{"id":5971,"date":"2023-08-01T15:00:33","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T12:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/?p=5971"},"modified":"2024-12-02T18:12:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:12:21","slug":"cad-advantages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/cad-advantages\/","title":{"rendered":"Advantages of CAD & Why Every Engineer Should Be Using It"},"content":{"rendered":"

CAD is an acronym for Computer-Aided Design. It refers to the method of using computer software to create virtual models of proposed products. There is a variety of CAD software available, each with special features that sometimes make the suitable for a particular application.<\/p>\n

Capabilities of CAD<\/h2>\n

The design of a product must be ready down to the last detail before putting it into production. This ensures that no setbacks through necessary changes to the product can occur afterwards.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, doing this required manual drawing and designing using paper and pencil. Today, using CAD systems significantly reduces the amount of work. Creating 3D models and 2D drawings is faster and easier than ever before.<\/p>\n

Although the projects can vary greatly, many of them still use a plethora of standard parts. For example, bolts, nuts, washers and other fasteners<\/a> belong to the list of components when creating any kind of machinery.<\/p>\n

In such cases, engineers can turn to part libraries to just pick the most suitable size for the application and use it in the assembly. This reduces time spent on creating small parts while making sure that less easy mistakes happen due to not displaying them in the model at all.<\/p>\n

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The parts and assemblies can be created, analysed, improved and shared with others in CAD. You can apply colours, look at different angles and create rendered images for a life-like experience. This is especially common for displaying visuals for future products.<\/p>\n

You can separate a large assembly into parts or display a predefined layer at a time. Many CAD programs have the essential tools of finite element analysis software<\/a>. This helps to test the parts for force-bearing capabilities and dynamic loads.<\/p>\n

Thus, a CAD system is much more than a replacement for manual drawings<\/strong>. It brings about a whole new level of possibilities that engineers can utilise for creating better products faster with fewer mistakes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

These values also align well with lean manufacturing methods<\/a> and their principles of minimising waste and maximising productivity.<\/p>\n

Advantages of CAD<\/h2>\n

CAD has a variety of advantages over manual drawings that have made it absolutely essential in the design market today. Let\u2019s take a look at how they help the contemporary engineer or product designer.<\/p>\n

Saves Time<\/h3>\n

The ongoing era of product development entails a lot of competition. The time it takes to bring a product to market can be essential to its success.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With CAD software, time is our lucrative reward. It saves the engineer a lot of work that can be put to good use on different projects or perfecting the design of the ongoing one. You can easily visualise the ideas you gathered during the product design concept generation<\/a> phase.<\/p>\n

Creating simple shapes and parts takes seconds. The biggest win, though, comes with more complex parts. For example, you can create a flat pattern of an intricate bent sheet metal part with a click of a mouse. No need to contemplate how to present it correctly.<\/p>\n

At the same time, making changes is really easy. Or creating new models based on previous ones. You can just re-use a 3D model and add the necessary features to create a similar but unique part in a lot less time.<\/p>\n

Increases Productivity<\/h3>\n

Time saved translates directly into augmented productivity. The same amount of time can result in a higher number of completed projects.<\/p>\n

The repeatability of design is an option. Modifying the same design is possible to make infinite variations of the final product.<\/p>\n

On average, a 3x increase in employee productivity is noticed. With time, this productivity can approach 10x<\/strong>. A large part of it comes down to the ability to create simulations in CAD rather than doing manual calculations.<\/p>\n

This improvement is seen on multiple fronts like quality, time, and cost reduction in manufacturing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Improves Accuracy<\/h3>\n

Manual sketching cannot measure up to the accuracy of CAD drawings<\/a>. CAD design’s accuracy is unparalleled with almost no errors.\u00a0 This gives it a huge advantage over manual designing and drafting.<\/p>\n

Of course, the designer must still pay attention to the outcome. The “retrieve dimensions” function does not replace an engineer, as it does not recognise the base planes for measurements, for example. And this can be crucial with parts like shafts.<\/p>\n

Complex surfaces and shapes can be created comparatively easily in CAD. These surfaces are extremely difficult to get right with manual sketching but with CAD systems\u2019 tools, a perfect result can be obtained.<\/p>\n

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