What it does
Onshape is cloud CAD for parametric parts, assemblies and drawings, with document history and collaboration. A Part Studio can hold related parts that share sketches or other construction references. Free work requires public documents and non-commercial use; annual paid plans support private commercial projects.
Use a Part Studio for components that need common references. It does not have to contain every component of the eventual assembly. Parts can be arranged later in an Assembly, while separate studios can share geometry through derived or in-context references.
For a CAD handoff, select the required parts, right-click and choose Export. Exporting from the Part Studio tab includes that studio's parts. Give the file a name and select a format. STEP offers version and unit controls; choose the receiving application's requirements. For mesh output, resolution choices control the approximation. Select Download, store the export in a document tab, or do both, then choose Export.
The resulting file contains geometry without Onshape's feature history. Suppressed assembly instances are omitted from assembly exports, and exported composite parts are separated into individual parts. Keep the Onshape document when the construction must remain editable.
| Plan | Access and annual price |
|---|---|
| Free | Non-commercial work with public documents |
| Standard | Private commercial work at US$1,500 per user per year |
| Professional | US$2,500 per user per year; adds company-level management and further design tools |
Browser access is complemented by iOS and Android apps.
Strengths
- Related parts can share a parametric construction within one Part Studio.
- Export controls include format, version, units and destination.
Watch out for
- Free-plan documents are public and limited to non-commercial use.
- Exported geometry does not include Onshape feature history.
Best for
- Teams developing related mechanical components
- CAD projects needing shared history and controlled geometry handoffs
Sources
- Onshape | Plans and Pricing (Oct 28, 2026)
- Onshape | Free Plan (Oct 28, 2026)
- Onshape | Parts Modeling (Oct 28, 2026)
- Onshape Help | Part Studios (Oct 28, 2026)
- Onshape Help | Exporting Files (Oct 28, 2026)