Computer Aided Design, or CAD, is an integral part of almost every industry you can think of, including (but not limited to) architecture, engineering and design. It’s also an indispensable part of our future, which is why companies and businesses across…
Scan2CAD Blog - CAD / CNC Tutorials & Guides
OCR API: The Best Options Compared
Getting computers to recognize text within images can be a tricky business. Machines find it very difficult to separate text from other objects because they, of course, do not interpret letters and numbers in the same way as humans all elements…
OCR for PDF Files—How to Convert Text in Your PDF
PDFs are one of the most popular file formats around, no matter what industry you’re working in. They’re the perfect way to share and exchange all types of documents. A key reason for this is that you can open them using…
World of CAD: Flat-Pack Homes, Digital Dentistry, WiFi Roads and More!
Welcome to the August edition of World of CAD! We’ll be delving into some of the biggest tech and CAD-related news stories of the month. First up, there are exciting developments for anyone who aspires to live life the simple, Scandi way….
Compared: The Best Keyboard For CAD
Whether you work in the CAD industry or you’re a CAD hobbyist, you’ll know just how important it is that you’re working with the right tools. Something you might not have considered, however, is your keyboard. For CAD users, keyboards aren’t…
CNC Guide: Which Files Can I Convert to G-Code?
CAD plays a vital role in a wide range of projects. Creating and finalizing your designs, however, could just be the starting point. Whether you want to bring your work to life using a CNC machine, 3D printer or even a…
Object Recognition in CAD
If you’re familiar with Scan2CAD, you’ll know that its key function is transforming raster and vector designs into CAD/CAM or CNC files. There are many parts of the conversion process to achieve this. One of the most complex and interesting is…
OCR Guide: Converting Handwritten Text
The technology that enables computers to recognize text–Optical Character Recognition—is constantly evolving, expanding the parameters of what we can convert. It now boasts the ability to convert even handwritten text. This is an impressive feat—human handwriting is, of course, the most…
Boeing–Dassault Deal Deepens, Netfabb 2019 Released, and More
We’re nearing the end of July, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore this month’s CAD news. Welcome to the latest edition of World of CAD, where we round up some of the most important stories from the…
13 Sites with Free CAD Blocks
Whether you’re a CAD hobbyist or a professional, you’ll know that creating 2D and 3D designs can often be a time-consuming process. Those who are keen on increasing their productivity and creating quality designs often make use of CAD blocks. Blocks…
How to Vectorize an Image
Anyone working with CAD knows that learning how to vectorize an image can make your life so much easier. Whether you’re designing, sharing or editing an image, vector file formats are (more often than not) going to be the best option…
Introducing Scan2CAD v10
Today, we are extremely excited to share with you the release of Scan2CAD v10. Over two years ago we decided to fundamentally improve Scan2CAD from the ground up and that’s exactly what we’ve done with v10. Why we created v10…
Cost Comparison: Manual Tracing vs. Automatic Conversion in CAD
If you’re looking to create vector representations of your raster images—whether architectural drawings or electrical plans—you have to make use of image tracing. This process is the only way to vectorize your drawings so that they’re ready for use in CAD…
How Much Does AutoCAD Cost? Pricing Explained
When choosing to invest in CAD software, there are a number of factors to consider. One of the most important of these, of course, is cost. For this reason, demystifying the often complex pricing structures of CAD licenses is incredibly helpful….
CAD Software Compared: AutoCAD vs DraftSight
With hundreds of CAD programs being so readily available on the market, Scan2CAD knows full well how difficult it can be for newcomers to figure out which is best suited to them. Programs that look similar on the surface can differ…
CAD News: Solid Edge 2019, Siemens’ Continuous Release of NX and More
Welcome to the June 2018 edition of World of CAD, Scan2CAD’s monthly roundup of all the news you need to know from CAD, CNC and their related fields. We’ll start this month’s roundup with a look at a new collaboration between…
Compared: The Best Mouse for CAD in 2024
It’s often said that a workman is only as good as his tools. If you’re in the CAD industry, one of the most important tools at your disposal is the computer mouse. Whether you’re a drafter, engineer, or technician—the mouse is…
4K Monitors for CAD—Are They Worth It?
Those of you who work in the CAD industry know that a lot of your time is spent rendering, inspecting, editing and sharing designs. It’s important, therefore, that the workstation you use is able to provide you with the best possible…
Choosing OCR Software: Converting Text in Technical Drawings
A key benefit of vector images over their raster counterparts is their ability to include editable text. The text in a raster image is nothing more than a collection of pixels. As such, it’s indistinguishable on a technical level from the remainder…
Ready to Cut: Free Cut Ready Designs – Our Staff Picks
As you know may already know, each week Scan2CAD dishes out a new DXF pack for free download, with varying themes and designs culled from different ideas, seasons, trends, everyday situations, and other sources. Since we started releasing these free weekly…