Introduction to Mechanical cadd and Brief discussion about CAD/CAM/CAE

This is a tutorial on Mechanical CADD (Computer Aided Designing and Drafting). Here you can find a very simple version of the CADD learning tutorial. This is an interactive tutorial, where youcan read the tutorials and guides and you can fire your doubts in comments section below.

Introduction to Mechanical CADD:

The term CADD stands for COMPUTER AIDED DESIGNING  AND DRAFTING which uses a computer for the designing and drafting purposes.

In General We have Three Categories in Mechanical Cadd

• CAD (Computer Aided Designing)
• CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing)
• CAE (Computer Aided Engineering)

Now will see the importance of Each one of them

1) CAD

CAD stands for Computer aided Designing.It uses Computer Programs to create two or Three dimensional  ie., 2D or 3D graphical representations of physical objects. CAD Software may be specialized for specific applications.

In CAD softwares, based on Parametric Nature, we have 3 more sub categories. They are

• Parametric Softwares
• Semi-Parametric Softwares
• Non-Parametric Softwares

Note:Parametric means the ability to change the parameters (dimensions,constraints...etc.)

we will see each one of them in detail

i) Parametric Softwares:-

While working with the software,If we can able to change the parameters at any point of time, we call it as a Parametric software.

For example, I created a sketch using sketcher environment and I converted it into 3D solid by adding some thickness in part design. Afterwards i got a need of making some modifications in sketch. If the software allows me to edit the parameters of sketch we can call it as a parametric software.

Eg: CREO parametric(PRO/Engineer),Unigraphics(Nx cad),Solid works etc.,

ii) Semi-Parametric Softwares:-

While working with the software, we are allowed to change the parameters upto certain limit. It means upto some extent only we are allowed to edit the parameters Then it is called as Semi-parametric software.

Eg:- CATIA.

iii) Non-Parametric Softwares:-

If we are not allowed to edit the parameters once we define them, the type of software is called as a Non-parametric software.

Eg:- Auto cad.

2) CAM:

CAM stands for Computer aided Manufacturing. It is for Simulating the Manufacturing Processes like Turning,Facing,Drilling etc., in the software as well as controlling the machine tools and related machinery  in the Manufacturing of work pieces.

Examples of CAM softwares are:

• Unigraphics (NX CAD)
• Master CAM
• DELCAM

3) CAE:

CAE stands for Computer aided Engineering. Here it completely deals with the analysis part. analysis means predicting the behaviour of the product when it is subjected to loads and boundary conditions. In another words CAE is the usage of computer software to aid in engineering analysis tasks.

It includes Finite Element analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD), Multi body dynamics (MBD) and optimization.

Examples for CAE softwares are:

• Ansys
• Abacus
• Nastron

If you have any doubts  mention them in coments. thank you...