A CAD system is an important tool for product designers, engineers, architects, and more adept professionals aiming to bring their creations to life. With the emergence of open-source projects and 3D printers, however, many people outside professional areas require CAD software to pull off their missions.
Provided the many distinctions among CAD applications, selecting the most fitting one for your business can be grueling. This is why we are giving out this guide that explains all the things you should know about these systems. It answers the questions, “What is CAD software?” and “How does CAD software work?” It also discusses its features, benefits, price ranges, examples, and what to look for in one.
Detailed Guide to CAD Software Table of Contents
What Is CAD Software?
CAD is the practice of digitally creating 2D drawings and 3D models. Across a vast range of industries, it has already replaced manual drafting. CAD systems equip designers to experiment with design ideas, change designs easily, envision concepts through renderings, simulate designs in real-life situations, and more.
This practice has been in use since 1959. MIT Researcher Doug Ross thought up the term “computer-aided design” after devising a system that enabled his team to create electronic circuit drawings on a computer. That moment made him realize the potential for speedy alteration and exploration.
CAD was then integrated into the processes of aviation, automotive, and consumer electronics manufacturers by the early 1980s. Then, powerful modeling engines were improved with boundary representation in the 1990s. Many popular applications adopted such a method.
The 2000s paved the way for open-source CAD programs. New modules and features were also built at this time. Today, the latest CAD programs are cloud-hosted, allowing developers to work together on one model through various workspaces and turn over comprehensive algorithms.
Source: ProfShare
Types of CAD Software
Aside from answering the question “what is CAD software,” it’s equally important to explore the different types of these systems. The most common forms are 2D and 3D CAD software.
- 2D CAD software. In the early 1970s, 2D CAD software systems were developed. They heavily rely on the fundamentals, like rectangles, circles, and lines, to make flat drawings.
- 3D CAD software. In the 1980s, a more innovative software was built. 3D CAD software has enhanced graphic display functionalities that allow users to design realistic 3D images.
Features of CAD Software
What does CAD software do? Choosing the best CAD software for your business always depends on the industry you belong to, your particular business objectives, and your budget, to name a few. Still, the basic features of CAD software that you should never overlook are:
Ease of use
Find an intuitive solution with capabilities that can grow with your specific needs in the long run. More innovative programs will also offer training sessions so that users can easily familiarize themselves with them. In addition, they should synchronize well with your current network.
Design tools
A CAD software should host a complete suite of design tools to help with your project creation from beginning to end. These include basic geometric lines and shapes to elaborate surface modeling features. It should also be constantly updated with new features to match the recent trends in the industry.
Rendering and animation
Other CAD services include robust rendering and animation features for the proper visualization of projects. These can make photorealistic images of designs that can be employed for client presentations, marketing strategies and tools, and more.
Integrations
CAD systems today also integrate with a wide variety of third-party software, including project management software. These integrations further streamline workflows between teams and help users save time on manually moving data between platforms.
MATLAB’s flexibility lets you do away with big data programming.
Benefits of CAD Software
Automation has played a key role in nearly every field, from manufacturing to print media. In the matter of time, effort, and costs, CAD solutions have been extremely beneficial to businesses in various sectors. Here are the answers to the question, “Why use CAD software?”
Faster and more efficient work
A CAD program brings all that your blueprints need, from tools, to rulers, to measurements. Compared to traditional paper and pencil, this software lets you work more speedily and prevent errors. If you are making various similar blueprints, you can also create an initial template and use it as a foundation for all your other templates. Doing this saves you tons of time and boosts your productivity.
Effortless storage and sharing
All your blueprints can be stored in the cloud, on your computer, or on a USB flash drive. This allows you to easily and quickly locate what you need. You can also conveniently share your blueprints and other designs with your colleagues wherever they may be. Nevertheless, taking periodical backups of your data should be always kept in mind to ensure their safety at all times.
Availability of simple and complex platforms
Depending on your knowledge and competence, you can choose to use either a simple tool or a complex one. For example, AutoCAD software fits architects and engineers for technical blueprints, while 3Ds best suits realistic 3D renderings and models.
Examples of CAD Software
Many CAD applications provide ahead-of-the-times features not just for professionals, but even for hobbyists. Today’s leading examples of CAD software include:
Autodesk-Autocad
Autodesk AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D CAD suite used for product design, building design, manufacturing planning, construction teams, and civil infrastructure. It provides drafting and drawing tools in 2D and 3D. It can also be connected with Excel.
Corelcad
CorelCAD is an accurate and reasonably priced CAD unit espoused for 2D drafting and 3D design, drawing, and printing. It also offers design features and tools that expedite workflows and foster work productivity. On top of that, it can transform 2D drawings into 3D models.
SmartDraw
SmartDraw is a vigorous and easy-to-use flowchart maker and diagramming unit, which also serves as an alternative to Microsoft Visio. It helps organizations record processes, handle projects, plan methodologies, and decipher ideas. It can also work with Microsoft productivity systems, such as Word and Excel.
ANSYS-DesignModeler
ANSYS DesignModeler is an extensive training solution that familiarizes users with analysis-related tools in ANSYS Workbench. It delivers modeling capabilities with geometry building and editing functions. It also carries out an all-inclusive guide on converting 2D sketches to 3D models or vice versa.
MATLAB
MATLAB is a modeling, programming, and simulation application that integrates a desktop setting tuned for design processes and iterative analysis with a programming language that directly expresses array and matrix mathematics. Without the need to overhaul code, users can edit analyses here to administer on GPUs, clusters, and the cloud.
CorelCAD is used for 3D design, drawing, and printing; and 2D drafting.
Cost of CAD Software
What is CAD software going to cost you? CAD applications typically offer different price points and payment schemes, and many of these are available on per-user, per-month terms. These prices can go as low as $60 and as high as $1,000.
There are also CAD software companies that offer yearly pricing plans. Furthermore, some providers enable users to pay for their products once every two to three years. These payment terms let organizations save more due to long-term promos or discounts. On the other hand, on-premise CAD units are more expensive. They can be priced at $1,000 or more.
Yet, the cost of CAD software can go for as low as $300 for a one-time license. For those on a tight budget, many free CAD software are available on the market.
CAD Software Buying Factors
Over the span of many years, a core base of CAD systems has evolved to entail plenty of feasible alternatives. In addition to the definition of CAD software, it’s also important that you know what to look for when deciding to buy one for your business.
A workable feature set
Meeting product development needs is one of the most vital factors in purchasing CAD software. Surprisingly, many CAD users are still hesitant to go to all lengths to explore new features when they are already dealing with time constraints in beating their deadlines.
Overall cost
No matter how good a CAD’s features may be, if its cost does not sit well with one’s budget, it may be out of the picture. The software must be valuable and advanced enough for its cost to be displaced. Nonetheless, other tools are packed with great features at affordable costs.
SmartDraw offers a solid and user-friendly flowchart maker and diagramming tool.
CAD Software Trends
Just like your needs and goals, CAD technology is ceaselessly changing and progressing. As technology further gains ground, this progression will also prevail. What is the CAD software’s future going to look like? Some momentous technology trends in CAD have already surfaced, and may be here for a while:
Cloud-hosted CAD
The trends in remote work and transnational collaboration are resulting in the widespread adoption of cloud-hosted CAD platforms. Over the next five years, organizations adopting these programs are forecast to increase by 164%.
The benefits of cloud-hosted CAD include affordable setup and IT and efficient employee onboarding for new hires. These solutions can also be easily accessed on any internet-connected device regardless of location and time, making them a viable option for virtual employees and international teams.
3D printing integration in many industries
Many industries are integrating 3D printing into their processes as they can now see how it can be of great service to them. In fact, it is already refining surgical techniques in health care. Other fields, such as manufacturing, auto, and aerospace, are also into 3D design and printing as they can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and save more production time.
Potential Issues with CAD Software
Some studies show that product development experts were not that satisfied with their CAD platforms due to a number of issues. Their common plights, which could also be experienced by many others, were:
- Conversion issues. Transferring files from one program or format to another can be challenging at times.
- Default tolerances. Most designers do not alter a CAD system’s default tolerance while making drawings. This instance can get costly as more budget is required to generate more accurate tolerances.
- Revision control. Huge organizations have the capacity to invest in the newest CAD programs. Meanwhile, small ones make do with older programs of models and drawings due to the expansiveness of the latest systems.
Choosing the Best CAD Software
CAD is an indispensable aspect of product engineering and the industrial field. Without the need for high-priced prototypes, engineers can build, test, and improve their designs in a secure environment. But the purpose of CAD software programs goes beyond just drawing, designing, and printing. It also presents records listing and a documentation sequence and improves collaboration between teams, stakeholders, and different disciplines. This is why businesses should know the foremost notions and advantages of CAD software.
The decision-making process is simpler for startups and SMEs because they already have definite needs in mind. All they have to do is find the fastest, most cost-effective, and best technical application.
In larger organizations though, many decision and standpoint levels should be accounted for. These include technology and network, financial, and CAD users’ opinions about the system.
If you’re looking for tools similar to CAD software, check out our guide to the best architecture software.
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