CAD Design and Technology

What is CAD? 

• CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design. It is the term used for a host of often very specialized software systems that enable the design, testing, and manufacturing of products. A CAD Design is simply a 3D model of something that has been generated in a CAD software program. Before CAD software was created engineers and product designers had slide rules and drafting tables. With the introduction of CAD software and Rapid Technologies, in some cases it is possible for parts to be designed, reviewed, tested, and built in the same day.

Can you build my prototype without a CAD file?

• This is a necessary step in the process and also creates the opportunity to work out the functional details of the design in the computer before building anything physically. All of the prototyping and manufacturing technologies we use are run off the digital file created in the 3D CAD software.

What CAD software do you use?

• We use SolidWorks and Rhino3D for 3D modeling, digital testing, simulation, renderings, and design reviews. SolidWorks has sold more seats than any other 3D Modeling software and Rhino3D is an excellent choice for modeling organic shapes and has other unique capabilities that make it a valuable tool for us.

Can I buy CAD software and design my parts myself?

• Sure, there are free CAD programs with limited capabilities, low-cost CAD programs with basic feature capabilities, and high-end design software with highly specialized capabilities. There are also training courses offered for most quality software packages by third party training companies or the software re-sellers themselves. However, please know that the CAD software we use is upwards of $5,000 per user/computer, requires high processing power computer workstations with specialized graphics cards, and when we offer internships to college engineering students we often spend 1 - 2 years training them in proper CAD techniques before they begin to become proficient. If you goal is to learn to CAD design, we highly recommend it, it is really rewarding to bring an idea to life and hammer out the details of a design through a digital model. If you want to get your product to market quickly, call us!

What is 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping, and Additive Manufacturing?

• For starters, they are all the same thing. In fact because the technology is still relatively new and still maturing, there are even more names that have been thrown around over the years like Free Form Fabrication, Additive Fabrication, Layered-based Manufacturing, and Direct Digital Manufacturing. Ultimately, for the time being, the industry has shifted to Additive Manufacturing (AM) as the all encompassing term and 3D Printing (3DP) as the sub-set for the comparatively inexpensive smaller desktop machines. But what is it? AM is a host of machines/processes that in a variety of different ways builds parts in a layer by layer fashion. Every process, no matter how it is physically accomplished (with lasers, print heads, spray nozzles, extruders, cutting, etc), creates a single cross-sectional layer of a part on a platform then lowers (or sometimes raises) the platform and then adds the subsequent layer on top of the previous layer. Imagine taking a solid globe to a deli slicer... you'd end up with a pile of circular slices. The machine's software does the deli-slicing to the CAD file digitally and the machine reproduces each slice physically on top of the previous slice from scratch with the material(s) it contains. Think of the StarTrek replicator but a lot slower (hours, not seconds) and with very limited material capabilities. We're written an article on the subject so you can learn even more (see our "Articles for Inventors & New Products" page).

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