Use of Computer based Technology in Engineering Design - Assignment Example

? AutoCAD Engineering is a profession that trains personnel to have skills for use in design. Through evolution design has had a good share of technological advancement. This has been necessitated by the complexity of designs required to achieve solutions. In so doing modern design tools have been computerised because they make it easier to design edit and incorporate with simulation tools. Computer-aided-design no doubt cuts down on cost, complexity and time requirements for any project. Many software applications have been developed to help engineers in this course of design. The most utilised software is AutoCAD. It is an application capable of achieving 2D and 3D designs. The founders of AutoCAD made a decision to code it using C programming language. That is the main reason why AutoCAD is able to support object customization through C++ Application Programming Interface (API). The design tool has a set of basic modelling tools for solids in 2D and 3D orientations. Earlier versions of the design tool made use of lines, arcs, circles and polylines while modern tools have additional functionalities like mental ray engine. The modern design tool has made quality designs achievable. The design is done on a space with provision of user interface aid standards. The standard tool bar is at the top, it lists label from left to right. The designer uses the menu bar; tool sets palette and command line at the bottom to access the very many available objects and commands. By clicking on them the cursor changes to the object of interest. The drawing space displays an XY axis of a rectangular. This is a coordinate system (UCS). Before starting a design, select units for the line and angle of the drawing (Gindis). The CAD tool allows the designer to draw, format, edit, save and retrieve drawing. Like all the other applications, to save a drawing click FILE then proceed to save. To retrieve, click on FILE and proceed to open an existing drawing. The software allows importing of objects from other external sources so ling as they are of compatible formats. Ones a drawing has been imported, editing can be done and even saving of changes made. AutoCAD has calculation functionalities that ensure engineers use the shortest time possible to complete a given project. The application provides the Cam Generator and the Beam Calculation at your disposal. The Cam generator allows plate and cylindrical cam creations. It performs the calculations of velocity and acceleration. In addition to calculations, the design tool plots cam path. Mechanical engineering has almost the trickiest design set where designs need be of utmost accuracy. The tool offers shaft calculations including deflection lines, bending moment, torsion moment, supporting force, torque rotational angle, equivalent tension and other safety factors. Mechanical designs require perfect fit and that is why the screw pre-calculation tool comes in handy. Other calculation tools include Bearing and screw calculations. With this tools functionalities like stress points, load and line loadings can be analysed with ease (Gindis). Functionalities of Integrated circuit design are available within the software standards. The library has a number of the components that make up integrated circuits and standard integrated circuit that have been made. By selecting the components, the designer is able to create a complete circuit that follows electrical engineering standards of design. The CAD software allows the designer to simulate and check the performance of the circuit. The simulation tool can plot graphs of the various parameters as the designer may see fit. This is performed for both AC, DC and transient analysis. Capturing a schematic design is of importance to electrical engineers when using the electronic design automation tool. Electronic circuit design can also become a complex idea to undertake; especially in the design of integrated circuits. For this reason CAD software, have schematic editors. AutoCAD electrical has symbol library where a designer selects a component to form the design. It also has a generator for the bill of materials and PLC I/O design, which makes it faster and very efficient. AutoCAD software may be expensive for students but not for firms seeking to achieve quality designs for the products that they are about to unveil to the market. With this consideration in mind, the software manufacturers have both the target market in mind. AutoCAD that comes with full functionalities have are available for large companies at prices ranging from $3,995 and above. Other cheaper versions have been developed and this includes AutoCAD LT, which comes with much less functionalities compared to the main AutoCAD release. Still in line with students, developers of AutoCAD have a cheaper license policy that seeks to help students achieve their dreams. This was effected by offering the software license at a discount rate in comparison to commercial retail prices. This enables students and teachers to qualify a 36-month license. This student version of AutoCAD has functionalities just like the full commercial version, except that: DWG files that are created and or edited here have an internal bit-flag set (the "educational flag"). Designs made on AutoCAD can be used elsewhere in other programs quite well. This makes AutoCAD a superior market player and more so the most flexible design tool. ESRI ArcMap 10 allows a designer to export AutoCAD drawing files with ease. The other application like civil 3D accepts objects from AutoCAD. The market too is a flood with third party file converters. AutoCAD software versions that are mobile based and web-based application have been developed for the current market. An Autodesk Inventor fusion plug-in gives a user the capability to open and edit a 3D model without the burden of saving and manually transferring them into the AutoCAD workspace. AutoCAD version for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS are available in the market. The release of InventorCAM that achieves application in mechanical manufacturing, medical, electronics, consumer products, automotive, machine design, aerospace industries, and rapid prototyping. This tool has no doubt revolutionized CNC milling with iMachining. Cad in the most recent years has been a major driving force in the research arena. In industries, they have shaped computational geometry, computer graphic and project implementation and prototyping. These systems have increased efficiency and have had good returns for firms utilizing this technology. They save on time, money, material and are flexible to work with. Ability to be used with manufacturing machines makes AutoCAD is a powerful tool. The tool is worth credit. Reference Gindis, Elliot. Up and Running with AutoCAD. USA: Chand, 2012. Read More