Computer Aided Design (CAD) Thanks to: Darryl Hillman Sam Cooper Duncan Evans Drew Holloway Jonathan Sidaway

Introduction Areas to be covered: 1. What is Computer Aided Design? 2. Origins of CAD 3. Uses of CAD 4. Computer Aided Architecture Design (CAAD) 5. Electronic Design Automation (ECAD) 6. Uses of CAD with an expert system 7. CAD Design 8. CAD & Databases

A quick intro Video created by a student Video created by a student in USA as part of course work

What is Computer Aided Design? ● CAD also known as Computer Aided Drafting. ● There are 3 different types of CAD (2D, 2.5D and 3D). ● The software is used to create and design models of these types and test them.

Origins of CAD ● The first source of CAD resulted from attempts to automate the drafting process. ● These developments were pioneered by the General Motors Research Laboratories in the early 1960s. ● CAD became more widely used after 1970 because of technological advancements. ● CAD allowed users to design products much quicker without the production of an actual product.

Beginning in the 1980s Computer-Aided Design programs reduced the need of draftsmen significantly. Their affordability and ability to run on personal computers also allowed engineers to do their own drafting work.

Uses of CAD CAD is used to design a variety of different products for a variety of fields such as ● Architecture ● Electronics ● Automotive engineering ● Industrial Design ● Machinery ● Visual Art ● Medical Design

Computer aided architecture design (CAAD) ● CAD can be used to design a 3D visual representative of a structure such as a bridge, highway, drainage systems or buildings such as houses, high rise flats. ● The software allows the user to design a 2D representation of the blue prints. Also they can create a 3D view of the finished design of the structure. ● When incorporated with an expert system it can work out the strain points of the building/structure.

Designs of CAAD House Blue Print Circuit board layout

Electronic design automation (ECAD) ● CAD can also be used to design electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits. ● As well as designing the layout of a circuit the user can also list logic gates for the circuit. ● These designs can be used for hundreds of electronic products and machinery.

Uses of CAD with an expert system ● The limitations of CAD is that it doesn't incorporate real life concepts, such as gravity or friction. ● By Using a expert system it can carry out calculations such as stress of a building or the drag of a vehicle. ● The use of a expert system with CAD can be used with a variety of products such as: 1. Building materials for buildings/constructions 2. The Design of vehicles. 3. Design of individual parts.

CAD Design and Software To choose which software to buy or download depends on the user and what it is they want to design. For example below are three different pictures all using different software for different designs.

Software Some CAD programs which you can buy are: – AutoCAD – TurboCAD – ProgeCAD But there are a lot open source programs such as: – Archimedes – FreeCAD – BRL-CAD

CAD & Databases Typically CAD software is built upon some database stored in hard disk From user point of view it looks like a file However CAD objects such as line or circle are stored as structured records and CAD engine has implemented methods for fast data retrieval and storage

CAD/CAM Database Just like computer aided designing (CAD) we have concept of computer aided manufacturing (CAM). CAD software enables direct link between CAD and CAM On its part CAD enables automation of designing, while CAM enables automation of manufacturing processes. The combination of CAD and CAM enables automated transition from designing to manufacturing The database created by the integration of CAD/CAM is also called a manufacturing database

Conclusion  CAD is important in the design and safety of constructions  There are many different types of CAD software to choose from to meet specific needs  CAD extraction data is input into a database which appears in the form of a file  It has spread into many other fields of jobs more recently such as medicine and electronics  CAD is overall a cheaper tool than taking on a larger workforce to complete drawing tasks