ME401T

Computer Aided Design

Fundamentals

Computer Aided Design

Role of computers in Mechanical design
What are the possible areas where computers
can assist mechanical design?

Engineering drawings and drafting.

Creating complicated geometries with a good
accuracy

Computer Aided Design

In solving structural design, thermal, fluid and
problems in mechanical engineering design
(known as Computer Aided Simulation and
Analysis).

FEA of Machine components, FEM to solve heat

problems, CFD to solve fluid problems, to solve
coupled structural-heat field problems using
numerical methods.

Computer Aided Design

In optimizing the
existing design for
minimum mass and
maximum strength of
machine parts,
maximum efficiency
and minimum power
consumption of
mechanical
equipment.

Why to study CAD?

CAE tool users become inefficient in using
them unless, fundamental concepts on which
theses systems are built, are understood
properly.
Still all the critical shapes can not be modeled
in these tools; so getting the fundamental
knowledge may help them modeling those
shapes.

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?
Problem identification
and recognition of need

Problem definition
and conceptualisation

For example Design

of an office chair

Geometric modelling
and spatial analysis
Engineering analysis
and optimisation

Prototype development

Manufacturing process
development
Manufacturing
Implementation

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

Customer
feedback

Marketing

CAM
cycle

Reasons for implementing a CAD

system
Computers can store and handle large amount
of eng. Data; that can be utilized for design
and analysis.
Complex geometrical shapes can be visually
inspected and checked.
CAD tools make design, simulation, analysis
and optimization an easy task.
CAD systems can easily be integrated with
CAM systems.

CAD applications
Applications are numerous in fields like
Mechanical, Electrical and Architectural.
Geometric engine:
Heart of modeling
Provides functions to perform modeling and
construction, editing and manipulation,
drafting and documentation.
Creating this represents a means and not a
goal for engineers.

CAD applications
Checking interference between mating parts
in an assembly.
Deformation, stress and strain analysis of
machine components.

CAD benefits

Improved productivity
Shorter lead times
Customers modifications are easier to make
Improved accuracy of design
In analysis, easier recognition of component
interactions
Fewer errors in NC part programming
Saves materials and machining time by
utilizing optimization algorithms.

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

Without actual manufacturing of the component,
stress analysis is done.
How to verify the results???
Make a prototype and by placing strain gauges
calculate deformations at various section under
loads; and then finding stresses analytically and
compare the same with the software results.
Saves a good amount of time
This design can further be optimized

Scope of CAD
CAD is a subset of the design process (As shown earlier
in design cycle)
Activities of CAD systems: mass properties, FEA,
dimensioning,
tolerancing,
assembly
modeling,
generating shaded images, documentation and drafting.
Geometric
modeling
CAD

Design

Computer
graphics

CAD programming
CAD systems are powerful software applications, they
employ complex geometric modeling concepts,
computer graphics algorithms, software techniques,
design and analysis theories, manufacturing techniques
and database and management concepts.
CAD systems evolved over the years; and code itself is
very long and complex.
Modifying and programming CAD systems is difficult but
possible.

CAD programming
CAD software is written in a variety of languages.
Unigraphics and I-DEAS started as Fortran code.
Pro/E ad SolidWorks are written in C and C++.
Most of these systems use JAVA especially for Webbased functionality.
How often do we need to program?
There is a need for customizing these systems.
There are different levels of customizing and
programming like writing a simple macro to automate
repetitive tasks, the system API (application
programming interface) to extend the system
functionality.

CAD programming
Programming interested users must be familiar with
system functionality, structure, hierarchy, terminology
and philosophy.

For example if someone needs to modify spline curve by

programming then the one should have used the spline
command already.

CAD programming
What does it take to program a CAD system?
Knowledge of programming language, geometry and
graphic concepts, and database techniques.
For a programming language C, C++ or JAVA is good.
The effective use of these requires a good knowledge of
OOP (Object-Oriented Programming).
OOP is programming paradigm that represents
concepts as objects that have data fields (attributes
that describe objects) and associated procedures known
as methods (Examples: C++, JAVA, VB.NET, Python,
Pascal, Visual Basic, Fortran, COBOL etc..)

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:
CAD system utilizes relational databases to store
geometric, graphical and other data that defines a CAD
model.
It is conceptually a set of collection of tables and table is
a relation. (database with 4 table means there are 4
relations).
Each table stores data about a given entity.
The data in a table is stored as attributes in rows.
Each row is known as a record.
For example customer name and account numbers.
It is usually collection of many such tables

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:
Another example to store the boundary representation
(B-rep) of the model (i.e. faces, edges and vertices).

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:

CAD Programming elements

Object database:
Here the unit of data storage is an object, instead of a
table.
Object database management system is similar to
conventional DBMS.

CAD Programming elements

The other elements are:
Object definition
Object concepts
Programming levels

List of few selected CAD software

Autocad by Autodesk
CATIA by Dassault Systems (DS)
IDEA by 4M
Pro/E by Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC)
Revit Architecture by Autodesk
Solid edge by Siemens PLM software
Solid Works by Solid Works Corp.