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…
If you have used any 3D CAD modeling software lately, you may have undertaken a few operations involving either parametric modeling or direct modeling. But if you are new to the modeling world and, by extension, the world of CAD and…
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 2024, more than three decades later. From a practical…
AutoCAD has multiple features that not only simplify the workflow for users but also considerably reduce the time they would have otherwise spent doing some tasks. One such feature is the AutoCAD palette or tool palettes. In this article, we delve…
The labor market is changing faster now than ever, with competition at an all-time high. Within this increasingly competitive environment, employers ever more expect new talent, and especially entry-level employees, to join the job market already equipped with the necessary skills…
Many of us will agree that manual data extraction is far from accurate, convenient, and appealing. In fact, it can often lead to errors if utilized to extract data from large data sets or even complicated engineering drawings. It can also…
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’s model space is an unlimited drawing space that enables you to draw anything from a map or house plan to a 2D section of a machine part. However, the somewhat infinite space can pose a challenge when it comes to…
Have you ever heard of diecast model cars? Popular among the car enthusiast community, these collectible model cars are produced by injecting molten metal or plastic into a reusable model under extreme pressure. The result? A replica of a vehicle, new…
AutoCAD’s model space is somewhat infinite. If you zoom out, for example, you will notice that the software will continuously regenerate the model. So, any object you will have previously created will disappear from view. Of course, this feature is advantageous…
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…
In practice, drawings are created and then checked for errors and mistakes. And once the errors have been corrected, the drawing is approved. This is why the title block often features the following separate terms: ‘drawn by,’ ‘checked by,’ and ‘approved…
A CAD or technical drawing is intended to relay clear design instructions to fabricators, product designers, builders, engineers, architects, students, and all other parties involved. The clarity and readability are pegged on a number of elements, including but not limited to…
If you are an AutoCAD user, there is a high likelihood that you have come across the term viewports. This could be while watching video tutorials or reading through the release notes that accompany a new version of AutoCAD. You may…
1.0 Introduction In this ultimate guide for converting files to g-code, we will delve in-depth to the raster and vector file types that you can convert to G-code. We will discover how CNC machinists can further expand the files suitable for…
G-code is a programming language with which users control machines such as laser cutters, pen plotters, and 3D printers, just to mention a few. Thus, anyone looking to create a 2D or 3D object from a virtual design or model must…
If you are a regular user of machining tools and 3D printers, you may already know that they cannot read or interpret the DWG file format. This is despite the fact that DWG is a popular format used in the computer-aided…
The OBJ file format has become a vital part of 3D printing. It offers several advantages over its more popular alternative, the STL file format. Some of these advantages include support for color and texture as well as better quality 3D…
3D printing and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining are some of the most popular processes. While the former is an additive method in that it involves adding molten material in layers to form a physical 3D model, the latter is subtractive….
1.0 Introduction The maxim ‘sharing is caring’ features heavily in a collaborative work environment. That the DXF format exists is a true testament to the popular saying, which, though used in informal settings, bears much weight professionally. In the DXF files,…
