Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Thanks to:
Darryl Hillman
Sam Cooper
Duncan Evans
Drew Holloway
Jonathan Sidaway

Introduction
Areas to be covered:
1.

What is Computer Aided Design?

2.

Origins of CAD

3.

Uses of CAD

4.

Computer Aided Architecture Design (CAAD)

5.

Electronic Design Automation (ECAD)

6.

Uses of CAD with an expert system

7.

CAD Design

8.

CAD & Databases

A quick intro
Video created by a student in USA as part of course
work

What is Computer Aided Design?

CAD also known as Computer Aided Drafting.

There are 3 different types of CAD (2D, 2.5D and
3D).
The software is used to create and design models
of these types and test them.

Origins of CAD

The first source of CAD resulted from attempts to automate

the drafting process.
These developments were pioneered by the General Motors
Research Laboratories in the early 1960s.
CAD became more widely used after 1970 because of
technological advancements.
CAD allowed users to design products much quicker
without the production of an actual product.

Beginning in the 1980s Computer-Aided Design programs

reduced the need ofdraftsmen significantly.
Their affordability and ability to run on personal computers
also allowed engineers to do their own drafting work.

Uses of CAD
CAD is used to design a variety of different products
for a variety of fields such as

Architecture

Electronics

Automotive engineering

Industrial Design

Machinery

Visual Art

Medical Design

Computer aided architecture design

(CAAD)

CAD can be used to design a 3D visual representative of a

structure such as a bridge, highway, drainage systems or
buildings such as houses, high rise flats.
The software allows the user to design a 2D representation
of the blue prints. Also they can create a 3D view of the
finished design of the structure.
When incorporated with an expert system it can work out
the strain points of the building/structure.

Designs of CAAD

Circuit
board layout

House Blue
Print

Electronic design automation

(ECAD)

CAD can also be used to design electronic systems

such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits.
As well as designing the layout of a circuit the user can
also list logic gates for the circuit.
These designs can be used for hundreds of electronic
products and machinery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNjX8gVAXzg

Uses of CAD with an expert system

The limitations of CAD is that it doesn't incorporate

real life concepts, such as gravity or friction.
By Using a expert system it can carry out calculations
such as stress of a building or the drag of a vehicle.
The use of a expert system with CAD can be used
with a variety of products such as:

1.

Building materials for buildings/constructions

2.

The Design of vehicles.

3.

Design of individual parts.

CAD Design and Software

To choose which software to buy or download
depends on the user and what it is they want to
design. For example below are three different
pictures all using different software for different
designs.

Software
Some CAD programs which you can buy are:

AutoCAD

TurboCAD

ProgeCAD

But there are a lot open source programs such as:

Archimedes

FreeCAD

BRL-CAD

CAD & Databases

Typically CAD software is built upon some database
stored in hard disk
From user point of view it looks like a file
However CAD objects such as line or circle are stored
as structured records and CAD engine has implemented
methods for fast data retrieval and storage

CAD/CAM Database
Just like computer aided designing (CAD) we have concept
of computer aided manufacturing (CAM). CAD software
enables direct link between CAD and CAM
On its part CAD enables automation of designing, while
CAM enables automation of manufacturing processes. The
combination of CAD and CAM enables automated
transition from designing to manufacturing

The database created by the integration of CAD/CAM

is also called a manufacturing database

Conclusion
CAD is important in the design and safety of
constructions
There are many different types of CAD software to
choose from to meet specific needs
CAD extraction data is input into a database which
appears in the form of a file
It has spread into many other fields of jobs more recently
such as medicine and electronics
CAD is overall a cheaper tool than taking on a larger
workforce to complete drawing tasks