| CAD, deciphered as Computer-aided design, is used for designing real and virtual objects. CAD frequently involves more than just shapes. The output of CAD ordinarily must also contain symbolic information, for instance materials, processes, dimensions and tolerances in accordance with specifications of an application.
CAD may be used to design curves and figures in 2-dimensional (2D) space, and curves, surfaces and solids in 3-dimensional (3D) space.
Computer-aided design is efficiently deployed in automotive, shipbuilding and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, prosthetics and others. CAD is also extensively deployed to produce computer animation for special effects in films, commercials and technical instruction books. CAD is used for designing tools and equipment and for drawing and designing all types of structures, from small houses to large commercial and industrial structures, for example hospitals and factories. CAD is chiefly deployed for detailed engineering of 3D models and 2D drawings of physical components, but it is also used in the engineering process.
CAD has grown into a particularly significant technology within the whole scope of computer-aided technologies, because it saves time and money.
In the late Eighties when the CAD programs became freely available, there began massive layoffs in drafting departments of small and mid-size companies. A CAD operator could replace three-five drafters still using traditional techniques. Besides, many engineers started to do their own drawing projects, hence the demand for traditional drafting departments vanished. As a result of, a large number of people were laid off.
Since the advances were rather expensive, only large companies could afford them. Hence, small firms were unable to compete against giant companies that widely deployed CAD. These days, prices are much lower. Even high-end packages require cheaper platforms and some even support multiple platforms.
Additionally, there have been introduced various packages to convert CAD files to other formats. |
