Technological advancements have eased the design, building and construction processes. Three-dimensional computer aided design software is especially useful as it brings closer the conceptualisation and manufacturing processes. This article answers the question, “Can computer aided design produce three-dimensional design?”
What is computer aided design?
Computer aided design (CAD) involves using computer software to facilitate the design process. Engineers and designers commonly use it for steel detailing, fabrication drawings, and steel drafting.
Can computer aided design produce three-dimensional design?
The short answer is yes, it can. Initially, computer aided design could only produce 2D images. However, as technology improved, drawing images in three dimensions became possible. Nowadays, architects, engineers, and other professionals use three dimensional computer aided design software to represent and visualise objects in three dimensions on the computer. Three dimensional representation makes it possible to observe how a particular design will hold up in the real-world application. In addition, editing a design in three dimensions is faster than working with two-dimensional images.
What are the benefits of computer aided design software in three-dimensional design?
Enhanced productivity
Computer aided design decreases production times by allowing faster and smarter working and minimal production costs. The design team gets to work efficiently, which leads to a lean production team, thus cost savings. The attention to detail on those three-dimensional models also allows for greater scrutiny of product details and stricter adherence to set quality standards, resulting in high-quality products. Furthermore, alterations to product designs are faster, resulting in faster production. In the past, designers had to create a new product model if there were requested or incidental alterations.
Recycled designs
The three dimensional designs from computer aided design software can be reused or altered to fit new design demands. Using computer simulations, designers can observe the behaviour of those models and make design alterations before producing the final model. This saves time and money instead of making too many edits to the prototype and wasting too much time with field tests. With an operational base, future updates and design evolutions have a solid starting place, saving time and money.
High-quality designs
As mentioned, there is greater control over the quality of these three dimensional models. In addition, each design process is logged for easier future reference. Therefore, nailing the quality becomes easier as the process and the final model are well studied and the steps well documented. As such, each new model is of higher quality, and the final product meets customer expectations well.
Easier to understand
Having a model rendered in two dimensions requires expertise and experience to understand. Most department heads, clients, and even manufacturers work best with three-dimensional renderings. Such renderings are easier to understand since you can view all the intricacies of the design and how it all comes together.
In addition, manipulating the design is easy since it is in soft copy, unlike physical models. In contrast, two-dimensional designs needed you to make the connections mentally as you viewed each layer of the design. Three-dimensional models bring all those layers together in one coherent model.
Remote working
You can use computer aided design software and share your work with team members in remote locations. Such collaboration enables team members to combine their efforts and thus increase efficiency. Relying on physical three-dimensional models makes it impossible to work and share progress remotely or make improvements on those designs remotely.
Conclusion
Technological improvements and updates enable computer aided design software to produce usable and highly efficient three dimensional designs, which have become an indispensable part of most design and production projects. Learn more about such designs from us.