Part 1: Journey on a Voyage to CAD
- Computer-Aided Design/Drafting

Overview

CAD  (or CADD) is the process of design when supported by computer methods. For our discussion we will refer to general graphical creation programs, be it vector or raster based. CAD is an electronic tool that enables you to make quick and accurate drawings. Electronic drawings can be modified quite easily and can be presented in a variety of formats. There are hundreds of CAD programs available. Some are AutoCAD, Microstation, CorelDraw, Illustrator and many others.

Presentations

You can create excellent drawings with hundreds of colors, line types, hatch patterns, presentation symbols, text styles, etc. There are a number of ready-made presentation symbols and hatch patterns available in CAD. For example, a site planner can instantly add tree symbols, and shrubs. An architect can use ready-made symbols of doors, windows, furniture, etc. In addition to preparing impressive presentations on paper, you can use CAD to make on-screen presentations. You can plug your computer into a projector and present you ideas on-screen. 

Units And Accuracy Levels

CAD allows you to work with exact accuracy. Highly accurate geometrical shapes can be created. You can work with different units of measure, such as architectural units, engineering units, scientific units and surveyor's units. You can set an extremely high accuracy for the units of measurement with as high as a precision of 1/100th of an inch!

Storage/Access of Drawings

A computer's electronic filing system enables you to create a highly organized environment. It contributes to large savings in work space. An electronic drawing never gets old and faded. Any time a drawing is requested, you can print a new copy from disks, SD cards, the "Cloud", others.

CAD Hardware Storage – “Hard disks ”

Hard Disks is the major storage device. Hard disks are available in various capacities, from hundreds to thousands megabytes (MB), to millions, gigabytes (GB), up to one million million terabyte (TB).

CAD Hardware Storage – “Other Storage Devices”

External Storage Devices are devices such as Flash drives, SD Cards , DVD/CD disks, magnetic tapes, zip drives and removable hard disks.

Systems Hardware

There are certain devices needed to utilize CAD. These devices are peripherals: Monitor/Flat Panel Display, keyboard, pointing devices, scanner, and printers/plotters.

Systems Software

The combination of hardware and the basic software that controls that hardware is often referred to as a operation system/platform.

Summary:

CAD is the process of design when supported by computer methods; thus C.A.D - Computer-Aided Design. For our discussion we will use the term CAD to refer to most graphical creation programs, be it vector or raster based. With CAD a user can sit back and create and/or edit wonderful drawings with a mouse, keyboard and video display screen. The following is a list of important capabilities that make CAD a efficient and productive tool: Presentations, Illustrations, Simulations, Flexibility in editing, Units and Accuracy levels, Sharing of electronic files [import/export], Project and Product Design and for use in publishing in print and on the WEB.

For more information, along with illustrations/animations/short quiz, please Click Here.

Part 1: Journey on a Voyage to CAD - Computer-Aided Design