Computer-aided design or CAD is a technique of design of objects, which is real or virtual with the help of computer technology. The design of geometric models for object shapes, in particular, is often called computer-aided geometric design (CAGD). In the manual drafting of technical and engineering drawings, the output of CAD often must convey symbolic information such as materials, processes, dimensions and tolerances, according to application-specific conventions. CAD can be used to design curves and figures in two-dimensional (2D) space and as three-dimensional (3D) objects. CAD is an important industrial art extensively used in many applications including automotive, shipbuilding and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, and many more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising and technical manuals. Due to its enormous economic importance, CAD has been a major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics and discrete differential geometry.
Current CAD software packages range from 2D vector-based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modelling. CAD packages can frequently allow rotations in three dimensions, allowing the view of a designed object from any desired angle, even from the inside looking out. Some CAD softwares are capable of dynamic mathematic modelling. CAD is used in the design of tools and machinery, and in the drafting and design of all types of buildings, e.g. from small residential types houses to the largest commercial and industrial structures.
CAD is mainly used for detailed engineering of 3D models and 2D drawings of physical components, and also used throughout the engineering process from conceptual design and layout of products through the strength and dynamic analysis of assemblies to the definition of manufacturing methods of components. CAD has become an especially important technology within the scope of computer-aided technologies, with benefits such as lower product development costs and a greatly shortened design cycle. CAD enables designers to design a layout and develops work on screen, print it out and save it for future editing, thereby saving time on their drawings. Originally, software for CAD systems was developed with computer languages such as FORTRAN, but with the advancement of object-oriented programming methods this has radically changed. Typical modern parametric feature based modeller and free form surface systems are built around a number of key C-programming language modules with their own Application Program Interfaces (APIs).
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