CAD.
Digital design and manufacture · Technical principles
Revision notes
Digital design and manufacture
Digital design and manufacture uses computer hardware and dedicated software to design products and transfer design data directly to manufacturing equipment.
Simulation software is increasingly important as it allows manufacturers to plan, organise, predict, and optimise production processes before physical manufacture begins.
CAD is the use of computers to create 2D drawings and 3D computer models, stored in digital file formats that allow direct transfer to CAM equipment.
Computer aided design (CAD)
Advantages
Faster design development due to editing, modification, and reuse of files
Higher accuracy and consistency than hand drawing due to computer calculations
Enables collaborative working across multiple locations via networked systems
Produces highly accurate files suitable for CNC machining and 3D printing
Disadvantages
High setup costs for hardware, software, and staff training
Requires ongoing updates and technical support
Less effective for quick, informal idea sketching
Exam tip: Accuracy and repeatability are achieved through digital calculation, which is difficult to replicate using manual methods.
Capabilities of 2D and 3D CAD software
Photo-realistic rendering for presentation and client communication
Models can be rotated, sectioned, and viewed from any angle
Enables faster idea development compared with physical modelling
Existing artwork can be digitised and developed further
Editing tools (copy, mirror, rotate, scale) speed up iteration
Industrial CAD features
Libraries of standard components (e.g. electronics, hydraulics)
Layered 2D drawings showing structure, wiring, and casing
CAD/CAM simulations to predict machining strategies and errors
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