CorelCAD 2022.5 (macOS)

Architects, engineers, and designers who work on Macs often need CAD software that handles both 2D drafting and 3D modelling without forcing them into Windows. CorelCAD fills that gap. It reads and writes native AutoCAD DWG files, so swapping projects with colleagues on other platforms is straightforward. The 2D tools cover planning, editing, and layouts; the 3D side lets you convert a flat drawing into a 3D graphic in a few clicks. If you are printing models, it exports STL files ready for the slicer. The Mac version runs on macOS 10.14 and later, and it opens or saves PDF, SVG, EPS, DWF, and several other formats. For a school IT office that maintains a mixed fleet, having one CAD app that works the same on both Windows and Mac saves time on support and training.

Scenario: a sole practitioner drawing up a kitchen refurbishment

A single architect working from a home office gets a call about a kitchen renovation. The client wants elevations, a plan view, and a rough 3D visual to see how the island fits. With CorelCAD, the architect starts the 2D floor plan in the morning, uses the same DWG file to extrude a simple 3D model after lunch, and exports the result as an STL for a local 3D-printing service to make a scale mock-up. No file conversion, no platform switch. The whole job stays in one app on one Mac.

DWG files need no conversion

• Native DWG round-trip — open a file from a Windows colleague, edit, save. No import/export dialogue needed. The file stays as a DWG, which avoids compatibility headaches with AutoCAD-centric offices.
• Format flexibility — beyond DWG, CorelCAD reads and writes PDF, SVG, EPS, DWF, STL, SAT, SHP, and DWS. That covers most common exchange formats, from vector illustrations to 3D mesh files.
• Interface languages — fourteen languages are built in. If a technician or a student prefers Russian, Polish, or Japanese, the interface can switch without a separate localisation pack.
• Same app for both architectures — the Mac version supports ARM and 64-bit x86. Whether the school supplies an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon one, the same disk image works.

Open a PC colleague's DWG file first

1. Open an existing DWG file first. Drag an old project from a PC colleague onto the CorelCAD window and check that layers, text, and dimensions appear as expected. This confirms the file translation is set.
2. Set the default save format to DWG. If your workflow depends on AutoCAD compatibility, make sure CorelCAD saves in native DWG by default rather than the app’s own format. That avoids extra steps later.
3. Test an STL export early. Draw a simple cube or cylinder, export as STL, and open it in a slicer or mesh viewer. This verifies the 3D printing pipeline works with your hardware.
4. Switch the interface language if needed. If you or a colleague works better in a language other than English, change it in the preferences before starting a project. The setting sticks between sessions.
5. Try the 2D-to-3D conversion. Draw a simple floor plan, then use the 3D tools to extrude it. The feature is one of the main selling points, and trying it early shows what the app can do in a few clicks.

- Build number 22.3.1.4090 - General performance and stability improvements

• macOS 10.14 or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon processor