- Starting at $62.50/month
- Buy now ->
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MPCore, first released in 2025, is a free, lightweight CAD environment designed specifically for the MPanel ecosystem. It provides the minimal CAD tools required to operate MPanel’s Professional software – including Fabric Structure Professional, Fabric Structure Analysis, Fabric Structure Designer, and Marine & Cover Professional – without the need to purchase AutoCAD or Rhino licences.
This makes MPCore the most cost-effective and accessible way to use advanced tensile design software.
“MPanel is the core tool we use for design and production. It’s where I check dimensions, ensure customer requests are feasible, and generate the production files. It’s also how we create visuals for customers when needed, and it serves as a vital safety check in the design process. It simplifies what can often be a complicated process. Honestly, I’d like to keep it a secret so no one else copies what we do because it’s such a massive part of our business. It’s intuitive, easy to use, and has been a game-changer in simplifying our workflow.”
Jamie Watts
Director
Sail Shades Direct
What MPCore Software is & how it works
MPCore removes the two biggest barriers to adopting MPanel’s professional tensile structure software: expensive CAD licences and steep learning curves.
Instead of requiring AutoCAD or Rhino, MPCore provides a simplified CAD environment that comes bundled free with every MPanel Professional product.
- Install MPCore once, and use it as the base platform for any MPanel Professional software.
- Access the tools you need for modelling, form-finding, analysis, and patterning — without the overhead of full CAD systems.
- Train staff faster with a cleaner, more intuitive interface that cuts down on unnecessary complexity.
- Expand your capabilities with our easy-to-use Apps, enabling the fabrication of structures from Shade Site Designer (our client-facing sales and proposal product), such as Framed Shade Structures, Arched Structures, Umbrellas, Conics and Pole Tents / Marquees.
Key features & benefits of MPCore with Apps
Runs all MPanel Professional software
Fabric Structure Professional, Designer, Analysis, and Marine & Cover Professional.
Save thousands in licensing
No need for AutoCAD or Rhino subscriptions.
Lightweight CAD environment
Provides only the tools required for tensile structure workflows.
Easier to learn
Minimal interface shortens training time for new staff.
Future plugin ecosystem
Planned apps for non-CAD users to extend functionality further.
Free with every purchase
MPCore is included at no cost with any MPanel Professional product.
Who is MPCore for?
MPCore is designed for:
- Small to mid-sized shade and tensile businesses that want to avoid expensive CAD systems and their steep learning curves
- Fabricators and contractors who want faster onboarding for new staff
- Larger firms that want to standardise their workflow around MPanel software while cutting CAD costs
How hard is MPCore to learn and become proficient with?
Click here to learn more ->Comparing MPCore to other solutions
Traditional CAD platforms like AutoCAD and Rhino are powerful but include many tools and features that are not relevant to tensile structures, and come with high annual licence fees and steep learning curves
Other lightweight CAD tools exist, but they don’t integrate directly with tensile engineering software.
MPCore is different:
- Built specifically as CAD software for the MPanel ecosystem.
- Provides seamless CAD integration for tensile design at a fraction of the cost.
- Future-proof with advanced tensile design CAD plugins in development.
Find the right MPanel software
MPCore with Apps FAQs
Whilst MPanel Professional software works inside AutoCAD and Rhino, if you wanted to run it using MPCore – which we provide as a free alternative – you could potentially reduce your licensing costs with other platforms.
Whilst MPanel Professional software works inside AutoCAD and Rhino, if you wanted to run it using MPCore – which we provide as a free alternative – you could potentially reduce your licensing costs with other platforms.
Whilst MPanel Professional software works inside AutoCAD and Rhino, if you wanted to run it using MPCore – which we provide as a free alternative – you could potentially reduce your licensing costs with other platforms.
