December 9th, 2008 by Maliki
I just found a great book which is now freely available on website for personal use. The book titled “The Engineering Design Revolution:The People, Companies and Computer Systems That Changed Forever the Practice of Engineering” is by David E. Weisberg. He is a computer graphics veteran an a CAD pioneer. Academically, David possessed BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from MIT. But rather than practice civil engineering, his professional career are mostly related to computer graphics industry, especially CAD.
As it title, this over 650 pages of material are discussing the people, companies and products that made the CAD industry what it is today. The book divided into 22 chapters where David documented all the CAD stories and remarks by his own observation and participation, not a researcher from a subsequent generation. There is also a foreword by Dr. Joel Orr, VP & Chief Visionary of Cyon Research Corporation.
I can say this is most comprehensive history of the CAD I ever read. If you are in engineering design or CAD industries, this is great book to read. You will learn the history of CAD industry and how today’s major CAD software or companies like CATIA, Pro/E, Unigraphics, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Dassault, PTC, Autodesk etc get started.
You can read all these at cadhistory.net
October 11th, 2008 by Maliki
Solid modeling (or modelling) is the unambiguous representation of the solid parts of an object, that is, models of solid objects suitable for computer processing. Other modeling methods include surface models (used extensively in automotive and consumer product design as well as entertainment animation) and wire frame models (which can be ambiguous about solid volume).
Primary uses of solid modeling are for 3D CAD, engineering analysis, computer graphics and animation, rapid prototyping, medical testing, product visualization and visualization of scientific research.
Parametric Solid Modeling
Solid modeling has to be seen in context of the whole history of CAD, the key milestones being the development of Romulus which went on to influence the development of Parasolid and ACIS and thus the mid-range Windows based feature modelers such as IronCAD, Alibre Design, Catia, SolidWorks, and Solid Edge and the arrival of parametric solid models system like T-FLEX CAD and Pro/ENGINEER. (more…)
October 11th, 2008 by Maliki
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computer technology to aid in the design and especially the drafting (technical drawing and engineering drawing) of a part or product, including entire buildings. It is both a visual (or drawing) and symbol-based method of communication whose conventions are particular to a specific technical field.
Drafting can be done in two dimensions (“2D”) and three dimensions (“3D”). Drafting is the integral communication of technical or engineering drawings and is the industrial arts sub-discipline that underlies all involved technical endeavors. In representing complex, three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional drawings, these objects have traditionally been represented by three projected views at right angles.
Current CAD software packages range from 2D vector-based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modellers. Modern CAD packages can also frequently allow rotations in three dimensions, allowing viewing of a designed object from any desired angle, even from the inside looking out. Some CAD software is capable of dynamic mathematic modeling, in which case it may be marketed as CADD — computer-aided design and drafting.
CAD is used in the design of tools and machinery used in the manufacture of components, and in the drafting and design of all types of buildings, from small residential types (houses) to the largest commercial and industrial structures (hospitals and factories).
CAD is mainly used for detailed engineering of 3D models and/or 2D drawings of physical components, but it is also used throughout the engineering process from conceptual design and layout of products, through strength and dynamic analysis of assemblies to definition of manufacturing methods of components.
CAD has become an especially important technology within the scope of computer-aided technologies, with benefits such as lower product development costs and a greatly shortened design cycle. CAD enables designers to lay out and develop work on screen, print it out and save it for future editing, saving time on their drawings.
[Article form Wikipedia]
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