WHAT IS CAD?

WHAT IS CAD?

Let’s examine what Computer-Aided Design – CAD is and where it is used.

CAD (Computer-Aided Design); It refers to software programs translated into our language as computer-aided design and used to assist the design process in all types of industries.

CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing); It is known as computer-aided manufacturing.

With CAD software (before the design is used for a particular application), it is possible to create the model in an imaginary space, allowing you to visualize properties such as height, width, distance, material, or color before this model is used for a particular application.

The CAD usage area is quite wide. Programs working with CAD software are used for all engineering (automotive, aviation, space) applications and laser cutting applications.

As Aktif Lazer, we transfer the products that we will laser cut on the CNC machine with the CAD software to the system with NC codes and we can easily solve the CNC laser cutting processes. CAD software is a very important and indispensable program for the laser cutting industry.

Now that we have the answer to the question of what is CAD, we can learn the purpose of the application.

What is the Purpose of CAD?

Computer-aided design is a way to digitally create 2D drawings and 3D models of real-world products before they are produced. With 3D CAD, you can easily share, review, simulate and modify designs, opening doors to innovative and differentiated products that are quickly entering the market.

Used by engineers, architects, and construction managers, CAD has replaced manual drawing. It helps users to create designs in 2D or 3D so that they can visualize the structure.

CAD enables the development, modification, and optimization of the design process.

With CAD, engineers can make more accurate representations and easily modify them to improve design quality. The software also takes into account how various materials interact.

Today drawings/plans can be stored in the cloud so contractors have access to CAD-based drawings/plans on-site. All teams can easily check plan changes in this way. Such easy access to plans improves communication.

Effective use of all information ultimately increases productivity. CAD helps create a more comprehensive design by enabling designers to consider electrical, plumbing, and other aspects. Ultimately, this means fewer job changes and fewer surprises during construction.

When Did CAD Software Appear?

It was 1962 when computer scientist Ivan Sutherland created the first computer graphics program known as “SketchPad” that allowed people to write or draw simple shapes directly on the screen with the help of a special pen. This was the beginning of all future CAD software.

Initially, CAD was used for research purposes only, but in the 1970s major automotive and aerospace companies began developing their software and expanded its applications to other industries in the 1980s. In this way, the emergence of tools such as CATIA and AutoCAD in the 1990s made it possible to use this software in many professional sectors.

CAD Software

CAD software is available in varieties used in many different industries.

Most known CAD software;

• CATIA
• Solidworks
• AutoCAD
• Inventor
• Unigraphics
• NetCAD
• ArchiCAD

In addition to these programs, there are some CAD programs developed for 3D analysis. These;

• 3D Studio Max
• Maya
• blender

CAD software is quite diverse as you can see. Therefore, companies using this software vary from sector to sector and budget.

What Are the Benefits of CAD Software?

There are several benefits to using CAD as a design and analysis tool:

• Visualization:

CAD software that lets you create and visualize 2D or 3D objects lets you make as many changes as you need with less effort than drawing with a pen on paper.

• Detail:

Digital representation in CAD is very close to real life and makes it accurate up to a certain level. You can add as many details as you need thanks to the software.

• Optimization:

It is very difficult to find faults in the design process, but CAD software can help you with this very reliably, even if it is not perfect. More complex CAD programs even let you run simulations to test for defects.

• Expertise:

There is CAD software specifically designed for almost every professional industry, making it widely applicable.

• Realization:

With the help of fabrication technologies and CAM software, which will be more difficult and expensive with traditional fabrication methods, you have the opportunity to bring your digital design into the real world as a physical object.

In addition, with CAD software, you can increase the efficiency of the designer and enable more projects to be designed in a short time. This increases the quality of the design. By creating a large database, it provides easy access to everyone using CAD software.

Workflow with CAD System (Sectors Using CAD)

Why is this technology so important to many professionals? Here are a few of the largest professional industries based on CAD:

• Architecture: Architecture is one of the most important professions using CAD. There are so many elements in the design of a project that it needs software support at almost every stage.

Example: Large design firms often use BIM modeling software such as Revit or ArchiCAD to increase productivity, but smaller design firms more typically combine different tools in their workflows. For example, architects who run a YouTube channel and their studio called 30×40 Design Workshop state that they use AutoCAD, SketchUp Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom for their daily work.

• Product design: Industrial designers use CAD software not only to visualize an object but also to understand and validate how it will work. Tools like Fusion 360, Inventor, or SolidWorks are the most commonly used.

Example: Grovemade is a company focused on developing high-quality wood products. CAD and CAM tools make things more efficient by using Fusion 360 in their workflow.

• Graphic design: Professional graphic design also uses 2D or 3D CAD software to create visualizations. This type of software allows designers to add effects, typography, shapes, and backgrounds to enhance their visuals.

Example: Matthew Encina is a designer and content creator who uses Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects as his main tools to develop branding and interactive experiences for his clients.

• Engineering: Given the many and varied fields of engineering, the types of CAD programs used by engineers are many and varied. Some of the most common targets are infrastructure, buildings, circuits, telecommunications networks, thermodynamics, mechanical parts, medical devices, and manufacturing.

Example: In 2017, Brown University Engineering Research Center BIM, architecture firm Kieran Timberlake, and BuroHappold Engineering company coordinated design and construction through Revit models.

Manufacturing with CAD

As we mentioned earlier, CAD is a visualization tool that includes 2D drawings and 3D models, but how can you turn them into physical objects? This is where computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) comes into play. CAM generates automatic instructions for a particular machine using CNC software.

• 3D printing,
• CNC routing and
• Laser cutting and engraving.

CAD and CAM work better when integrated because they provide more control over the design and manufacturing process.

Now that we have learned what CAD is and where it is used, we can take a step towards our career path.