formats from several of the most common 3D CAD systems on the market.

Import now supports:

  • CATIA V5: V5R8 – V5–6R2025
  • Pro/E (CREO): 16 – Creo 12.4
  • UG NX: 11 – NX 2506
  • Inventor: V11 – V2026
  • SolidWorks: 98 – 2025
  • SolidEdge: V18 – SE 2025
  • JT Import: 8 – 10.2, 10.3, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, and 10.10
  • IFC: IFC 2×3, IFC 4×2, IFC 4×2, and IFC 4×3
  • Rhino: V2-8
  • DXF/DWG: 2.5 – 2026

IronCAD Architectural & Viewing Translator

The Architectural & Viewing Translator add-on extension has been updated to support the latest file.

These include:

  • IFC Reader/Writer: IFC 2×3, IFC 4×1, IFC 4×2, and IFC 4×3
  • Revit Reader/Writer: 2015 to 2025 (write to 2025 only)
  • SolidWorks Drawing Reader: 2013-2025
  • GLTF Writer: 2.0

 

IronCAD 2026 is poised to transform CAD design for Industrial Equipment Machinery and Metal/Steel Fabrication manufacturers with these innovative features. By focusing on productivity, precision, and user experience, IronCAD empowers designers to deliver high-quality results faster than ever.