Computer Aided Drafting- the use of computer-based software to aid in design processes.

CAD
software is frequently used by different types of engineers and designers. CAD software can be used to
create two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional (3-D) models

Importance of CAD in Industry

 Development-

 Modification

 Optimization of the design process

 Advantages and Disadvantages of CAD

Advantages of CAD:

 1. Saves time: When you are using the computer-aided design software, it will save your time
and you can make better and more efficient designs in shorter time duration.

 2. Easy to edit: When you are making designs, you may find the need to make alterations. When
you are using computer-aided design software, it will be much easier to make any changes
because you can fix the errors and modify the drawings easily.

 3. Decrease in error percentage: As the CAD software makes use of some of the best tools, the
percentage of error that occurred because of manual designing is significantly reduced.

 4. Decrease design effort: When it comes to the amount of effort that was needed for the sake
of designing the different models, it has been reduced significantly because the software
automates most of the task.

 5. Code re-use: As the entire task is carried out with the help of computer tools, it removes the
problem of duplication of labor, you can copy the different parts of code and design which can
then be reused multiple times over and over again.

 6. Easy to share: The CAD tools make it easier to save the files and store it in a way that you can
use it time and again and send it without any unwanted hassles too.

 7. Improved accuracy: There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that the kind of accuracy that
CAD software will offer can never be achieved by opting for manual drawings. You have tools to
measure the precision, skill and accuracy level of the designs.

 Disadvantages of CAD:

 Work can be lost because of the sudden breakdown of computers

 Work is prone to viruses

 Work could be easily “hacked”

 Time taking process to know how to operate or run the software

 Time and cost of training the staff which will work on it

 Need of regular updating of software or operating systems

 Needs less employment because of CAD/CAM systems

-As a result of other areas of technology, we can expect that CAD will continue to develop in the future,
opening up new and innovative methods of design and engineering for a number of different industries.
This will aid in making users experiences of CAD equipment more intuitive and simple than they ever
thought possible.

Application of CAD

There is virtually no limit to the kinds of line drawings using CAD. If a drawing can be created by hand, it
can be generated by CAD. Here are a few of the applications of the CAD:

 Architectural drawing of all kinds

 Interior design and facility planning

 Work-flow charts and organizational diagrams

 Proposals and presentations

 Graphs of all kinds

 Drawings for electronic, chemical, civil, mechanical, automotive and aerospace engineering
applications

 Topographic maps and nautical charts

 Yacht design

 Plots and other representations of mathematical and scientific functions

 Theater set-lighting designs

 Technical illustrations and assembly diagrams

 Company logos

 Greeting cards

 Line drawings for the fine art

Objective of CAD and Benefits

 improve design productivity

 reduce design lead time

 enhance design quality

1. CAD can create 3D models.

 If you’ve ever tried to create a 3D model manually, you know how difficult and time-consuming
a process it is.

 A CAD 3D modeling package can take your 2D model and turn it into 3D quickly and easily. And if
you’re going to be using 3D printing at any point during the product development process – to
have a CAD 3D model for the printer software to read.

2. CAD is easy to learn and use.

 You’d think that a computer program as complex as CAD would be a nightmare to learn, but
that’s actually not the case. CAD is fairly easy to learn for engineers and product designers – in
other words, for people who are used to thinking spatially and who have a background in
design.

 One of the best parts of CAD designing is that you have the same simple tools that we all use on
our computers every day: cut, paste, copy, and delete. These have virtually no learning curve at
all.

3. CAD designs can be replicated almost instantly.

 With CAD software, you can create as many copies of a design as you like. This is a huge
advantage over manual drafting. If designs need to be shared with multiple departments, for
example, or handed over to another product designer, being able to replicate your designs
exactly is vitally important.

4. CAD designs can be modified quickly.

 Modifying a CAD design for, say, a second generation of a product, can be done quickly and
easily. What’s more, all your modifications can be tracked and saved in the file. That means a
lower chance of modifications being lost or forgotten.

 Lost or unnoticed modifications can create huge costs and time disadvantages for companies, so
any method that reduced the chance of this happening is something worth considering.

5. CAD files can be shared worldwide, instantly.

 In the global economy, the product development process can be distributed among different
companies, some of which may be across the world from each other (unless you use an all-in-
one product development partner).

 In these situations, it’s a simple necessity that you be able to share your designs and files with
your partners in the process.

 Manual drawings can be scanned, certainly, but CAD files can be shared, viewed, and modified
all within a single program. Scanned versions, on the other hand, may need multiple programs
for recipients to be able to open, view, and comment upon them.
6. CAD files integrate seamlessly with Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer Aided
Engineering (CAE) packages.

 If you’ll be working with CAM or CAE packages at any point throughout the product
development process, you’ll cut way down on time if you use CAD right off the bat.

 Manual drawings cannot be used for CAM or CAE packages, so if you end up using these at some
point, you’ll have to make CAD files anyway.

7. CAD files are more secure than paper drawings.

 CAD programs come with permission controls that can be used to restrict access to just the
people who need to see the file.

 This is not only helpful for security purposes, but also for preventing unauthorized editing from
others who aren’t directly engaged with the project. While security measures can be taken with
paper drawings, it’s nearly impossible to keep a paper drawing completely secure.

-Computer aided design is an incredibly useful tool for engineers, product designers, and others engaged
in the product development process.

CAD software in the market

1. AutoCAD

2. Inventor

3. Fusion 360

4. Revit

5. SolidWorks

6. CATIA

7. Creo CAD

8. Rhino

9. MicroStation

10. Siemens NX