What is CAD?

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is a vital tool for designers. CAD software allows a designer to quickly produce 3D images/designs. The design can then be rotated, colour rendered and analysed/evaluated. Then it can be improved.

What is CAD? Video links from S1

Autodesk Inventor

The Computer Aided Design the software that you will use in the Academy is Inventor professional. This is available as a student version free of charge for 3 years. You can access the Autodesk website and download this at home. Download Autodesk Inventor Student

In S1 you used this software to build a 3d truck as shown using standard part files (in mm) and assembled these together using constraints. In order to make the truck parts you used a number of modelling techniques and edits.

The model below has been generated using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software. The furniture has been drawn individually and placed inside the computer generated room. The room can be rotated to almost every possible angle. This design can be shown to potential customers or a client and changes made according to his/her likes and dislikes. This saves time and money as the model can be altered using the software, which is far more efficient than making a real model using materials.