Introduction to CAD
What Do Those Letters Mean to
You?
This lecture originally from Michael Young, Michigan Technological University
MAE 455 Computer-Aided Design and Drafting
Painting “The Big Picture”
• What is Computer-Aided Design (CAD)?
– Creating drawings on a computer
– Creating 3D shapes on a computer
– Visualization
• Checking how things fit together to make sure they don’t interfere
• Checking how product will look to the customer
– Doing simulations
• Animation
• Dynamics
• Structural Analysis
• Fluid Flow
• Heat Transfer
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The Design Process
Clarify the Problem
Design Requirements Specification
Conceptual Design
Design Concepts
Embodiment Design
Design Layout, Configuration
Detail Design
Manufacturing Drawings
• What is Computer-Aided Design (CAD)?
Using computers to help execute the design process.
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More Specific Definitions
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the technology
concerned with the use of computer systems to assist in
the creation, modification, analysis, and optimization of a
design. [Groover and Zimmers, 1984]
• Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is the technology
concerned with the use of computer systems to plan,
manage, and control manufacturing operations.
• Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) is the technology
concerned with the use of computer systems to analyze
CAD geometry, allowing the designer to simulate and
study how the product will behave.
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Components of CAD Systems
CAD/CAM/CAE System
Hardware Software
Computing machine Solid Modeling
Data storage devices Assembly Modeling
Motion Simulation
Communication
devices Finite Element
Analysis
User input devices
User output devices
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Components of CAD Systems
• Input Devices
Image from YouTube
Image from [Link] –
Allan Macdonald
Image from Mitutoyo (UK) Ltd Image from FARO Image from YouTube
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Components of CAD Systems
• Output Devices
Image from Interworld Electronics Image from InkSystem Image from 3D Printing Geeks
& Computer Industries Inc.
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Components of CAD Systems
• Integrated Input/Output Devices – Virtual Reality
Image from IGI | Blog Image from LinkedIn – Noora Al Hasani
Image from EH Publishing Image from [Link] Image from [Link]
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Components of CAD Systems
• Integrated Input/Output Devices – Virtual Reality
Image from [Link]
Image from AtCrux
Image from Thomas Publishing Company
Image from Tech Times
Image from Geomagic Image from IndiaMART InterMESH Ltd. Image from Thomas Hulin
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SolidWorks versus other CAD
software
Drafting
Modeling
Solid/Ass.
Parametric
Simulation
Integrated
uring
Manufact-
Integrated
models
Very large
/sophisticated
More flexible
Siemens PLM NX
Catia
Creo
SolidWorks
Autodesk Inventor
Solid Edge
Autodesk Fusion 360
AutoCAD
MAE 455 Computer-Aided Design and Drafting 10
SolidWorks vs. Autodesk
Inventor vs. Solid Edge
• Programs are similar but not equivalent:
– Same class of software
– Same types of tools available
– Same general techniques used in each
– Specific buttons, menus and input sequences
different
– Customer lists different
• Today vs. tomorrow
– User interfaces will change
– Fundamentals will stay the same
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Course Goals
• Basic and Advanced Shape Modeling
• Parametric Modeling
• Working in Teams
• Advanced Top-Down Design Methodology
• Use of Solid Models for Downstream
Applications
– Design Documentation
– Mechanism Analysis
– Finite Element Analysis/Shape Optimization
– Computer-Aided Manufacturing
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Course Expectations
• Learning through doing (hands-on
learning)
• Learning by studying theory
• Benefits from course
– How to model products well, using state of
the art CAD software
– Understanding how computer is leveraged
in design process
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