CAD is a process that allows computer users to design products and shapes on screen. It is used in industrial and manufacturing applications, art and graphic design, automotive and aerospace design, and construction and engineering. Before CAD, products and construction plans were drawn by hand. CAD software became affordable in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today’s modeling software allows designers to rotate and explore different angles of an object. CAD software is designed for Windows or Linux operating systems and can be run on almost any basic computer.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is a process that allows computer users to design a variety of products and geometric shapes on screen, rather than build them by hand. Using CAD software, an object can be created and modified to determine how it will look and function after it is built. CAD drawings often include a computer-generated image of the design, as well as its dimensions, processes and materials. These drawings can be two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D). When an object is drawn in 3D using CAD, the process is often referred to as rendering or modeling, while 2D design is often referred to as a “draft”.
CAD drawings are used in a large number of industrial and manufacturing applications. This technology is used extensively in art and graphic design and offers these artists a greater level of design flexibility than that of other mediums. These designs are also used in automotive and aerospace design as well as in the development of industrial products and equipment. Many special effects used in movies and television are based on computer animations generated with CAD software. Finally, CAD drawings are a fundamental component of construction and engineering activities.
Before the invention of CAD, products and construction plans were drawn by hand. This was a laborious and time-consuming process that required a large number of drafters, as well as frequent revisions. With the introduction of CAD software, engineers and designers were able to quickly and easily generate and modify drawings. Design firms could hire fewer staff, and product design and development cycles were significantly reduced. CAD software also allowed engineers and designers to generate their own drawings, rather than attempting to explain them to a draftsman, resulting in a more accurate design.
While CAD drawings have been around since the 1960s, it wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s that CAD software became an affordable option for many industries. Early versions of the software relied on 2D vector design, while modern CAD drawings include 3D modeling capabilities. Today’s modeling software allows designers to not only sketch an object, but rotate it on an axis and see through the walls of the object from the inside. This modeling capability is particularly useful in construction and engineering, allowing designers to virtually “walk” a structure and explore different angles.
Most CAD software is designed for Windows or Linux operating systems only. Complex CAD drawings may require advanced graphics cards and high levels of random access memory (RAM), but the simplest drawings can be run on almost any basic computer. CAD software is operated using a traditional mouse, although some professional designers may supplement this operation using a digital pen or graphics tablet.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
