Importance of 3D CAD Modelling in Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry changed the way it designs and produces components when CAD, or computer-aided design, was introduced. This turning point allowed manufacturers to create 3D computer models that represented a part or a system of parts – and which can be easily modified at will.
Designing for quality is essential in the manufacturing sector, which can be facilitated by using CAD. This technology can help designers view a component under a large variety of representations and test it by simulation real-life conditions.
This means that 3D CAD modelling brings imagination a little step closer to reality.
When Was CAD Invented?
There’s no doubt that 3D CAD modelling has revolutionised the manufacturing industry, especially when we look back at how parts used to be imagined and manufactured. Designers had to use pencils, rulers and paper to create a draft, which was especially time-consuming and frustrating when changes had to be made.
There were many attempts to make the designing process easier during the 1960s. The invention of CAD is credited to Pierre Bézier, who developed a technology called UNISURF between 1966 and 1968 – the precursor to CAD software. While this technology was first used in the automotive industry, it quickly spread to the aerospace, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
What Exactly is CAD?
Simply put, CAD refers to the creation of computer models defined by geometrical parameters. The model of a part will appear on the computer as a representation of what it will look like once it’s manufactured. Changes to components can be easily made with this technology, as relevant parameters are altered to fit new requirements.
CAD software exists for all major operating systems, such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, and no special hardware is required to use this technology. However, because some CAD systems will be used for graphic-intense tasks, an up-to-date graphics card, high-speed CPU and a large amount of RAM might be necessary.
The interface between the computer and the user is made via a computer mouse or a pen and graphics tablet. In order to manipulate the model on the screen at will, some designers will use a SpaceBall mouse.
3D CAD modelling can have different features, depending on what you require for your business, so you won’t have to install elements you don’t need.
How Can You Benefit from CAD?
In the manufacturing sector, being able to visualise how a part will look – as well as how it will behave once it’s been produced – is vital. Not only does the designing process become easier and less time-consuming, the model can also be altered as many times as required without the need to start a new draft.
CAD also makes the manufacturing process more cost-effective. This is because this technology eliminates the risk of producing a part only to find out it doesn’t work correctly in real-life. Being able to see defects and limitations beforehand cuts down on production costs – both for the manufacturer and the client.
By using this software, the designer can zoom in and out and magnify certain aspects of the model, which can facilitate the examination of the part. The models can be rotated on any axis as well, so everyone involved in their manufacturing can get a better sense of what the components are and how they’ll look.
CAD technology also aids communication between everyone involved in the creation of a part, from the design stage to the manufacturing process and beyond.
3D CAD modelling is now used on a large scale in the manufacturing industry, for a wide range of applications. Many technologies are changing the sector and CAD is no exception – without it, both the design and manufacturing processes would take longer, be more expensive and be more open to faults and mistakes.