ME401T

Computer Aided Design

Fundamentals

Computer Aided Design

Role of computers in Mechanical design
What are the possible areas where
computers can assist mechanical design?

Engineering drawings and drafting.

Creating complicated geometries with a
good accuracy

Computer Aided Design

In solving structural design, thermal, and
fluid dynamics problems in mechanical
engineering design (known as Computer
Aided Simulation and Analysis).

FEA of Machine components, FEM to solve

heat problems, CFD to solve fluid
problems, to solve coupled structural-heat
field problems using numerical methods.

Computer Aided Design

In optimizing the
existing design
for minimum
mass and
maximum
strength of
machine parts,
maximum
efficiency and
minimum power
consumption of
mechanical
equipment.

Why to study CAD?

CAE tool users become inefficient in
using them unless, fundamental
concepts on which theses systems are
built, are understood properly.
Still all the critical shapes can not be
modeled in these tools; so getting the
fundamental knowledge may help
them modeling those shapes.

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?
Problem identification
and recognition of need
Problem definition
and conceptualisation

For example
Design of an
office chair

Geometric modelling
and spatial analysis
Engineering analysis
and optimization

Prototype development

Manufacturing process
development
Manufacturing
Implementation

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional design

cycle?

How can CAD fit in conventional

design cycle?

Custom
er
feedbac
k

Marketi
ng

CAM
cycle

Reasons for implementing a CAD

system
Computers can store and handle
large amount of eng. Data; that can
be utilized for design and analysis.
Complex geometrical shapes can be
visually inspected and checked.
CAD tools make design, simulation,
analysis and optimization an easy
task.
CAD systems can easily be
integrated with CAM systems.

CAD applications
Applications are numerous in fields like
Mechanical, Electrical and Architectural.
Geometric engine:
Heart of modeling
Provides functions to perform modeling
and construction, editing and
manipulation, drafting and
documentation.
Creating this represents a means and
not a goal for engineers.

CAD applications
Checking interference between
mating parts in an assembly.
Deformation, stress and strain
analysis of machine components.

CAD benefits
Improved productivity
Shorter lead times
Customers modifications are easier to
make
Improved accuracy of design
In analysis, easier recognition of
component interactions
Fewer errors in NC part programming
Saves materials and machining time by
utilizing optimization algorithms.

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis example

CAD benefits: Analysis

example
Without actual manufacturing of the
component, stress analysis is done.
How to verify the results???
Make a prototype and by placing strain
gauges calculate deformations at various
section under loads; and then finding
stresses analytically and compare the same
with the software results.
Saves a good amount of time
This design can further be optimized

Scope of CAD
CAD is a subset of the design process (As shown
earlier in design cycle)
Activities of CAD systems: mass properties, FEA,
dimensioning, tolerancing, assembly modeling,
generating shaded images, documentation and
drafting.
Geometric
Computer
modeling
graphics
CAD
Desig
n

CAD programming
CAD
systems
are
powerful
software
applications, they employ complex geometric
modeling
concepts,
computer
graphics
algorithms, software techniques, design and
analysis theories, manufacturing techniques
and database and management concepts.
CAD systems evolved over the years; and code
itself is very long and complex.
Modifying and programming CAD systems is
difficult but possible.

CAD programming
CAD software is written in a variety of languages.
Unigraphics and I-DEAS started as a Fortran code.
Pro/E ad SolidWorks are written in C and C++.
Most of these systems use JAVA especially for
Web-based functionality.
How often do we need to program?
There is a need for customizing these systems.
There are different levels of customizing and
programming like writing a simple macro to
automate repetitive tasks, the system API
(application programming interface) to extend the
system functionality.

CAD programming
Programming interested users must be
familiar with system functionality, structure,
hierarchy, terminology and philosophy.

For example if someone needs to modify

spline curve by programming then the one
should have used the spline command
already.

CAD programming
What does it take to program a CAD system?
Knowledge of programming language, geometry,
graphic concepts, and database techniques.
For a programming language C, C++ or JAVA is
good.
The effective use of these requires a good
knowledge of OOP (Object-Oriented Programming).
OOP is programming paradigm that represents
concepts as objects that have data fields
(attributes that describe objects) and associated
procedures known as methods (Examples: C++,
JAVA, VB.NET, Python, Pascal, Visual Basic, Fortran,
COBOL etc..)

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:
CAD system utilizes relational databases to store
geometric, graphical and other data that defines a
CAD model.
It is conceptually a set of collection of tables and
table is a relation. (database with 4 table means
there are 4 relations).
Each table stores data about a given entity.
The data in a table is stored as attributes in rows.
Each row is known as a record.
For example customer name and account numbers.
It is usually a collection of many such tables

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:
Another example to store the boundary
representation (B-rep) of the model (i.e.
faces, edges and vertices).

CAD Programming elements

Relational database:

CAD Programming elements

Object database:
Here the unit of data storage is an object, instead of
a table.
For example: What characterizes a car?
Make, model, year, color, drive, stop, maintain
Attributes (make, model, year, color) are values
those we specify and behaviors (drive, stop,
maintain)
Attributes dont require any calculations and
become variables in an OOP program.
A behavior is doing something, takes input and
produces output like an algorithm becomes a
method in OOP.

CAD Programming elements

The other elements are:
Object concepts
Parametric design and objects
Programming levels

List of few selected CAD

software

Autocad by Autodesk
CATIA by Dassault Systems (DS)
IDEA by 4M
Pro/E by Parametric Technology Corporation
(PTC)
Revit Architecture by Autodesk
Solid edge by Siemens PLM software
Solid Works by Solid Works Corp.