CAD software for mechanical design uses either vector-based graphics to depict the objects of traditional drafting, or may also produce faster graphics showing the overall appearance of designed objects.
However, it involves more than just shapes. As in the manual drafting of technical and engineering drawings, the output of CAD must convey information, such as materials, processes, dimensions and tolerances according to application specific conventions.
CAD is an important industrial art extensively used in many applications automotive, shipbuilding and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, prosthetic, and many more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising and technical manuals, often called DCC, digital content creation.
There is also CAM which is Computer Aided manufacturing. This software uses the models and assemblies created in CAD software to generate tool paths that drive the machines that turn the designs into physical parts. CAD/CAM software is most often used for machining of prototypes and finished parts.
However, it involves more than just shapes. As in the manual drafting of technical and engineering drawings, the output of CAD must convey information, such as materials, processes, dimensions and tolerances according to application specific conventions.
CAD is an important industrial art extensively used in many applications automotive, shipbuilding and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, prosthetic, and many more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising and technical manuals, often called DCC, digital content creation.
There is also CAM which is Computer Aided manufacturing. This software uses the models and assemblies created in CAD software to generate tool paths that drive the machines that turn the designs into physical parts. CAD/CAM software is most often used for machining of prototypes and finished parts.