CAD

Dr. Salih Akour

 CAD
In general, a Computer Aided Design (CAD) package has three
components: a) Design, b) Analysis, and c) Visualization.
• a) Design: Design refers to geometric modeling, i.e., 2-D and
3-D modeling, including, drafting, part creation, creation of
drawings with various views of the part, assemblies of the
parts, etc.
• b) Analysis: Analysis refers to finite element analysis,
optimization, and other number crunching engineering
analyses. In general, a geometric model is first created and
then the model is analyzed for loads, stresses, moment of
inertia, and volume, etc.
• c) Visualization: Visualization refers to computer graphics,
which includes: rendering a model, creation of pie charts,
contour plots, shading a model, sizing, animation, etc.
Components of Computer Aided Design
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
CAM is the next stage of CAD. A part created in CAD can be
downloaded and manufactured, without a human hand
touching the part. The process is called CAM, and involves
CAD, Networking, and NC programming,
 Concurrent Engineering
• Concurrent Engineering is another powerful CAD concept that has
evolved in the 90’s. According to this concept, there is an
instantaneous communication between the designer, analyst, and
manufacturing.
• Changes made at any of these work centers are immediately
passed on to the others and the product is modified without
delay. Often, the customer, management, and the marketing
people join in and become part of the process.
• Concurrent engineering saves the valuable time and helps get the
product out in the market quicker. Products that use to take years
from the date of its concept to the actual production now take
only a few weeks, and the final product is better and cost-
effective.
 Concurrent Engineering
Some large organizations have invested in Rapid
Prototyping process. In this process, the part is
created by a CAD package and downloaded
into the rapid prototyping machine; the
machine immediately manufactures the part,
using a plastic material. This is a good example
of concurrent engineering, sometimes
referred as Art to Part concept.
 CAD Hardware
There are basically two types of devices that
constitute CAD hardware:
• a) Input devices, and
• b) Output devices.

A brief description follows.

 CAD Hardware
Input Devices:
• Mouse: This is a potentiometric device, which
contains several variable resistors that send
signals to the computer. The functions of a
mouse include locating a point on the screen,
sketching, dragging an object, entering values,
accepting a software command, etc. Joystick
and trackballs are analogous to a mouse
device, and operate on the same principle.
 CAD Hardware
Input Devices:
• Digitizers: Digitizers are used to trace a sketch or
other 2-D entities by moving a cursor over a flat
surface (which contains the sketch). The position of
the cursor provides a feedback to the computer
connected with the device. There are electrical
wires embedded in orthogonal directions that
receive and pass signals between the device and
the computer. The device is basically a free moving
puck or pen shaped stylus, connected to a tablet.
 CAD Hardware
Input Devices:
• Light Pens: Lockheed’s CADAM software utilized
this device to carry out the graphic input. A light
pen looks like a pen and contains a photocell,
which emits an electronic signal. When the pen
is pointed at the monitor screen, it senses light,
which is converted to a signal. The signal is sent
to the computer, for determination of the exact
location of the pen on the monitor screen.
 CAD Hardware
Input Devices:
• Light Pens: Lockheed’s CADAM software utilized
this device to carry out the graphic input. A light
pen looks like a pen and contains a photocell,
which emits an electronic signal. When the pen
is pointed at the monitor screen, it senses light,
which is converted to a signal. The signal is sent
to the computer, for determination of the exact
location of the pen on the monitor screen.
 CAD Hardware
Input Devices:
• Touch Sensitive Screens: This device is
embedded in the monitor screens, usually, in
the form of an overlay. The screen senses the
physical contact of the user. The new
generation of the Laptop computers is a good
example of this device.
 CAD Hardware
Output Devices:
• After creating a CAD model, we often need a
hard copy, using an output device. Plotters
and printers are used for this purpose. A
plotter is often used to produce large size
drawings and assemblies, where as, a laser jet
printer is adequate to provide a 3-D view of a
model. Most CAD software require a plotter
for producing a shaded or a rendered view.
 CAD Software
• CAD software are written in FORTRAN and C languages. FORTRAN
provides the number crunching, where as, C language provides
the visual images. Early CAD packages were turnkey systems, i.e.,
the CAD packages were sold as an integrated software and
hardware package, with no flexibility for using second vendor
hardware (1970s and 80s). These systems were based on 16-bit
word, and were incapable of networking.
• The modern CAD software utilizes the open architecture system,
i.e., software vendors do not design and manufacture their own
hardware. Third party software can be used to augment the basic
CAD package. Most popular CAD package will facilitate integration
of the Finite Element Analysis and other CAD software from more
than one vendor. For example, IDEAS preprocessor can work with
almost all the FEA packages for pre and post analyses.
 CAD Software
Networking is an important consideration in
applications of CAD software. A model created
by one engineer must be readily accessible to
others in an organization, which is linked by a
LAN or other means. The designer, analyst,
management, marketing, vendor, and others
generally share a model. This is the concurrent
engineering in action, mentioned earlier.
 CAD Platform
• In general, we can run CAD software on three different CAD platforms:
Mainframe, Workstation, and PC.
• When the CAD programs first became available, they could only be run on
a mainframe computer. However, as the PCs have become faster and
cheaper, almost all the CAD vendors have introduced a version of their
CAD software that will effectively run on a Pentium or higher computer.
• Currently, the most popular platforms are PCs and Workstations.
Popularity of Workstations stems from their ability to network easily with
other computers, and also, due to their large memory storage capability.
However, PC platform is still the most preferred medium for most
engineers. Increasing popularity of the PC platform can be attributed to
several factors, including, total user control, the speed, capability of
storing large memory, ease of hardware upgrading and maintenance, and
the overall reasonable cost.
CAD Platform
 CAD Evaluation Criteria
In the current CAD market, ProE and AutoCAD are arguably the
most dominating CAD software. AutoCAD is basically a 2-D
program, with some capability to create 3-D models, where
as, ProE is a truly 3-D CAD package. Besides these software,
there are several other CAD software, listed in the previous
section (Sec 1.3), that have sales exceeding $100 millions. No
one CAD package is suitable for all the CAD users in the
world. The product we are designing dictates the type of CAD
package we need. A good CAD package includes good
software, as well as, a compatible hardware. Following is a
brief description of the general criteria for evaluating a CAD
package.
 CAD Evaluation Criteria
Hardware: Most desirable features in a good
hardware are:
• Open architecture
• High speed,
• large storage
• Compact size
• Inexpensive components
• Inexpensive upgrading
 CAD Evaluation Criteria
Software: In general, the most comprehensive software are
written to satisfy almost all the modeling needs of a modeler,
consequently, the software tend to be very complex and hard
to learn. To create a simple model, we go through several
unnecessary steps, and lack the intuitiveness of a simple,
straightforward program. ProE is a good example, where we
have to go through several layers of menus to create a simple
solid. On the other hand, if we were to use a simpler CAD
program, the same solid can be created by only a few simple
commands. There are several other factors that we should
consider when evaluating software. Following is a brief
description of these factors.
CAD Evaluation Criteria/ software
• Operating System: Unix or Windows/NT. PCs in general
use Microsoft Windows, where as, operating system for
Workstations is Unix. For a large organization,
Workstations are preferable.
• User Interface: Most popular CAD software have menu
driven commands, which is preferable to the old system
of non-menu driven, where user interface was
completely by responding to software commands. The
most popular CAD programs work with menu driven
interface, with some input/action required through
command prompts.
CAD Evaluation Criteria/ software
• Documentation and Support: Learning a software can be very
difficult if the software lacks good documentation.
Documentation usually comes in the form of a user’s manual,
a tutorial book, commands manual, and on-line help. The
recent trend is to provide access to the above-mentioned
documentation through the Internet, or provide the manuals
on a CD ROM. Some CAD vendors provide additional technical
support help through phone – ProE is a very good example of
this type of support.
• Maintenance: Cost of the hardware and software upgrades
can significantly impact the small and medium size
companies’ decision to choose one software over the others.
Most CAD vendors go through an upgrade, on the average,
every two years. Usually, hardware upgrade is not as frequent.
CAD Evaluation Criteria/ software
• Modeling Capabilities: In, general, a CAD software can
be classified as either a 2-D or a 3-D program. If we
were basically involved in 2-D drawings, any well
established 2-D software, similar to AutoCAD would
suffice our needs. On the other hand, if we need to
create 3-D models and assemblies, we will be better off
with a 3-D molder – ProE, SOLIDWORKS, etc.
• Ease of Modeling: As a rule-of-thumb, a general, all-
purpose type CAD software is much more complex and
difficult to learn than a special purpose CAD package.
CAD Evaluation Criteria/ software
• Interface with other CAD Packages and Data
Transferability: A CAD package is used to create models
that will be used for analysis, manufacturing, or some
other applications. Therefore, a CAD software should be
capable of transferring and accepting files from other
CAD or CAM programs, without this provision, the CAD
program has only a very limited use.
• Design Documentation: Besides creating a model, the
software should be capable of creating drawings,
assemblies, dimensioning, various views (isometric,
orthogonal, etc.), labels and attributes, etc.
 Mechanical Engineering Applications of
CAD
• Two Dimensional Drafting: This is the most
common use of a CAD package. 2-D drawings
are used for manufacturing a product.
• Report Generating: To generate reports and bill
of materials. Spreadsheets and word-processors
can be linked to provide a report writing facility.
• 3-D Modeling: To create the wireframe, surface
and solid models. The 3-D models are for
concept verification, manufacturing, FEA, etc.
 Mechanical Engineering Applications of
CAD
• Finite Element Analysis: FEA package is used for
pre-processing, analysis, and post-analysis of
structures. For this application, a CAD package
contains both the modeling and analysis modules.
• Manufacturing: manufacturing software is usually
called CAM, and contains CAD software as one of
the components. CAM software provides
capabilities of carrying out 2 and 3-axes
machining.