CAD

CAD has revolutionized the way we approach and think about design. Today, there are few industries which haven’t been impacted by the creative possibilities opened up by CAD software. As the digital economy booms, CAD has expanded outside of its traditional fields of architecture and engineering, and has become the go-to design tool for game designers and digital content creators. This category plunges headfirst into the world of CAD. We talk about the software that can help you make an impact; the new developments that are changing the design world; and the wide range of applications that go far beyond our traditional perceptions of what CAD is and does.
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…

CAM explained

What is CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing)?

CAM explained

Manufacturers have continually evolved their practices seeking enhanced efficiency, speed, precision, quality, and cost reduction. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) has emerged thus, along with other useful technologies. CAM, in particular, is increasingly utilized in automating many manufacturing processes and operations as the…

Open source CAD software

The Best Open-Source CAD Software

Open source CAD software

In the software development world, there exists a notion that applications can always be improved, especially if this role is shared among multiple parties. This principle underlies the ‘open source’ concept, which has seen the rollout of numerous applications. Open source…

batch-plot-autocad

How to Batch Plot Drawings in AutoCAD

AutoCAD simplifies workflows for professionals across various careers by enabling them to batch plot drawings. Batch plotting refers to the process of simultaneously printing or converting to multiple drawings or sheets of a drawing project to PDF in a single operation….

Neutral 3D CAD File Formats

The Best Neutral 3D CAD File Formats

Neutral 3D CAD File Formats

Product development, the process of taking a product from the idea or concept stage through market release, involves collaboration among teams. While a collaborative approach does govern virtually all steps of the process, it is perhaps more clearly seen during the…

AI in CAD

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the CAD Industry

AI in CAD

While artificial intelligence, or AI, has only become mainstream thanks to the exploits of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, DALL-E, and more, has always existed. For instance, it is responsible for finding answers when you ask a smart assistant such as…

Parametric Modeling

The 5 Best Parametric Modeling Software Products of 2023

Parametric Modeling

Parametric modeling software products are not new in computer-aided design (CAD). Introduced in 1988 with the launch of PTC’s Pro/ENGINEER (since renamed PTC Creo), parametric modeling is still relevant and predominant in 2023, more than three decades later. From a practical…

AutoCAD logo moving fast

How to Improve Slow AutoCAD Performance

AutoCAD logo moving fast

AutoCAD can sometimes post slow performance punctuated by frustratingly sluggish response times. Typically, slow AutoCAD software is the result of hardware and system, network, or file issues. While it will not display error messages or alerts that notify you whenever the…

AutoCAD Isometric Drawings

How to Create Isometric Drawings in AutoCAD

AutoCAD Isometric Drawings

AutoCAD is significantly different from other computer-aided design (CAD) software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, SketchUp, Fusion 360, Inventor, Creo, and so on. This is because the latter group of applications is predominantly used to create 3D models. And while AutoCAD supports…