Scan2CAD Blog - CAD / CNC Tutorials & Guides

The Digital Thread in CAD

The Digital Thread: Weaving Through the CAD Industry

The Digital Thread in CAD

Companies are increasingly embracing digital transformation to enhance organizational and technical performance, scheduling efficiency, and the cost-effectiveness and execution of programs. Usually, such companies can choose one approach from a few alternatives. They can adopt the concept of digital twins. Digital…

Digital Twin Integration in CAD

Digital Twin Integration in CAD: Shaping the Future of Design

Digital Twin Integration in CAD

There are several ways of integrating the real world into the digital world. These include digital twins, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). However, these methods are implemented differently, albeit tied by a common thread: computer-aided design….

Collaborative Design

Best CAD Software for Collaborative Design

Collaborative Design

Traditional product design systems have largely used sequential design processes, a sharp contrast to collaborative CAD software that use concurrent design processes. These systems break down a design task into smaller tasks that are sequentially executed following a predefined way of…

Virtual Prototyping

Exploring Virtual Prototyping in Computer-Aided Design

Virtual Prototyping

Prototyping is a centuries-old concept, while virtual prototyping is a relatively new development. Centuries ago, inventors and designers created miniature, physical representations of products they wished to create to assess the suitability of their designs. This process was time-consuming and often…

Top 20 3D CAD Models

Top 20 3D CAD Models to Try Out

Top 20 3D CAD Models

Creating 3D CAD models is a perfect way to discover the ins and outs of any part or assembly. It is also an ideal avenue to learn about – and hone skills in – how to use some of the features…

PDF file and trash bin icons on gradient background

The Problem with PDF Files

PDF file and trash bin icons on gradient background

Scan2CAD is a solution for converting your files, of varying formats, to CAD or CNC data. Out of all of the potentially complex file formats we’ve supported over the years, and continue to support, PDF is by-far the biggest pain in the…

CNC Machining for Metal

CNC Machining for Metal Fabrication: The Ultimate Guide

CNC Machining for Metal

CNC machining has revolutionized metal fabrication. As manufacturing needs evolve, technological advancements have fostered a synergistic merger between CNC machining and metal fabrication. As a result, it has added an element of automation that boosts quality, accuracy, speed, and precision. CNC…

Predictive Maintenance

Predictive Maintenance: A Game Changer for CNC Machine Lifespan

Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is a revolutionary concept in the manufacturing industry. Not only has it proven integral to substantially extending the lifespan of CNC machines and critical manufacturing equipment, but it also promotes productivity, efficiency, and uptime. It achieves this by relying…

Probing in CNC Machines

Probing in CNC Machines: Advantages and Applications

Probing in CNC Machines

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining has reduced the time required to manufacture parts. However, as advantageous as this may seem, it complicates inspection and measurement. Typically, CNC machines produce parts much faster than one can practically measure or inspect them using…

Guide to Hybrid Manufacturing

The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Manufacturing

Guide to Hybrid Manufacturing

Machining processes have continuously evolved. Part of this evolution has involved combining individual processes or using various active energy sources or additives in a complementary role to improve the properties and capabilities of the individual processes. Thus, hybrid manufacturing came to…

best architectural cad software

Best Architectural CAD Software Choices in 2024

best architectural cad software

The selection of architectural CAD software is vast and varied. Given that each option has distinct characteristics, finding the best architecture program can be challenging. Fortunately, we intend to simplify the decision-making process by helping you narrow down the extensive list. …

batch pdf to dxf

How to Batch Convert Multiple PDFs to DXF

batch pdf to dxf

Converting tens, hundreds, or even thousands of PDFs to DXF one by one is a laborious task. It is also equally inefficient, as you spend a lot of time and energy you would otherwise use on other less repetitive or more…

CAD Standards

Navigating the World of CAD Standards: A Comprehensive Guide

CAD Standards

The world over, industries recognize the importance of standardization. Correspondingly, today, there are thousands of standards, authored and approved on an industry-wide basis or developed by individual organizations. The wave of standardization has not missed the computer-aided design (CAD) space. Here,…

CAD vs BIM

CAD vs BIM: Differences, Similarities, and Integration

CAD vs BIM

It can be tempting to think that computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) are the same. However, they are not, and they should not be used interchangeably.. CAD and BIM are distinct philosophies that emerged at different times in…

cloud-based CAD

Cloud-Based CAD: A Paradigm Shift in Design and Engineering

cloud-based CAD

Cloud-based computer-aided design (CAD) solutions are not news. For more than two decades, developers have introduced innovations that have revolutionized the sector. Previously, CAD software was primarily used on-premise. That meant that the applications had to be installed locally and ran…

Woodworking Machines

The Best CNC Machines for Woodworking

Woodworking Machines

If you have worked with a handheld router, you understand the difficulty of maintaining accurate cuts. Fortunately, computer numerical control (CNC) has simplified the process, automating what it takes to cut various materials, including wood. CNC machines for woodworking have helped…

Axes in CNC Machines

Understanding the Axes in CNC Machines: A Comprehensive Guide

Axes in CNC Machines

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines come in different sizes, configurations, and technologies. Nonetheless, what these machines have in common is their use of axes, although the CNC machine axis count still varies from two to five. These axes typically include the…

CNC Machine Safety

CNC Machine Safety: Preventing Accidents in the Workplace

CNC Machine Safety

Machines, along with CAM software, play a central role in automating vast swathes of the manufacturing industry. Despite this benefit, these machines present an element of risk and danger. CNC machines, for example, move at lightning-fast speeds – sometimes rotating at…

Rapid prototyping

Rapid Prototyping: From Concept to Physical Product

Rapid prototyping

The significance of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software in creating, verifying, and validating designs cannot be downplayed. Nevertheless, the utility of a tangible, solid model remains invaluable. In fact, tangible models help bridge the information gap by communicating…

Micro Machining

Micro-Machining: A New Era of Precision Manufacturing

Micro Machining

The manufacturing industry is pursuing miniaturization, driven by the demand for high-accuracy miniaturized products that comprise tiny features or normal-sized products with tiny features. This demand is not sector-specific, as it is found in the automotive, biomedical, aerospace, electronics, and communication…