How 3D CAD Models Are Used in The Design Process

It is one of the most rewarding feelings when designing industrial machine parts – you have finally figured out the problem that was puzzling you. You’ve cracked the code and created an amazing solution that will make life so much easier for your users. But how do you get your brilliant and innovative ideas out of your head and onto a blueprint for all to study in awe? The giant wipe boards and sketchy diagrams are a thing of the past. Thanks to 3D CAD technology, showing off your impressive engineering designs is simple. https://www.elesa.com/static/news/images/CAD_UK_20.09.png What is CAD? CAD – Computer-Aided Design – is a technology that can be used by engineers, product developers and designers to create virtual prototypes of three-dimensional objects, such as industrial machinery and standard component parts. Using 3D CAD models allows designers to create and modify every detail of a product. Is the incline on your handles not quite right, or could your spoked handwheels have a more ergonomic finish? Generating your product in 3D CAD results in a functional prototype that you can measure against your design standards. What are the benefits of CAD? As well as providing an early view of how your product will look like once it is manufactured and used in all its dimensional glory, 3D CAD provides several other benefits. CAD allows any design issues to be corrected before manufacture In the engineering industry, mistakes can be costly. If discovered after the product is made, this can render a whole batch of components unusable. With CAD models, “mistakes” are just indicative of a work in progress and can be ironed out while the prototype is still virtual. CAD saves resources long term Before the popularity of CAD began to spread in the 1980s and 1990s, engineers were limited in design methods. Pen and paper were very much in fashion, with designers required to complete initial prototypes on sheets of paper. As companies would design a range of products, they would need different equipment to draft these prototypes, such as pencils of different grade, erasers, and set squares. The advent of CAD modelling made engineering design a lot more streamlined, as everything needed to create virtual prototypes is neatly wrapped up in one software package. Not only did the tedious and time-guzzling hand-drafting method place a huge strain on the designers’ capacity, but it demanded a massive use of resources such as paper, pencils, and other stationery. It may be hard to believe in the age of smartphones and tablets, but before the 21st century this was the only option when it came to drafting prototypes of industrial products. The most obvious disadvantage of drafting product prototypes on paper is that once the design has been carefully and accurately sketched out in graphite, it cannot be changed. If the design was changed later in the manufacturing process, the only option would be to redo the whole sketch. With 3D CAD models, any changes to the design can be made with just a few clicks. CAD is compliant with international standards To ensure that your products meet the principles mandated by governors across the world, design platform complies with various international standards. These standards include BSI, ISO, DIN, GB, ANSI and CSN. In using CAD, you can be safe in the knowledge that your outstanding designs are in line with industry expectations. Not having to redesign your products to meet international standards will save the precious commodities of time and money. CAD allows for true visualisation of a product’s functionality Putting pencil to paper to draft the design of a product is a great way to understand how the finished component will look. However, this method doesn’t provide an insight into how the product will move. When using 3D CAD it is possible to animate aspects of your prototype to see how the product will function. This not only provides reassurance of the product’s functionality to designers, but also to clients. Consumers value a company’s investment into technology that will provide them with a high-quality product. CAD is a cost-effective design platform One feature that puts 3D CAD above its competitors is that it comes preloaded with a range of essential design components that would usually need to be sourced separately, or even designed from scratch. CAD is a precise tool that allows you the freedom to design to your heart’s content As technology advances, so does our need for more intricate industrial equipment. With 3D CAD, engineers have full control in designing complex components with precision. Elesa 3D Product Configurator For our new interactive product configurator, we have taken inspiration from CADENAS technology – the developer of leading software in the areas of Strategic Parts Management. Our configurator acts as a self-service for designers and engineers to select the specific standard component from our extensive catalogue. You can select from our colour palette to bring the product to life, all from the comfort of your home or workplace. It is a clear example of how advances in technology bring an increase in design efficiency. Using the new Elesa product configurator, you can: select your product from the table modify colours and dimensions from the 3D model download the CAD model for your selected product receive the CAD model for your selected product via email add the product directly into your cart for easy checkout https://www.elesa.com/static/news/images/EBP_CAD_ok.png Now you can see the vast advantages that using 3D CAD modelling brings, why not test it out with the Elesa product configurator? By selecting the product you need, and your required sizes, you will be shown a CAD drawing including all of the product’s dimensions. This technological advancement would have been mind-blowing to those who came before us, the hero engineers who worked with pencils and paper to create brilliant drawings. The Elesa product configurator is a reliable and useful tool that highlights just how far we have come in the engineering industry.

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