Computer-aided design is the application of computer systems to aid in the conception, alteration, scrutiny or optimization of the design. By using CADD software, it helps the designer to increase the output, value, and communication through the design process. The major production of most CADD designs is in the form of electronic files. CADD is not only used in manufacturing but also in electronic design automation. This is the process through which computer software is applied in the creation of a technical drawing. It can be used in the designing of two-dimensional or three-dimensional curves and figures.
Most modern designs and drafting in engineering have been linked to the development of innovations that existed in the early 16 th and 17 centuries. It is during this time that the development of descriptive geometry emerged. The introduction of drafting machines played a huge role towards the emergence of different drafting techniques. However, it is only after World War II that the engineering drawings started to change. Real-time computing was developed and numerous attempts initiated at MIT to come up with the ideas during the war. By around 1950, dozens of people had started focusing on the automation of engineering design. However, the stage upon which CADD was set is attributed to Patrick J. Hanratty and Ivan Sutherland.
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Patrick Hanratty joined General Motors in 1957, and it is here that he developed PRONTO (Program for Numerical Tooling Operations) (Tatnall, 2012). This was the first commercial CNC programming system at the time. He also helped develop the Design Automated by Computer while working in the General Motors Research Laboratory in 1961. This was the first CAD design to use interactive graphics. In 1963, through his MIT Ph.D. thesis titled Sketchpad (Tatnall, 2012). A Man-Machine Graphical Communications System, Ivan Sutherland broke new ground in 3D computer visual simulation and modeling. Through this innovation, a light pen was to be used by the designers when creating drawings related to engineering on their CRTs.
The research towards interactive computer graphics continued to see increased development in the 1960s. The devolvement of the Sketchpad by Ivan Sutherland was the foundation upon which better engineering drawings were developed (Tatnall, 2012). The designers could create and interactively move objects from the drawings using the CRTs. Initially, CADD was referred to as only computer-aided drafting. However, following the innovations, it meant that it went beyond the basic drafting concepts hence the design part of the word was added. During the 1970s, most of the CADD software could produce only 2D drawings (Bethany, 2017). These had no difference to the hand drafted drawings at the time. However, this paved the way for the creation of better technologies that would see the 2D drawings were changed to 3D.
By the late 1970s, the 3D CADD software had been developed through milestones in research (Benhabib, 2003). This saw the development of Versprilles NURBS invention. It is through this innovation that modern 3D curve and designs rely on. Grayer, Lang and Braid similarly developed the Part and Assembly Description language (PADL).Engineers were introduced in the world of 3D modeling with the development of other software such as the Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA which was launched in 1977 (Benhabib,2003). However, in the 1980s, a larger stage for adoption of CAD became evident. This was due to the increased UNIX workstation adoption. Before this time, most of the CAD software was a patented tool used by the large industries such as the shipbuilding, automotive and aerospace. However, during the 1980s following the introduction of IBM PC, a much more stage for CAD adoption became enabled.
The founding of AutoCAD and Autodesk, programs used by the IBM PC recorded an even bigger breakthrough in CADD's history (Benhabib, 2003). Following the invention of AutoCAD, it went ahead and won "The Best CAD Product" in 1986 and continued to become a leader for more than a decade. It is at this point that increased advancement in engineering and drafting functionality became inexpensive. In the 1990s, the PCs had already acquired the ability to computer 3D CADD requirements. This was however bad news for the UNIX workstation developers as most people turned towards the adoption of the PC. The approval of CADD software became possible as millions of consumers and engineers who could not afford it had easier access to the software. SolidWorks was released in 1995 making it the first Windows modeler. The Autodesk, however, became the leading seller of 3D CAD software and the end of the 1990s, almost all CAD software shared similar features thus slowing down the push for 3D CADD programs.
In the 21 st century, it has seen an increased launch of the web-enabled CAD and client-side CAD tools. In 2000, it saw the release of the first client-server 3D CAD software by Autodesk (Bethany, 2017). There has also been increased development in CAD programs. With the development of the internet and advancement in technology, the CADD evolution is still growing. The introduction of technological devices such as the smartphones and tablets has made it easier for CAD to exits on numerous platforms. These include the cloud, mobile technologies, and the web. Unlike in the 1960s to 1980s whereby most designers relied on one workstation, the UNIX, today, they can use different platforms such as the Windows or Mac PCS and tablets (Bethany, 2017). The increased availability of the CAD has similarly brought about its increased use by the consumer public. Numerous platforms have made easier for CADD systems to operate while on some platforms, the CADD systems can exist in multiple forms. The interaction between users and the system has also improved. A user can opt to use the computer mouse while interacting with the CADD programs or use light pen and a digital graphics tablet. The CADD programs in this modern day era help in quicker design procedures, reduction in costs through the development of prototypes using CADD, easy to use, and they have no restrictions regardless of the CADD design.
Following CADD history since its invention in the late 1950s, it has been able to evolve. The advancement in technology seen across the globe indicates that CADD will continue to evolve for many more years to come. The use of augmented reality in CADD is a possibility being explored by most designers. Already CADD has been able to find itself in the platform such as the web. Through augmented reality, a designer will have the ability to have a real-time visualization of the different CADD models in the actual-world milieu. Currently, most of the augmented reality technology is found in smartphones and tablets (Bethany, 2017). By using the AR technology, the designers will view their different CADD models form a variety of angles before producing. Virtual reality allows a user to be immersed a simulated world via a headset.
The use of virtual reality is seen the gaming community. However, virtual reality is being tested together with CADD (Bethany, 2017). This is so as to allow the designers to have a direct interaction with their models after designing. The use of virtual reality and augmented reality will have positive impacts for most designers. They will have the chance to send different real-world format models to their customers even before the product becomes manufactured. The use of cloud-based CADD is also another important future innovation. Despite various companies offering the services, it has not5 been fully adopted by consumers. Through this, the consumers will not have to deal with any software updates. The CADD will exist in the user's browser, and thus, one will not be required to download or even upgrade (Bethany, 2017).
The emerging 3D printing technologies have taken the globe by storm. The 3D printers can make designs out of plastics and metals which are allowing the engineers, children, and manufacturers to have an easy time in producing top-notch products. The CADD technology works together with CAM so as to provide the 3D printer with an STL file which it uses (Horvath, 2014). Back in the 80s, most of the 3D printing technology was developed for specialized manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping. However, as of 2010, 3D printing is seen as being the manufacturing solutions by most engineers and innovators. For the 3D printer to work, an STL file must be created and used in the 3D printing procedure (Horvath, 2014). The STL file is generated from the CADD design software which is then passed to the 3D printer. The CAD design system will allow the designer to draw the 3D solid model and then export it as an STL file (stereolithography) type to the 3D printer (Horvath,2014).
References
Benhabib, B. (2003). Manufacturing: design, production, automation, and integration . Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Horvath, J. C. (2014). Mastering 3D printing (Technology in Action) 1st ed . New York: Apress.
Tatnall, A. (2012). Reflections on the history of computing: Preserving memories and sharing stories . Berlin: Springer.
Bethany (2017 February 23). How CAD has evolved since 1982. Scan2CAD . Retrieved on 30 September 2017, from https://www.scan2cad.com/cad/cad-evolved-since-1982/.
