The goal of this article is to give an overview of the commercially available filament winding software options. The different software options are compared on functionalities and pricing, and information on the developers/suppliers.
Latest Update: May 2025.
Why this website?
Filament Winding is a method of winding fibers in a predetermined pattern onto a rotating mandrel in order to manufacture axisymmetric shaped composite structures (pressure vessels, pipes, storage tanks, etc). Filament winding is typically used in industries where high strength-to-weight ratios are essential as the technique of precisely placing continuous fibers enhances the structural integrity of the final product. These industries are usually highly-demanding and includes the likes of aerospace, aviation, maritime, military, nuclear, oil, and gas.
Automating this process has happened since the 70s by using CNC filament winding machines. Since 2010 the use of robotics and specialized software has further improved the automation of the filament winding process. The latest developments introduce a hybrid robotic winding system combining the advantages of (high-speed) filament winding, with local fiber placement using an AFP head.
What is Filament Winding?
What are my Filament Winding Software options?
The first step for a successful automated winding operation is selecting the right software. There are several filament winding software options available, with the four market leaders being Cadfil, TaniqWind Pro, ComposicaD and Cadwind. Exploring the features and benefits of each software will help identify the best option for optimizing the filament winding process as they each have their own advantages, catering to different aspects of the filament winding process.
Cadfil
TaniqWind Pro
ComposicaD
CADWIND
Pricing
Cadfil
TaniqWind Pro
6 Packages
Pipe Winder Lite, Pipe Winder Plus, Lite, Lite +, Axysm, Poles
3 Packages
Lite, Extended, Full
Licensing Model
Lowest Purchase Price
Moderate Purchase Price
Highest Purchase Price
€3,000 - €4,000
€5,000 - €6,000
€4,000 - €5,000
€9,000 - €10,000
Comparisons
€8,000 - €9,000
€16,000 - €17,000
Annual Subscription
Trials/Free Versions
Discounts
Available Upon Request
Available Upon Request
Support & Resources
Tutorials
Showcase Videos
Customer Support
Features
Available Upon Request
€4,000 - €5,000
€14,000 - €15,000
€24,000 - €25,000
€17,000 - €18,000
€9,000 - €10,000
ComposicaD
4 Packages
Essential, Standard, Expert, High-end
3 Packages
Bronze, Silver, Gold
Available Upon Request
CADWIND
€7,000 - €8,000
Our Review
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When comparing the 4 filament winding softwares, we believe TaniqWind Pro is currently the best filament winding software on the market. Although TaniqWind Pro was only just recently released in 2022 and are relatively new on the market, their professional GUI and efficient workflow shows that this software is developed by an experienced team with filament winding knowledge, making it very intuitive to work with. Even though it doesn’t outperform the other softwares in all aspects, it does have the best overall performance.
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Cadfil is the most reasonably priced filament winding software. Especially for basic 2, 3 and 4 axis CNC winding. Cadfil seems to offer users with the most options, enabling to customize it to your specific needs. The only serious drawback is their outdated workflow and GUI which can be troubling during professional use.
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Altough it is difficult to find the actual numbers, it seems that Cadfil currently has the highest market share in filament winding software. This can be explained by their low pricing for basic winding options, making it the preferred software in developing countries. In Europe and North-America, ComposicaD used to be the most used software, until it was acquired by Plastic Omnium. The lack of updates and support was a big problem. Even after they relaunched with a new team of developers, the users trust in the software is low. CADWIND has a steady user base, but seems to develop less new features (compared to both Cadfil and TaniqWind Pro), which costs them their users who wish for newer developments. With TaniqWind Pro being the newcomer, they seem to be rapidly growing in users typically in the mid to high-end segment of the market.