NOVATO, Calif., July 16, 2026 – Punch!® Software, a leading software developer of Home Design and CAD titles for over 25 years, today announced the release of new Windows and Mac versions of the SharkCAD® 17 and ViaCAD® 17 family of products.
This latest release includes a range of variants for the Windows and Mac platforms: SharkCAD® Pro, SharkCAD®, ViaCAD® Pro, ViaCAD® 2D/3D, and ViaCAD® 2D. Punch!CAD™ brings forward AI‑based visualization, more efficient XREF workflows, updated interface elements, expanded modeling capabilities, and a refreshed set of rendering assets, supporting professionals across a wide range of design disciplines.
New Features in Punch!CAD™ 17
Modern Interface and Theme Updates
Punch!CAD™ 17 introduces refreshed SVG tool icons and expanded light and dark mode graphics across dialogs, menus, and tool palettes. The updated interface delivers sharper high-resolution visuals, clearer contrast, and a more consistent working environment for designers using modern displays.
XREF Workflow Improvements
Referenced-object workflows are faster and more efficient in Punch!CAD™ 17. New lightweight XREF loading uses display geometry to reduce memory usage and file size by up to 10× for complex mechanical parts, while Attach Folder imports an entire folder of parts as referenced objects positioned in place for large assemblies and shared component libraries.
AI-Powered Visualization and Part Discovery
Copilot Render, available with Copilot Professional, transforms 2D drawings and 3D models into expressive visual concepts using natural-language prompts. Users can generate and compare multiple variations, explore materials and lighting, add or modify visual elements, and apply reference images without changing the underlying CAD geometry. Copilot Part Finder adds natural-language search across a library of more than 770,000 CAD components, including ANSI, ISO, and DIN parts, helping engineers locate and reuse standard components faster.
Advanced Modeling Enhancements
New modeling tools give users more control over complex forms. Skin Solid with Center Line creates swept solids from ordered closed profiles along a path, making it ideal for pipes, rails, housings, and smooth mechanical transitions. The Pipe tool now supports Rounded Rectangle, N-Sided, and Coils cross-sections, with associative geometry that updates automatically when the path is edited.
Rendering Assets and Materials
Punch!CAD™ 17 expands rendering workflows with six new studio backgrounds, six carbon-fiber textures, and eight new wood materials. These additions provide more presentation-ready options for product visualization, architectural rendering, lighting tests, and realistic material exploration.
BOM Notes and Stability Refinements
New BOM Note attributes let objects carry semantic information such as notes, descriptions, functions, requirements, manufacturing details, materials, references, and more. Copilot can use this context during AI-assisted rendering and CAD-data queries, enabling richer results from information embedded directly in the drawing. Punch!CAD™ 17 also includes hundreds of corrections to improve stability and accuracy.
Executive Quotes
“Punch!CAD™ 17 brings practical AI into the core of daily design workflows. With Copilot Render and Part Finder, users can move from concept to presentation and from component search to reuse with greater efficiency. The updated modeling tools and XREF improvements reinforce the precision and reliability our customers expect.”
— Tim Olson, Vice President of R&D
“Punch!CAD™ 17 balances conceptual freedom with production‑ready accuracy. The refreshed interface, expanded rendering library, BOM Notes, and new geometry tools give designers a stronger platform for visualizing, documenting, and delivering real‑world projects.”
— Rita Buschmann, Vice President of Product Management, CAD and Home Design.
The availability of features may vary depending on the model variant. Some features require Copilot Professional as an optional paid plug-in. For a comprehensive overview of feature distribution, please visit www.punchcad.com.
Availability and Pricing
SharkCAD® & ViaCAD® 17 are now available, offering a diverse array of design tools to meet the needs of various users and budgets. Available for both Mac and Windows, our lineup includes:
- SharkCAD® Pro - Advanced tools for engineering and design professionals: $1999.99 USD
- SharkCAD® - Made for expert users: $1299.99 USD
- ViaCAD® Pro - Our premier ViaCAD® package: $599.99 USD
- ViaCAD® 2D/3D - A versatile toolkit for diverse design needs: $279.99 USD
- ViaCAD® 2D - Ideal for beginners focusing on 2D design: $129.99 USD
All variants are available as standalone licenses or through flexible term plans, including 1-year and 3-year options.
All Punch!CAD™ purchases include a complimentary trial of Copilot Help, an optional plug‑in powered by Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG). Copilot Help delivers context‑aware answers drawn from trusted documentation, FAQs, video tutorials, and product guides—providing immediate, relevant assistance directly inside the design environment. After the trial, Copilot Help is available for $99.99.
For users seeking a more dynamic, design‑integrated experience, Copilot Professional is offered as an optional plug‑in. It includes everything in Copilot Help and extends it with advanced AI‑powered tools for visualization, material development, part discovery, natural‑language interaction with CAD data, general AI assistance, text‑to‑image generation, rendering‑scene analysis, visual reporting tools, basic text‑to‑CAD creation, and parametric part creation and editing. New capabilities include Copilot Render for concept imagery directly on top of CAD drawings and the Copilot‑Powered Part Finder for inserting mechanical components through natural‑language search. Copilot Professional delivers a more intelligent, fluid, and visually driven design experience. It is available as a 1‑year term plan for $299.99 or a 3‑year term plan for $899.99.
Additionally, our Training and PowerPack Bundles are specially designed to complement and expand capabilities when working with SharkCAD® & ViaCAD®.
Note: Feature availability varies by product variant and by optional add‑on. For a detailed overview of included tools and capabilities, please refer to the feature comparison on the TurboCAD website.
For more information, a product comparison, to view videos showcasing the product’s features, please visit www.punchcad.com.
About Punch!® Software
Punch!® Software is renowned for its industry-leading home design, landscape design, architectural, and mechanical CAD software available for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. Our flagship products, including Punch!® Home & Landscape Design, Punch!CAD™ ViaCAD®, and Punch!CAD™ SharkCAD®, are designed to deliver exceptional speed and a user-friendly interface, making them ideal for both business and personal use.
Contact:
Punch!® Software
+1 800-334-0457
© 2026 Punch!® Software. All rights reserved. ViaCAD and SharkCAD are registered trademarks of Punch!CAD™. All other identifiable marks are the property of their respective owners.
