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Computer aided design (CAD) has several advantages over traditional manual
drafting techniques:
CAD enables the modern engineer to produce very accurate and
elaborate designs.
CAD improves the rendering quality of the surfaces, triangulation, and
accuracy of lines and curves. CAD tools allow the ability to make two lines
or shapes coincide, become parallel, perpendicular, equal, or tangent.
These tools greatly improve the detail and accuracy of the design.
It also allows the user to organise complex designs in a way which enables
easier presentation of information previously not possible using traditional
methods.
CAD also allows the user to freely rotate the model in all directions,
thereby allowing the observation of certain angles and viewpoints
previously not possible using manual drawing techniques.
Dimensions and coordinates of CAD can be retrieved with the same
precision as the original measurement. However, using manual drafting
techniques measurements often have to be recalculated and redrawn.
CAD files can be attached to various external devices such as 3D printers,
CNC and laser cutting machines, allowing the engineer to manufacture
the product with ease in a comparably shorter time.
CAD also allows the user to modify and manipulate pre-existing
dimensions with relative ease; whereas if one were to change
measurements in manual design, there is a likely possibility of redrawing
the design.
The use of CAD also allows the user to run the design under virtual stress
conditions, and can subsequently troubleshoot or debug the design. For
example SolidWorks has tools such as interference detection, collision
detection, failure detection, drop/impact testing, buckling or collapse
prediction, heat or cooling simulation, repeated loaded simulation, flow
simulation and more.
Abdullah Ahmed
CAD systems have the ability to zoom into the design, so the user can
magnify certain features for further inspection.
The functionality of CAD programs which allow the testing of a model in
virtual stressed environments is called finite element method or analysis
(FEM or FEA). These systems calculate the stress, heat transformation, fluid
flow, deformation, magnetic field distribution, electrostatics, and more.
The functions in CAD allow users to share their files easily, as it is
completely digital.
Traditional manual drafting techniques required entire rooms for storage.
As CAD software is digital, this negates the necessity of large rooms.
Document reproduction is easier by certain features such as copy and
paste.
Parametric modelling is the use of various parameters to design a model.
Parameters can be dimensions, coordinates, and material properties.
These parameters can, if one wishes to do so, be modified at any ti me
during the design and will automatically be updated. There is usually a
relationship between each individual part of an assembly
Parametric modelling is also more visually appeasing, and is especially
useful when displaying the design to people who are from nonengineering backgrounds. The Final version of the product is cleaner and
closer to the actual end product.
The meticulous detail in parametric modelling allows one to analyse the
product more realistically.
Disadvantages of CAD over traditional manual drawing techniques:
Implementing CAD systems into a companys PLM solution can be very
expensive. The use of manual drafting is much cheaper, as all that is
required is relatively cheaper drawing equipment.
Training employees for using CAD can also be very expensive in itself and
involves a higher learning curve.
When the company is in transition between manual drafting and CAD, it
can often take a long time to switch to the new method.
Abdullah Ahmed
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Below is listed some of the most popular CAD software and the operating
system required to run it. The CAD software listed below, are all supported by
Windows 7, or upwards. However, some of them require a 64 bit operating
system rather than a 32 bit operating system. A 64 bit computer system requires
a 64 bit CPU which handles more information and has a larger capacity of RAM
than a 32 bit operating system.
Windows
SolidWorks 2015
AutoCAD 2015
Siemens NX9
SketchUp PRO
2014
Inventor 2015
CATIA V6
PRO/Engineer
Wildfire 5.0
Windows 7, Windows
8, Windows 8.1 (64
bit only)
Windows 7, Windows
8, Windows 8.1 (64
bit and 32 bit)
Windows 7, Windows
8, Windows 8.1 (64
bit only)
UNIX/Linux
Mac OS X
Officially not
supported*
Officially not
supported*
Officially not
supported*
Mac OS X V10.10.0+
Mac OS X 10.7+,
10.8+, 10.9+
Mac OS X 10.7+,
10.8+, 10.9+
Officially not
supported*
Officially not
supported*
Officially not
supported*
*Although the software manufacturer does not allow the support of certain
operating systems, they can still be used with a virtual machine (on Mac, Linux,
or UNIX) or with Wine (Linux only).
Abdullah Ahmed
In modern engineering, 3D model design with CAD is vital to ensure the success
of a product. Below is the comparison of two parametric modelling CAD
programs produced by Dassault Systmes: CATIA and SolidWorks.
CATIA
CATIA focusses on 3D modelling and
prototyping as replacements for
engineering drawings whereas
SolidWorks provides a number of 3D
and 2D tools for mechanical
engineering. CATIA specialises in
surface rendering operations. For
example, if one were to surface an
apple with a bruise it will be better to
use CATIA rather than SolidWorks,
therefore it is more appropriate for
designing cars, aircrafts, and boats.
CATIA is a high end product lifestyle
management solution which focuses
on the concept, design, development,
and the deployment of a product.
CATIA is used by large companies like
Boeing, AirBus, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford,
Hyundai, Peugeot, Toyota,
Volkswagen, United States Navy, and
more. CATIA is more suitable for larger
companies.
SolidWorks
SolidWorks is a much more
affordable product than CATIA.
While CATIAs licensing is very
expensive SolidWorks is cheaper
and easier to use. SolidWorks is a
much simpler version of CATIA
without advanced tools that are
not usually required for smaller
companies. SolidWorks focusses
on product development, and is
more suitable for smaller
companies and/or large
companies who have no use of
advanced tools which are
available in CATIA.
Abdullah Ahmed
Abdullah Ahmed
2D only
CPU: Intel
Pentium 4 or
AMD
equivalent.
CPU: Intel
Core 2 Duo or
AMD
equivalent.
CPU: Intel i5
(4th gen) or
AMD
equivalent
3D Around
500-1000
parts
CPU: Intel i7
(4th gen) or
AMD
equivalent
3D Above
1000 parts
RAM: 2GB
RAM: 4GB
RAM: 8GB
RAM: 12GB
RAM: 16GB+
GPU: DirectX
9 integrated
graphics card,
256 MB
VRAM (Intel
HD 4000 or
AMD
equivalent).
GPU: DirectX
10 dedicated
graphics card,
512 MB VRAM
(Nvidia
GeForce GT
610 or AMD
equivalent).
GPU: DirectX
10 dedicated
workstation
graphics card,
1024 MB
VRAM (Nvidia
Quadro K2000
or AMD
equivalent).
GPU: DirectX
11 dedicated
workstation
graphics card,
2048 MB
VRAM (Nvidia
Quadro K5000
or AMD
equivalent).
GPU: High
end DirectX 11
dedicated
graphics cards
in SLI or
CrossFireX*.
4096 MB
VRAM (Nvidia
Quadro K6000
or AMD
equivalent).
HDD: Around
5-12 GB
HDD: Around
5-12 GB
HDD: Around
5-12 GB
HDD: Around
5-12 GB
HDD: Around
5-12 GB
CPU: Intel
Xeon or AMD
equivalent
*SLI and CrossFireX are both brand names for multi GPU solutions offered by
Nvidia and AMD. These technologies use parallel processing which increases
processing power available for graphics cards.
A workstation is built for high performance and heavy workloads, often having
multiple processors and graphics cards, while PCs can only handle one of each.
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Abdullah Ahmed
Workstation graphics cards such as the Nvidia Quadro and AMD FirePro are
specifically designed for CAD. While not essential, a large company which is
looking to make more than 500 part assemblies should consider purchasing
these rather than the ordinary series of graphics cards provided by Nvidia and
AMD.
Other output devices such as monitors (preferably with a resolution of at least
1280x1024) mice, keyboards are required. Other hardware may be used, if one
prefers to do so, but they are not essential in the implementation of CAD.
For optimal performance, drivers should regularly be updated, especially the
graphics card. As video card manufacturers are constantly finding new ways to
optimise the hardware, it is recommended to update the drivers regularly.
Task 3
Abdullah Ahmed
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Abdullah Ahmed
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Abdullah Ahmed
also used the FEM functionality in SolidWorks and is now more efficient at
analysing designs.
The same disadvantages that were present in the last company, also apply here.
Nonetheless, the use of SolidWorks in Leenaars Marine and Offshore Design BV
has shortened design time by 40-50 percent, doubled the productivity of the
engineers, reduced the design weight by 15-20 percent and reduced the lost
ships days which has saved customers money.
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Abdullah Ahmed
Bibliography
Inc., http://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/computer-aided-design-cad-and-computer-aidedcam.html, [Accessed on 6 November 2014]
SolidWorks system requirements,
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/SystemRequirements.html, [Accessed on 24 October
2014]
SketchUp PRO system requirements, http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/36208, [Accessed on
24 October 2014]
AutoCAD system requirements,
http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles
/System-requirements-for-AutoCAD-2015.html, [Accessed on 24 October 2014]
Inventor system requirements, http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventorproducts/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-AutodeskInventor-2015-products.html, [Accessed on 24 October 2014]
Siemens NX9 system requirements,
https://support.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/certification/, [Accessed on 24
October 2014]
CATIA V6 system requirements, http://www.3ds.com/productsservices/catia/capabilities/design/advanced-surface-modeling/icem-surf/resourcecenter/supported-hardware/, [Accessed on 24 October 2014]
Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire system requirements,
http://support.ptc.com/partners/hardware/current/support/proewf4.htm#system_requirements,
[Accessed on 24 October 2014]
CAD training tutorials, (2012), http://cadtrainingtutorials.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/whatsdifference-between-solidworks.html, [Accessed on 28 October 2014]
Paper2dwg, http://www.paper2dwg.com/articles/advantage-disadvantage-cad.htm, [Accessed
on 28 October 2014]
Advanced Micro Devices wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Micro_Devices,
[Accessed on 4 November 2014]
Dassault Systmes wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Syst%C3%A8mes, [Accessed
on 3 November 2014]
Leenaars BV, http://www.leenaars-bv.nl/, [Accessed 6 on November 2014]
Finite element method wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_element_method,
[Accessed on 5 November 2014]
SolidWorks FEA, http://www.solidworks.co.uk/sw/products/simulation/finite-elementanalysis.htm, [Accessed on 5 November 2014]
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Abdullah Ahmed
Rapid Prototyping wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_prototyping, [Accessed on 3
November 2014]
Genetic algorithm wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_algorithm, [Accessed on 3
November 2014]
AMD CrossFireX wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_CrossFireX, [Accessed on 10
November 2014]
Nvidia SLI wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Link_Interface, [Accessed on 10
November 2014]
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