: For combining hundreds or thousands of parts into a single machine.
to avoid slowing down the system with too many direct links between components. Best Practices for Modeling
: Dassault Systèmes often offers a heavily discounted (or sometimes free) version for students with a valid academic email. 3DEXPERIENCE for Makers
Also built by Dassault Systèmes, sharing similar parametric modeling logic.
If CATIA is out of reach, consider powerful yet free tools for students and hobbyists like Fusion 360 (free for personal use and startups) or FreeCAD (a completely free and open-source parametric modeler). These can teach you the principles of 3D modeling without legal and security risks.
For commercial entities and engineering consultants, using unauthorized software like SolidSquad CATIA V5 carries catastrophic legal and financial liabilities: Audit Tracking and Digital Watermarking