Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design automates creation and modification of designs.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers or workstations to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is employed to boost designer productivity, elevate design quality, improve communication through detailed documentation, and build a manufacturing database. Designs produced with CAD software are valuable for protecting products and inventions in patent applications. The output is typically electronic files intended for printing, machining, or other manufacturing processes. The terms computer-aided drafting (CAD) and computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) are also used.
In electronic systems, its application is known as electronic design automation (EDA), while in mechanical design it is called mechanical design automation (MDA), which involves creating technical drawings with computer software. Mechanical design CAD software often uses vector-based graphics to represent traditional drafting objects, or it can produce raster graphics showing the overall appearance of designed objects. Beyond shapes, CAD output must convey information like materials, processes, dimensions, and tolerances, following application-specific conventions. CAD can design curves and figures in two-dimensional (2D) space, or curves, surfaces, and solids in three-dimensional (3D) space.
CAD is a crucial industrial art used extensively in automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, industrial and architectural design (including building information modeling), prosthetics, and many other fields. It is also widely used to create computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising, and technical manuals, often called digital content creation (DCC). The modern power of computers means even everyday items like perfume bottles and shampoo dispensers are designed using techniques unknown to engineers of the 1960s. Due to its enormous economic importance, CAD has been a major driver for research in computational geometry, computer graphics (both hardware and software), and discrete differential geometry. The design of geometric models for object shapes is sometimes called computer-aided geometric design (CAGD).
- field
- Engineering design, computer graphics
- known_for
- Automating design, drafting, and manufacturing processes
- applications
- Automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, architecture, prosthetics, animation
Lore & Background
Computer-aided design (CAD) encompasses a wide range of software tools used to create, modify, analyze, or optimize designs, replacing traditional manual drafting. Its output typically consists of electronic files intended for printing, machining, or other manufacturing processes. The software is employed to boost designer productivity, enhance design quality, improve documentation, and build databases for production. Designs produced with CAD are also valuable for protecting products and inventions in patent applications.
The appearance of CAD output varies by type. For mechanical design, software may use vector-based graphics to replicate the lines of traditional drafting, or it can generate raster graphics that show the overall visual appearance of objects. Beyond shapes, CAD output must convey detailed information like materials, processes, dimensions, and tolerances, following industry-specific conventions. Designs can be created in two-dimensional (2D) space for curves and figures, or in three-dimensional (3D) space for curves, surfaces, and solids.
The range of CAD applications is vast. It is a critical industrial art used in automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, industrial and architectural design (including building information modeling), and prosthetics. It also plays a major role in producing computer animation for movies, advertising, and technical manuals, a field often called digital content creation. The power of modern computers means even everyday objects like perfume bottles and shampoo dispensers are now designed with techniques unknown to engineers in the 1960s.
Defining characteristics include its integration with other digital tools. CAD is part of the broader digital product development process within product lifecycle management. It works alongside computer-aided engineering (CAE) and finite element analysis, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) for CNC machines, photorealistic rendering, motion simulation, and product data management for document control. CAD is also used to create accurate photo simulations for environmental impact reports, superimposing building designs onto photographs to study view corridors and shadows. The design of geometric models for object shapes is specifically called computer-aided geometric design (CAGD).
Reader's Guide
CAD is one part of the whole digital product development activity within product lifecycle management processes, used together with tools such as computer-aided engineering, finite element analysis, computer-aided manufacturing, photorealistic rendering, and product data management. Its use in designing electronic systems is known as electronic design automation, and in mechanical design as mechanical design automation. CAD output is often in the form of electronic files for print, machining, or other manufacturing operations. Designs made through CAD software help protect products and inventions when used in patent applications. Because of its enormous economic importance, CAD has been a major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics, and discrete differential geometry. Modern CAD packages range from 2D vector-based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modelers, and can allow rotations in three dimensions for viewing from any angle.
Did You Know?
- CAD is used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising, and technical manuals.
- CAD software for mechanical design uses either vector-based graphics or raster graphics.
- CAD is used for accurate creation of photo simulations for environmental impact reports.
- Parametric modeling in CAD allows the operator to use 'design intent' for modifiable objects and features.
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