Computer-aided design (CAD), also known as computer-aided drafting (CAD) or computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), is the use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design .CAD is an important industrial art extensively used in many applications, including automotive,
shipbuilding, and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural
design, and many more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies,advertising
and technical manuals. Because of its enormous
economic importance, CAD has been a major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics (both hardware and software), and discrete differential geometry.
Current computer-aided design software packages range from 2D vector--based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modelers. Modern CAD packages can also frequently allow rotations in
three dimensions, allowing viewing of a designed object from any desired
angle, even from the inside looking out. Some CAD software is capable
of dynamic mathematical modeling, in which case it may be marketed as
CADD.
CAD has become an especially important technology within the scope of computer aided technologies,
with benefits such as lower product development costs and a greatly
shortened design cycle. CAD enables designers to layout and develop work
on screen, print it out and save it for future editing, saving time on
their drawings.
CAD Software's
Auto CAD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD
- Pro Engineer http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Pro_Engineer
- Solid Edge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_Edge
- Solidworks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolidWork
What
Is CAD?
CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. It is a combination
of hardware and software combinationswhich have revolutionized the way
designers work. Speed and efficiency have increased, as well as ease of
communication. For example,working drawings could be time consuming and any
revisions even more so. CAD has not only reduced the time spent drafting to a
fraction of what it used to be, but any changes in the drawing can also be done
quickly without having to redraw everything. Moreover, different views can be
easily created using the same drawing. Although designers use CAD to produce
beautifully layered graphic work, perspectives and walkthrough animations, even
test a design before implementation, there are times when CAD drawings lack the
human emotional content seen in hand drawings.
Generalized
Design Process Includes
-
Customer Order
-
Problem Definition(Initial Design)
-
Geometric Modeling
-
Engineering Analysis
-
Design Evaluation
-
Production And Marketing
Main Applications of
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
This process is used to create the 2D drawings of components or assemblies; usually directly from a 3D model, although 2D CAD can create 2D drawings directly.
Solid Modeling
This process is used to create solid
components of desired shape by joining and cutting
different solid volumes. The final
solid model is a virtual replica of an actual product but
it can be seen and rotated like a real
product.
Surface modeling
This process is used to create
surfaces of desired shape by trimming, stitching and
Joining different surfaces to create a
final shape model.
Assembly
This process is used to assemble the
models created in solid or surface modeling to
Create a final assembly. This is used
to see the actual fitment of all models and see the
actual working of assembly.
Reverse Engineering
This process is used to convert the
real component into 3D CAD Model. Different types
of instruments such as laser scanner,
white light scanner, CMM (coordinate measuring
Machine) etc. are used to measure or
decode the shape of real model. The virtual
Model obtained can then be modified in a CAD program
