Computer-aided-design (CAD) software has a been friend to part designers and manufacturing engineers for decades, which is old news. The good news is this type of software is friendlier than ever, enabling both specialists to perform functions ranging from analyzing the strength of an assembly, to determining the best design for a given set of parameters.
“CAD software has evolved way beyond simply designing a part,” explains Bob McGaughey, senior applications engineer at Computer Aided Technology Inc. (CATI), a value-added reseller of Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corp. software. “Three-dimensional software provides all-encompassing product development, including sketching, designing and simulation modeling to create virtual prototypes.”