Scan2CAD Blog - CAD / CNC Tutorials & Guides

CAD File Organization

10 Best Practices for CAD File Organization and Management

CAD File Organization

CAD file organization and management is one of the difficulties with CAD files. This fact holds true whether you’re taking part in a large-scale CAD project or small-scale CAD project, working for a company, or just a CAD hobbyist. Moving from…

Layer Management in CAD

Step-by-Step Guide to Layer Management in CAD

Layer Management in CAD

Layers help designers create and modify technical drawings seamlessly, no matter how complex they are. For layers to be effective, they must be managed properly. This article is a step-by-step guide to CAD layer management, explaining what a layer is, its…

Optimizing CAD File Sizes

Optimizing CAD File Sizes: The Ultimate Guide

Optimizing CAD File Sizes

Typical CAD files used for architectural drawings and 3D parts and assembly drawings and models can be anywhere between a few kilobytes and a few gigabytes. Files that are one or two gigabytes in size are fairly common, but they can…

CAD File Version Control

Introduction to CAD File Version Control

CAD File Version Control

Tracking CAD file versions manually is often inefficient and prone to errors. Not once have companies and teams, both large and small, reported that such methods are plagued by human errors, an inability to revert to previous versions quickly, and the…

Large Scale CAD Collaboration

How to Collaborate on Large-Scale CAD Projects

Large Scale CAD Collaboration

In 2010, the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation (Regional San) – now called the Sacramento Area Sewer District or SacSewer – began exploring strategies to improve the water treatment processes at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in California, USA. The exploration…

CAD Security and File Encryption

Best Practices for CAD Security and File Encryption

CAD Security and File Encryption

Cybersecurity breaches can cause significant disruptions. Not only can such breaches result in financial losses, either directly or indirectly, but they can also lead to reputational damage and loss of crucial proprietary data, such as the information generated during project design…

Surface Modeling in CAD

Mastering Surface Modeling in CAD: The Ultimate Guide

Surface Modeling in CAD

There are three 3D modeling schemes or techniques: wireframe modeling, solid modeling, and surface modeling. Each scheme serves a specific function, helping designers to implement certain designs or features. However, they use significantly different mathematical and technical approaches, introducing nuances that…

Protect Intellectual Property in CAD

How to Protect Intellectual Property in CAD Designs

Protect Intellectual Property in CAD

CAD designs, including both 3D models and 2D plans, are protected by various forms of intellectual property (IP) laws. The protections range widely from trademarks and copyrights to inventions protected by patent laws, protected designs, and internationally agreed trade rules for…

Solid Edge Alternatives

Top 5 Solid Edge Alternatives

Solid Edge Alternatives

Solid Edge originated in the mid-1990s, with the first version released in 1996. Over time, this 2D and 3D modeling software has made its mark by consistently evolving and expanding its features. Today, the software falls in the mid-range category, meaning…

Simulation Software in CNC

The Role of Simulation Software in Enhancing CNC Precision and Training

Simulation Software in CNC

Simulation is essential in design, engineering, and manufacturing. For example, computer-aided engineering (CAE) software simulates 3D models, helping professionals visualize and improve designs while resolving engineering issues. After final design approval, the next step is manufacturing, often using CNC machining. First,…

CAD-CPQ Integration

Embracing the Future: The Essential Guide to CAD-CPQ Integration

CAD-CPQ Integration

As PwC observed in a May 2024 study, the manufacturing industry is noticeably shifting. Today, a growing number of customers prefer tailored and customized products. To accommodate this change in consumer preferences, manufacturers have had to transition from the mass production…

Reducing CNC Machining Costs

Understanding and Reducing CNC Machining Costs: A Detailed Guide

Reducing CNC Machining Costs

Like any other business, machining shops and companies must maximize profits and reduce CNC machining costs to prolong their operations. Thus, an understanding of machining economics is essential. This knowledge helps you optimize the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of CNC machining…

Efficiency in CNC Operations

Optimizing Performance: Key Efficiency Metrics in CNC Operations

Efficiency in CNC Operations

Machining or manufacturing performance boosts the competitiveness of machine shops. A company is said to have attained high machining performance if it achieves indicators like operating efficiency, waste reduction, customer satisfaction, product quality, employee motivation, etc. This means that efficiency alone…