The world of drafting changed forever in the 90’s when CAD
software became more exposed to the general population. Before CAD became the
drafting industries standard practice Drafters would draw every line by hand
with the use of a drafting board, and several hand held tools. This method was
much more time consuming, and for isometric drawings(3D) it could take days or
weeks to complete complicated renderings. Over the last ten years, several
software companies have made advancements to CAD software making the task of
drafting more user friendly on the computer.
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If your not familiar with CAD or CADD it’s the acronym for
Computer Aided Drafting. Sometimes its referred to as Computer Aided Drafting
Design also. 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional drawings are created when the
draftsmen enters information into a CAD software program. Lines are drawn on
the X, Y, and Z axis to create 3 dimensional models. When designing 2D drawings
only the X, and Y axis are used which represent the left, right, up, and down
directions. The Z axis is used to create 3D models and represents the depth.
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I can remember as a child my Father teaching me to draw
lines, and to write my A, B, C’s on a drafting board he made for my room. These
boards have a sliding ruler which allowed you to create lines in a straight
fashion, and they were covered with a slick material. This allowed rulers, and
other tools to slide easily along its surface without catching to it. The task
was much more daunting, and you had to be extremely careful when drawing lines
because even with an eraser mistakes could be seen easily. I enjoyed drafting
like this as a kid, but since I’ve been exposed to CAD I would never go back.
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It seems like every year advancements in computer technology
go farther and quicker than the year before it. When I first started using CAD
software all the lines had to be put in manually with commands on the keyboard.
They would tell the software to create the lines starting point, length, and what
angle to direction it. This process seemed to take forever compared to the way
lines are created nowadays. With the CAD software available today you can
perform all kinds of commands in a 3D environment. For instance, if you wanted
to add a radius to a corner that has already been created, all you have to do
is click the command for a fillet. It will then ask you for a dimension on the
radius, and after you enter the dimension it will create a perfectly smooth and
rounded corner.
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CAD drafting technology becomes more advanced every year
with the introduction of updated software. For now, and I feel for a long time
to come, CAD software will remain the drafting industries standard practice for
creating architecture, mechanical, civil, electrical, plumbing, and any other
type design work. The days of using hand tools, and drafting boards is over.
These techniques will never disappear, but for now will remain more of a hobby
to most draftsmen.If You would like to learn more about the CAD Design Process
Click Here-Invention & Prototype
Design Services
Clay Bowling-Owner of eLine Design LLC an Online Invention
& Prototype Design Company-If You would like to learn more about the
Invention & Prototype Design Process Click Here-Invention Designer & Rapid Prototyping
Services