What Is CAD ? (Computer Aided Design)

Why Read This Article

Because In this article you will get answers of 

·      What Is CAD ?

·      which cad software is best?

·      where cad is used?

·      Why cad is important?

·      Who invented cad software?

·      What cad stands for?

·      History of CAD

·      Benefits Of CAD

·      Advantages of CAD Over Manual Drafting

·      Which Industry Uses CAD ?

After reading this Article, you will get answers to this and similar questions.

What is CAD? 

CAD stands for “Computer Aided Design” and is also known as “Computer Aided Design And Drafting (CADD)".

According to Autodesk, “Computer Aided Design (CAD) is technology for design and technical documentation that replaces manual drafting with an automated process.” 

Across several occupations, CAD software also helps in preparing the building plans, electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, technical drawings, blueprints. It can also be used to create special effects for TV shows or movies. 

History of CAD

In 1883 Charles Babbage developed idea for computer. First CAD demonstration is given by Ivan Sutherland (1963). After this a year later IBM produced the first commercial CAD system. Many changes have taken place since then, with the advancement of powerful computers, it is now possible to do all the designs using CAD including two-dimensional drawings, solid modelling, complex engineering analysis, production and manufacturing. New technologies are constantly invented which make this process quicker, versatile and powerful.

Importance Of CAD

Easy To Draw : Earlier we used to draw each of our designs on a drawing sheet, so we had to use a lot of instruments for drawing, like drafts, scales, pencils, erasers and so on. So because of this we used to have a lot of time and mistakes were also made.

Now, CAD software’s has changed the process for the better. The designs created by CAD are easy to edit and require less time to create and no instrument required. It also helps you prepare designs in both 2D and 3D and allows user to view it from different perspectives.

Increases Productivity : CAD software allow designer to work faster, smarter ,reduce production cost, and utilizing this leads to quicker project completion. Because designer can work faster, so the company is able to provide effective output with less manpower. This allow organization to produce quality product in less time consumption. This is huge advantage in competitive market.

High Quality Design: The first design was made by manual drawing so it had so many errors in it such that the produced output was inaccurate, but the huge flexibility provided by CAD enables us to imagine better designs. The tools provided in the cad software helps the designer to do a large number tests and operations. Since CAD systems provide greater accuracy, And the errors are minimized in the design, so this helps in creating better design. As you can imagine, overall is a result of better products.

Easy To Documentation: Maintaining a record Is the most important thing when we work with thousands of designs. CAD software is very useful in documentation of all kinds of design. The measurements, angles, and dimensions of a product are all conveniently recorded and saved for future use CAD plays a major role in  "product life cycle management " that enables automated systems to be stored digitally and Secures the entire designing process.

Easy To Work in Team: If you are the part of big organization then you know how important is to work in the team. CAD makes it easy to collaborate with your teammates. Designing a complex product usually requires a huge team of designers and engineers required. So CAD makes collaborate easy, even for the remote team. Cloud based CAD programs have become a norm this days.

Re Use: Many times we need a lot of components while designing, so we do not need to double design that component, if we have designed that components previously then we can use it again and again. Just like the design of the tires in the car design, we can take any of the pre-made tires, we need a lot of nuts and bolt assemblies like this. we can reuse this thing in new design or you can use them back by editing something in it.

                              

Advantages Of CAD Over Manual Drafting

·       Easy to draw

·       Less time consumption

·       Accuracy and Precision

·       Quick access

·       Easier Modification

·       Good appearance in output

·       Storage Facility

·       Less prone to error

·       Easy to share accurate information

Where CAD is used ?

·       Automobile Industry

·       Aerospace And Air Craft Industry

·       Textile Industry

·       Medical Industry

·       Tool And Die Making Industry

·       Welding And Cutting Industry

·       Automobile Industry

·       Jigs And Fixture Manufacturing

·       Architecture

·       Fashion Designing

Types Of CAD Software’s

There are many CAD programs are available in the CAD industry today. Some are intended for general drafting work while others are focused on specific engineering applications. This Software enable you to do 2 D drawings, 3D drawings, renderings, shadings, calculations, space planning, structural design, piping layouts, plant design, etc.

Here according to their function and uses software are divided as follow.

Drafting

“Drafting is a language of Engineers with exact Scaling, Measurements, Accuracy And with specific standards.”

                     

Drafting is also known as engineering drawing. Drafting is a two dimensional (2D) representation of three dimensional (3D) objects. In general, it provides necessary information about the shape, size, quality, material, manufacturing process, etc., of the object. It is the language from which a trained person can visualize objects. 

Engineering Drawings prepared in one country may be utilized in any other country irrespective of the language spoken. Hence, the drafting is called the universal language of engineers. Any language to be communicative, should follow certain rule so that it convey the same meaning to everyone. Similarly, drafting practice must follow certain rules, if it is to serve as a means of communication. For this purpose, Bureau of Indian Standards adapted the International Standards on code of practice for drawing. The other foreign standards are: DIN of Germany, British Standard (BS) of Britain and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). of America.

Drafting Software:  AutoCAD is a highly functional 2D and 3D modelling software by Autodesk and it is most popular for Drafting 

Analysis 

Engineering analysis involves the application of scientific analytic principles and processes to reveal the properties and state of a system, device or mechanism under study. Engineering analysis is  decompositional it proceeds by separating the engineering design into the mechanisms of operation or failure, analyzing or estimating each component of the operation or failure mechanism in isolation, and re-combining the components according to basic physical principles and natural laws.

Analysis Software: Ansys, HyperMesh, MATLAB This Design analysis software are more powerful for simulating physical behaviour on the computer.

Design

Design is a complete prototype with analysis and manufacturing in electrical and electronics designing means simulation or analysis.

Design Software: CATIA, Creo, Fusion 360°, Solidworks,  Autodesk Inventor,  TinkerCAD etc. Like This many software are available for design.

Limitation Of CAD

Skill of designer: CAD are tools for a designer to use to create a design. Like all tools, they are only as useful as those who use them.. While a computer can tell you only how design will look like when you use either steel, wood or other material the user is the one who makes the decision, which inevitably affects function. CAD software also cannot tell you which design is more aesthetically pleasing, and in some industries, that overrides function. 

Cost of CAD: Software licensing can be very expensive and continues enhancement of graphic tools required more powerful workstations to use them. Also, top CAD required lots of money and time on training.