Before the evolution of computers and CAD tools, Engineering drawing boards were in use to make product designs. The new product design process was slow because the complete cad design process was in 2-Dimensional. Therefore a lot of experience, knowledge and visualization skills were required to design new products.
The first CAD software was Sketchpad. Ivan Sutherland in 1960, developed the first cad software. Before 1960, only big aerospace and automobile companies were using CAD software.
But nowadays, all companies involved in the design are using cad software because of the advantage of low implementation cost and faster design cycles. In this article, we will discuss the advantages, disadvantages, applications of CAD. Don’t miss this article on various software used by mechanical engineers.
What is CAD or Computer-Aided Design?
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools utilize highly powered computers to design, visualize and simulate new product designs.
Engineers can build entire product designs in the virtual world (computer screen) using CAD software. On a computer screen, they can visualize and review products to deliver the first time right products.
Applications of CAD Software
Engineers are using cad software in various industries for the following applications:
- Create concept or industrial designs and visualize them using realistic rendering software.
- Detailed 3D part
- Assembly design.
- Verification and validation of design (interference, gap analysis, tolerance stack up, draft and thickness analysis, etc.) is possible in CAD software.
- Create animations.
- Generate assembly and engineering drawings for manufacturing etc.
Cad software is used in the following industries but not limited to this.
- Product design and manufacturing
- Heavy engineering.
- Construction
- Architecture design
- Animations
- Gaming industry
- Augmented and Virtual Reality
- 3D Printing etc.
Advantages of CAD Software
CAD software has changed the way engineers design their products. Product design quality, productivity, and timelines are improved while using cad software compared to conventional engineering drawing boards. Following are just a few advantages of CAD software.
1. Easy to use and design new Products
Nowadays, CAD tools are so much easier to use even school students are using them to convert their ideas into reality. You don’t need sketching skills to use cad software. Therefore you can bring your imagination to the virtual world and present your idea to others.
Please note professional cad tools still require cad skills and can be learned from freely available videos.
2. Design Visualization
CAD software allows engineers to visualize and feel product designs in 3 dimensions. Engineers can also test their products in actual scenarios by integrating virtual reality and augmented reality technologies in cad tools.
3D Rendering and animation feature in CAD tools is used to create realistic rendered images and animations. It helps engineers in getting feedback for their products before actually building them.
3. Reduced Product Design Timelines
Before CAD, for any modification in the drawing. The engineer needs to create the entire design from scratch.
But CAD software allows engineers to create designs very fast. Engineers can do any modification in design on top of the existing design. The modified part gets updated in assembly and the drawing file automatically. As a result, nowadays, new products are coming into the market faster.
4. Reduced Cost
CAD software has the advantage of verification of design before actually building it. It helps in designing first-time-right products and reducing overall costs.
5. Quality Designs
Most cad software comes with product design verification and validation features. Engineers use these features to verify various design elements. As a result, more robust, first-time-right products are created. Following are some of the widely used verification tools in cad software.
- Basic Level simulation.
- Interference and GAP Analysis.
- Draft and Thickness analysis.
- Tolerance stack up analysis
- Motion Analysis etc.
6. Design Optimization
More advanced CAD design software is smart enough to suggest design changes based on simulation results. They can even generate design features automatically. It helps in the optimization of a design in a better way.
7. Aids Manufacturing
3D CAD models are used in Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to generate CNC programs. It reduces the work of CNC programmers. For example, we can use 3D printer slicing software to create G-Codes from 3D CAD models.
Disadvantages of CAD Software
Along with so many advantages of cad software, they have some limitations as well. But these limitations are very few and can be taken care of by the industry. Following are some of the limitations of CAD design software.
1. High Initial Investment
High computing power is required to run cad software. Therefore to run CAD software, companies need to buy costly latest configuration computer systems. But this is changing with time. Now Cloud-based CAD software runs on the cloud with an internet browser. CAD in the cloud eliminates the need for a costly workstation.
2. Licensing Fee
The most advanced cad software is license-based. Therefore you need to buy a license to use cad software. Generally, license costs are very high. Free cad software is a good option if someone can not afford a high licensing fee.
Latest Trends in CAD Technology
Following latest technologies are ruling the CAD industry these days.
CAD in Cloud
Some advanced cad tools use cloud computing to run the cad software. Therefore industries don’t need to spend money on high-end computing devices. Engineers can access CAD software from anywhere using an internet-connected device.
Synchronous Modeling
Most cad tools are on either direct modeling or parametric modeling. But synchronous modeling is a combination of direct and parametric cad modeling. In other words, anytime you can switch from parametric to direct and vice-versa.
Generative Design
Generative design software helps in creating a new part design from scratch. Engineers only need to provide design inputs and constraints.
Topology Improvement in CAD Design
Topology improvement feature in CAD software improves the existing design based on some errors or simulation results.
Augmented and Virtual Reality Technologies
Advanced visualization technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality are also making their way in the CAD industry. These technologies are improving cad user experience.
To sum up, Computer-aided Design has changed the way engineers design products. This technology is continuously evolving. Engineers always need to get them updated with the latest cad technologies.
We will keep updating more information on the Advantages, disadvantages, and applications of CAD technologies. Add your suggestions, comments, or questions on the advantages of cad software in the comment box.
ActCADis 2D & 3D CAD Software Built With intellicad 10.1 Engine.
Very interesting blog about cad design advantages and disadvantages, I wish to see much more like this. Thanks for sharing your information!