Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
CADD extends its power to yet another branch of engineering called Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). CAM is a common method of manufacturing used by large corporations. CADD and manufacturing programs are often integrated into one system called CAD-CAM. These systems import CADD drawings into CAM programs to automate the manufacturing process.
Example: An engineer can draw a machine part using CADD. The CADD drawing is brought into a computer aided engineering (CAE) program for engineering analysis. When the design is finalized, the drawing is brought into a CAD-CAM system that uses numerical data from the CADD drawing for actual manufacturing.
Design
CADD provides a convenient means to create designs for almost every engineering discipline. It can be used for architectural design, landscape design, interior design, civil and surveying, mechanical design, electrical engineering, plant design, industrial design, duct design, electronic circuit design, plumbing design, textile design and product design.
CADD�s drafting capabilities provide ample means to create a design scheme. You can create designs with great accuracy and have the flexibility to easily edit them. This allows you to quickly prepare design alternatives.
In addition to the drafting capabilities of CADD, there are special programs that can analyze designs or even create new ones. These programs use artificial intelligence to “think” and make design decisions. The design capabilities of CADD are available only in advanced CADD programs. There are only a few such programs available. Design programs are usually not generic. They often need to be custom-written to accomplish a specific task. See Chapter 9 “Maximizing CADD” for discussion on design programs.
Add-on Programs
There are a number of separate programs available that can enhance the power of CADD. The add-on programs work as an extension of CADD to accomplish specific tasks. Today, there are hundreds of add-on programs available for popular CADD programs.
An architectural add-on program can allow you to instantly draw symbols of doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, staircases, etc. A shading and rendering program can be used to enhance the look of 3D images. A plumbing design program includes special functions to draw pipes, drains and plumbing joints. A civil engineering program includes special features to work with contours and land development; the list goes on and on.
Most manufacturers market CADD programs in separate modules. They sell a basic drafting module for a certain price with the options to add on other modules. There are a number of add-on programs available from independent vendors as well.
A Look at the CADD Industry
There are hundreds of CADD programs available in the CADD industry today. Most of them are simply drafting programs, while some offer certain engineering analysis, design or database capabilities. Some programs are more elaborate than the others are.
Refer to CADD PRIMER for details.
The Focus of this Book
With so many CADD programs available, it is impossible to learn each one. Most programs have similar drawing capabilities, but the exact procedures are quite different. You may be an expert on one program and yet not know much about another. This is because different CADD programs use different terminology and procedures to accomplish the same tasks. It may take you quite some time to learn the intricacies of a particular CADD program.
CADD PRIMER is designed to give you a head start in learning CADD regardless of any program you may have to use. It describes the general principles and applications of CADD that are applicable to most of the programs. Its objective is to familiarize you with all the aspects of working with CADD. Once you understand what individual functions do and which functions to use where, you can apply this knowledge to any CADD program.
The following are the main objectives of CADD PRIMER:
To present an overview of CADD and describe its applications in different fields.
To describe common terms associated with CADD hardware and software.
To outline the basic principles associated with CADD and to demonstrate common drafting techniques and shortcuts used by professionals.
To introduce the advanced capabilities of CADD and how they can be used to increase productivity.
To provide information about the CADD industry resources.
How to Use CADD PRIMER
CADD PRIMER is a reference book. The examples in this book are illustrated in a generic way, because our objective is not to focus on a specific program. The examples used in this book are intended to give you an idea of how CADD works and what it can do for you. To learn about a specific program, you will have to obtain literature specific to that program.
A look inside CADD PRIMER…
| Chapter | Description |
| Chapter 1: CADD Hardware and Software | Gives an overview of CADD hardware and describes the terminology associated with the equipment. Presents an overview of CADD functions and describes their role in CADD and how they are organized in various menus. Teaches you how to communicate with CADD through different means of data entry. |
| Chapter 2: CADD Basics | Instructs you on the basic drawing concepts of CADD. You will start with a simple drawing exercise. Explains the essential features of CADD, such as how to enter distances using different coordinate methods. You will learn how to use Absolute, Relative and Polar coordinates. Presents guidelines on setting up a prototype CADD drawing. You will learn how to save and manage CADD drawings. |
| Chapter 3: The Drawing Tools | Gives you a closer look at all the drawing capabilities of CADD. You will learn different methods for drawing lines, arcs, polylines, text, dimensions, etc. |
| Chapter 4: View Displays | Describes how View-Display functions are used to display different views of a drawing. You will learn how to zoom in on portions of the drawing and how to save and restore selected views. |
| Chapter 5: The Edit Functions | Describes the application of CADD�s edit functions. You will learn a number of shortcut methods to fix errors. You will also learn how easy it is to make changes by using the erase, copy and move functions. Includes a number of exercises to illustrate functions. |
| Chapter 6: Working with Layers | Discusses the use of layers in CADD drawings. This is a commonly used technique that enables you to organize your drawings better by grouping information on specific layers. |
| Chapter | Description |
| Chapter 7: Introduction to 3D | Gives an overview of 3D functions of CADD. You will learn basic 3D drawing techniques. Describes how to make isometrics and perspectives, enter 3D coordinates, and display 3D views from different angles. |
| Chapter 8: Printing and Plotting | Describes CADD�s plotting and printing procedures. You will learn how to print the same drawing with a number of variations. Includes a discussion on plotting and printing machines. |
| Chapter 9: Maximizing CADD | Presents an outline of advanced features of CADD, such as the use of attributes to make project reports, the use of macros to do automated tasks, applications of design and database, and how CADD works in an integrated environment with other programs. |
| Chapter 10: CADD Industry Resources | Presents an outline of important features offered by leading CADD programs and the guidelines to choose a CADD system. Includes a helpful CADD directory listing the leading CADD programs and important resources on the Internet |
