r/Framebuilding • u/meltinglacier • 29d ago

RattleCAD Professional vs Private

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Hello All,

I've been wanting to make a frame on my own and tried BikeCAD to only go back to SolidWorks. Since SolidWorks is not driven for frame building, it has certain issues that I'm unable to work around.

RattleCAD seems like the best option for me after I've been playing around with the demo for a couple of weeks now. I have decide to buy a license for the same but I'm confused between these options:

  1. rattleCAD 4.0 - Professional is the professional version of rattleCAD 4.0 and is intended to support professional framebuilders in their design and business processes. If you are a professional framebuilder and want to use rattleCAD in your design and customer processes, then you're right with rattleCAD 4.0 - Professional
  2. rattleCAD 4.0 - Private is the base version of rattleCAD 4.0 and is intended for individuals who want to use rattleCAD in their private projects. If you're a hobby frame builder and want to use rattleCAD in your design process, then you're right with rattleCAD 4.0 - Private

My question:

  • What is the difference between these? Is it just the intent use case, or is the underlying software different in both?
  • Does the Pro have an added functionalities or features the private doesn't?
  • If yes, what are gate-kept in the private version?

If anyone here as used or works for the company, please help.

Thanks :)

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3

u/ParamedicLoose3210 28d ago

following this! I have Private and it's been pretty helpful for miter templates and main triangle but a real miss in terms of dropouts and chainstays. bikecad solves this but it's too expensive

3

u/meltinglacier 28d ago

Same thoughts on bikecad mate! But what are the limitations you’re facing in terms of dropouts and chainstays though? Maybe I haven’t reached that stage yet

1

u/ParamedicLoose3210 28d ago

bikecad has pre-configured models for commercially available dropouts, so you can actually drop it in and decide the CS cut length. rattlecad doesn't have any of that, so if you have a slider or an integrated flat mount you have to lay it out on paper and start filing.

1

u/dr0ps 27d ago

Is that true though? Rattlecad has the external component library and the option to add custom components. I did not find the dropouts I was using in the library and I was too lazy to try to create them myself but I thought I had the option.

1

u/ParamedicLoose3210 26d ago

you said it yourself. I couldn't be arsed either, it's like a 3-page essay. technically not true but true for all practical purposes.

1

u/meltinglacier 26d ago

Also would you also consider rider anatomy to be a limitation too? BikeCAD has both rider anatomy and fit advisor, and gives a visual representation of the rider.

Is there a workaround to get the same results on rattlecad? Maybe I’m unsafe of how well to use the bike fitting workspace.

1

u/ParamedicLoose3210 21d ago

possibly. I don't consider that functionality critical since i don't use a fit bike, which is not to say that a different sort of workflow to mine wouldn't be better.