Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the application of computer-based tools to assist engineers and architects in the creation, modification, review, and preservation of product designs. It is widely used in architectural and engineering projects, including mechanical, architectural and electrical drafting, mechanical drafting, as well as the 3D modeling of complex assemblies.

Object creation is easier with CAD because CAD facilitates reuse. Basic shapes can be easily recreated and modified, and the many tools and libraries of objects available in CAD programs help design engineers utilize previous designs as the basis for new ones. For example, a design engineer can start with a 2D outline, and then extrude that outline along a 3D space curve to easily create a new 3D object. Using traditional drafting tools to create such complex shapes requires significantly greater time and skill.

Precision in object dimension is a critical aspect of the design of mechanical and electrical components. Unlike traditional drawings, CAD designs allow a part to be created with precise dimensions that can drive the creation of a series of drawings, at varying scales and views, all of which maintain the precision of the original definition.

Using traditional methods, design revision means redrafting. When a design change has a cascading effect, every single design drawing may require redrafting. With CAD, design changes can be made once, in place. The CAD system can then automatically update other objects affected by the design change, eliminating the need for manual updating. CAD thus allows many more design alternatives to be examined in a shorter period of time.

Unlike traditional methods, CAD systems allow designers to specify object properties and define relationships between objects that can then be used to drive automated analysis and simulation.

In order to drive production, designs must be communicated. Today’s designs are typically exchanged between many different teams throughout an extended enterprise, across different locations, often around the globe. These teams include designers, engineers, sales/marketing professionals, manufacturers, and customers, all with different backgrounds, training, even language. Unlike physical drawings, digital designs created with CAD systems can be easily distributed electronically, in a variety of formats and languages.

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