OBJECT: INTRODUCTION TO AUTOCAD SOFTWARE AND TO KNOW ABOUT UNITS AND DIMENSION IN AUTOCAD
Designing is the process of converting an idea into an object, product, or system. This process is iterative. CAD (Computer Aided Design) is a tool that can be used for design and drafting activities. Since it uses the computing power of a processor, CAD drawings are faster, better, and more accurate than their manually drafted counterparts.
AutoCAD is sophisticated CAD software that is synonymous with engineering drafting. The concept of AutoCAD evolved way back in the 1980s when engineers and architects were seeking to harness the power of newly introduced personal computers to reduce drafting time. People began experimenting with internal graphic controllers which allowed them to draw engineering / architectural drawings at the front end which were efficiently replicated at the back end of the computer. AutoCAD was formally launched in December 1982 by Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software. Simply put, AutoCAD enables engineers, designers, and architects to produce 2D and 3D
models using computers. AutoCAD started as a design tool for engineers and architects but is now used by other professionals as well. Autodesk, the company behind AutoCAD, has developed custom versions that can be used by design engineers, civil engineers, electrical and electronics engineers, and mechanical engineers. AutoCAD thus covers a vast canvas – from engineering to the industrial sector, there is an AutoCAD package for everyone. In that sense, AutoCAD is a horizontal product. It is used by product development teams, manufacturing facilities, media and entertainment industries, engineers, architects; educators and students; entrepreneurs, non-profits, medical professionals, and including beginners. AutoCAD is thus useful for any domain that requires 2D and 3D designs.
Features of AutoCAD
When we say ‘features’, we do not mean the commands offered by AutoCAD in the context of this article. Instead, we highlight the differences between AutoCAD and other CAD software that make AutoCAD a popular drafting tool.
Powerful Drafting: Built primarily as a drafting tool, AutoCAD offers unparalleled drafting capabilities.
Analyze Object Details: The features included in AutoCAD allow in-depth analysis and visualization of 2D and 3D models.
Plug-ins: Since AutoCAD is extremely popular, there is a huge number of plug-ins that are available which make the software more useful and friendly.
Integration: AutoCAD allows API integration with spreadsheets, document editors, and other utilities. This is extremely useful when sharing software output.
Training Options: Since AutoCAD is very popular, there are training institutes that teach the software from the beginner level to the advanced level.
Place in Industry
While there are other CAD systems (like CATIA, Ansys, etc.) available today, AutoCAD occupies a special place in the market. It was the first successful commercial CAD software to be introduced in the market in 1982 that was PC
based. Today, it has grown to be the industry leader in the suite of CAD software, with millions of customers in more than 150 countries. It still has a lion’s share in the CAD market, despite the competition offered by CATIA, Ansys, etc. With its various versions – apart from the standard architectural and engineering drafting fields – AutoCAD also finds use in a varied number of industries like fashion designing, 3D printing, and as an industrial designing tool.
