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INTRODUCTION OF
COMPUTER AND CADD

OBJECTIVES

General Objective
To understand CADD and the computer components.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the unit you will be able to :

state the functions of CADD software in industries ;

describe the advantages of CADD software ;
list computer components and their functions.
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INTRODUCTION OF
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INPUT

1.0 INTRODUCTION

CADD is an acronym for Computer-Aided Design Drawing or Computer-Aided Drafting Drawing.

CADD allows you to accomplish design and draf activities using a computer. A CADD software
package, such as AutoCAD, enables you to create designs and generate drawings to documents
designed.

Design is a broad field involving the process of making an idea into a real product or system. The
design process requires repeated refinement of an idea or ideas until a solution results-a
manufactured product or constructed system. Traditionally, design involves the use of sketches,
drawings, renderings, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional models, prototypes, testing, analysis and
documentation. Drafting is generally known as the production of drawings that are used to document
a design for manufacturing or construction or to archive the design.

1.1 CADD SOFTWARE

1.1.1 Application of CADD in Industries

The number of CADD users in Malaysia grew as a result of the construction boom in the
1990s. Ten of millions of Ringgit were spent in foreign exchange buying CADD software.
Globally, this industry may have resulted in a cumulated amount of billions of ASD in the last
20 years.

CADD is a tool that can be used to design and draft activities. CADD can be used to make
"rough" idea drawings, although it is more suited to create accurate finished drawings and
renderings. CADD can be used to create a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional computer model
of the product or system for further analysis and testing by other computer programs. In
addition, CADD can be used to supply manufacturing equipment such as lathes, mills, laser
cutters, or rapid prototyping equipment with numerical data to manufacture a product. CADD
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is also used to create the 2-dimensional documentation drawings for communicating and
archiving the design.

1.1.2 Types of CADD Software

Until now, there are many types of CADD software

available. You can get CADD software from computer
centers or install them from CADD CDs.

Some of the CADD software are AutoCAD, IntelliCAD,

AutoCAD LT, Catiar, MarterCAM, Pspice, Autosketch and
others. Among the many types of CADD software, the
most common commonly used is AutoCAD.

1.1.2 The Advantages of using CADD

Although there are other methods used to design and draft activities, CADD offers the
following advantages over other methods in many cases :

Accuracy
Productivity for repetitive operations
Sharing the CADD file with other software programs

Accuracy
Since CADD technology is based on computers, it offers great accuracy as
compared to older "manual" methods of drafting and design. When you draw with a
CADD system, the graphical elements, such as lines, arcs, and circles, are stored in
the CADD file as numeric data. CADD systems store that numeric data with great
precision. For example, AutoCAD stores values with fourteen significant digits. The
value l, for example, is stored in scientific notation as the equivalent of
1.0000000000000. This precision provides you with the ability to create designs and
drawings that are 100% accurate for almost every case.

Productivity for Repetitive Operations

It may be faster to create a simple "rough" drawing, such as a sketch by hand (pencil
and paper), than it would by using a CADD system. However, for larger and more
complex drawings, particularly those involving similar shapes or repetitive
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INTRODUCTION OF
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operations, CADD methods are very efficient. Any kind of shape or operation
accomplished with the CADD system can be easily duplicated since it is stored in a
CADD file. In short, it may take some time to set up the first drawing and create
some of the initial geometry, but any of the existing geometry or drawing setups
can be each duplicated in the current drawing or for new drawing.

Likewise, making changes to a CADD file (known as editing) is generally much

faster than making changes to a traditional manual drawing. Since all the
graphical elements in a CADD drawing are stored, only the affected components
of the design or drawing need to be altered, and the drawing can be plotted or
printed again or converted to other formats.

As CADD and the associated technology advance and software becomes more
interconnected, more productive developments are available. For example, it is
possible to make a change to a 2-dimensional model that automatically causes a
related change in the linked 2-dimensional engineering drawing. One of the main
advantages of these technological advances is productivity.

Sharing the CADD File with Other Software Programs

CADD is not the only form of industrial activity that makes technological
advances. Most industries use computer software to increase capability and
productivity. Since software is written using digital information and may be written
for the same or similar computer operating systems, it is possible and desirable
to make software programs with the ability to share data or even inter-connect,
possibly appearing simultaneously on one screen.

Another advance in CADD technology is the automatic creation and inter-

connectivity of a 2-dimensional drawing and a 3-dimensional model in one CADD
file.

CADD however may not be the best tool for every design related activity. For
example, CADD may help develop ideas but probably will not replace the idea
sketch, at least not with present technology. A 3-dimensional CADD model can
save much time and expense for some analysis and testing but cannot replace
the "feel" of an actual model, at least not until virtual reality technology is
developed and refined.

With everything considered, CADD offers many opportunities for increased

accuracy, productivity, and inter-connectivity. Considering the speed at which this
technology is advancing, many more opportunities are rapidly obtainable.
However, we need to start with the basics. Beginning by learning to create an
AutoCAD drawing is a good start.
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INTRODUCTION OF
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1.2 COMPUTER COMPONENTS

Computer is a media electronic, that is able to receive, process, store and retrieve data and also able to
produce output based on the programmed commands. A complete computer comes with a few
components, namely the monitor, central processing unit (CPU), keyboard, digital, mouse and plotter.

1.2.1 Monitor

Screen
Monitor
The screen is
A monitor displays
the display
text and images
area of a
generated by the
monitor.
video card.

The monitor and video card work together to display text and images on the screen. A cable
connects the monitor to the video card in the computer. A video card is a circuit board that plugs
into an expansion slot inside the computer. A video card translates instructions from the
computer into a form the monitor can understand.

1.2.2 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main chip in a computer. The CPU processes
instructions, performs calculations and manages the flow of information through a computer
system. The CPU performs millions of calculations every second. The CPU is also called the
microprocessor or processor.
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INTRODUCTION OF
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There are several factors that determine the performance of a CPU. They are :
Manufacturer
The most popular CPU for personal computers are made by Intel. Other popular CPU
manufacturers include MD and VIA Technologies.

Generation
Each new generation of CPU is more powerful than the one before. Newer CPUs can
process more instructions at a time. For example, a newer generation CPU such as the
Intel Pentium 4 is more powerful than an older CPU such as the Intel Pentium III.

Speed
Each type of CPU is available in several speeds. The speed of the CPU is a major
factor in determining how fast a computer operates. The faster the speed, the faster the
computer operates. The speed of a CPU is commonly measured in megahertz (MHz), or
millions of cycles per second. New, faster CPUs are now measured in gigahertz (GHz),
or billions of cycles per second.

1.2.3 Keyboard

The keys on a keyboard let you enter

information and instructions into a computer.
Most keyboards have 101 keys.
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INTRODUCTION OF
COMPUTER AND
CADD
The keyboard consists of a few key types, namely:

Escape Key
You can press Esc to quit a task you are performing.
Caps lock and Shift Keys
These keys let you enter text in the uppercase (ABC) and lowercase (abc) letters.
Press Caps Lock to change the case of all letters you type. Press the key again to
return to the original case.
Press Shift in combination with another key to type the uppercase letters.
Ctrl and Alt Keys
You can use the Ctrl or Alt key in combination with another key to perform a specific
task. For example, in some programs you can press Ctrl and S to save a document.
Function Key
These keys let you perform specific tasks quickly and they are located at the bottom
of the keyboard. For example, in many programs you can press F1 to display help
information.
Spacebar
You can press the Spacebar to insert a blank space.
Backspace Key
You can press Backspace to remove the character to the left of the cursor.
Delete Key
You can press Delete to remove the character to the right of the cursor.
Enter Key
You can press Enter to tell the computer to carry out a task. In a word processing
program, press this key to start a new paragraph.
Arrow Keys
These keys let you move the cursor around the screen like Up, Down, Right or Left.
Numeric Keypad
The Numeric keys are located at the right side of your keyboard. When the Num
Lock light is on, you can use the number keys (0 through 9) to enter numbers. When
the Num Lock light is off, you can use these keys to move the cursor around the
screen. To turn the light on or off, press the Num Lock.
1.2.4 Mouse
The Mouse is connected to the computer with a cable. A mouse is a handheld pointing device
that lets you select and move items on your screen. A mouse can come in various shapes, colors
and sizes.

Rest your hand on

the mouse, use your thumb and two rightmost
fingers to move the mouse on the desk. Use
your two remaining fingers to press the mouse
buttons.

When you move the mouse on your desk, the

pointer on the screen moves in the same direction.

Mouse Actions

Click
A click often selects an item on the screen. To click, press and release the left mouse
button.
Right click
A right click often displays a list of commands on the screen. To right click, press and
release the right mouse button.
Double click
A double click often opens a document or starts a program. To double click, quickly
press and release the left mouse button twice.
Drag and Drop
Dragging and dropping makes it easy to move an item on the screen. Position the
pointer over an item on the screen and then press and hold down the left mouse
button. Still holding down the button, move the pointer to where you want to place
the item and then release the button.

If you are left handed, you can switch the functions of the left and right mouse buttons to make the mouse
easier to use. For example, to click an item, you should press the right button instead of the left.

1.2.5 Plotter
The plotter is to plot any graphic or text you do in the computer. The output will become the
hardcopy. There are many plotter models, for example the Hewlett Packard.

What
What isis the
the
difference
difference between
between a
a
plotter
plotter and
and aa
printer?
printer?

The printer is normally used to print worksheets in small sizes. If you want to print
worksheets in large sizes like A1, A0 and 2A you need to use a plotter. The plotter is
also used to get a high quality graphic in a variety of colors. Besides that, the plotter can
cut the paper after you finish plotting your drawing.

For instructions on how to use the plotter, refer to the Plotter Reference Guide which
comes together with the plotter.

Wow!
Wow! Is Is that
that
aa Plotter?
Plotter? It
It
is
is so
so big.
big.
 ACTIVITY 1

1.1

TESTYOUR
YOURUNDERSTANDING
UNDERSTANDINGBEFORE
BEFORE Define the
TEST
YOUPROCEED
YOU PROCEEDTO
TOTHE
THESELF-ASSESSMENT
SELF-ASSESSMENT acronym CADD.
SECTION!
SECTION!

1.2 Label the computer components below.

(c)
(a)

(b)

(d)
 1.3 The statements below are TRUE about keyboard, except

A when the NUM LOCK key is off, the numeric keys function as arrow for
movement,
B most keyboards have 101 keys,
C the numeric numbers are located at the bottom of the keyboard,
D can be used to receive commands when you draw using CADD.

FEEDBACK TO
ACTIVITY 1

Check your answers.

1.1 The full name for CADD is Computer Aided Drafting Drawing or Computer Aided Design
Drawing.

1.2 (a) Center Processing Unit (CPU)

(b) Keyboard
(c) Monitor
(d) Mouse

1.3 C the numeric numbers are located at the bottom of the keyboard,

Im
Im clever.
clever.
II got
got all
all the
the answers..
answers..
correct
correct
 SELF-ASSESSMENT 1 You
are

approaching success. Try all the questions in this self-assessment section and check your answers
with those given in the Feedback on Self-Assessment 1 on the next page. If you face any problem,
discuss it with your lecturer. Try your best!!!

1.1 Why is CADD software widely used?

1.2 Why is the CPU important in computer network?

1.3 The statement below has a few typing errors. Use the special key on the keyboard to
correct the letters in BOLD.

The Association of Konsulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) and

The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) are pointly organizing an
CONFRENCE ON AUTOMATION AND COMPUTER NETWORKING (CACN).

1.4 Why is the plotter better than printer to print work in CADD?


FEEDBACK TO
SELF-ASSESSMENT 1

Have you tried the questions????? If YES, check your answers now.

1.1 The CADD software is widely used as it offers advantages which include accuracy,
productivity for repetitive operations and can share the CADD file with other software
programs.

1.2 The CPU is important for computer network because it is a component that
processes data into information.

1.3

The Association of Konsulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) and

The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) are pointly organizing an
CONFRENCE ON AUTOMATION AND COMPUTER NETWORKING (CACN).

To correct the typing errors, you can use special keys like Backspace, Delete or
Insert.

The first error is Konsulting to be changed into Consulting

i. Put the cursor in front of K and press Delete @ put the cursor between
K and o, then press Backspace.
ii. Then type the letter C.

The second error pointly to be changed into jointly.

i. Put the cursor in front of p and press Delete or put the cursor between p
and o, then press Backspace.
iii. Then type the letter j.
 The third error is changing an to a. In this case you just have to put the cursor between a
and n, and then press Delete or put the cursor after n and press Backspace.

1.4 The advantages in using Plotter rather than Printer for some print work in CADD is that
Plotter is bigger in size and can print work on the paper size A5 to 2A, that means from a
small size to large size paper. It is also used to get a high quality graphic in a variety of
colors.

YOU MAY PROCEED TO

THE NEXT UNIT AFTER
YOU FINISH ANSWERING
THE SELF-ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS