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Exploring Drafting
Computer graphics continues to revolu-
tionize drafting and engineering, Figure 7-1.
Computer-aided drafting and design systems
play an integral part in the entire engineering
process, from design and drafting to analysis
and presentation. They aid in designing
mechanical products, buildings, and many other
types of manufactured and constructed items.
There are many benefi ts to using CAD as a
design and drafting tool. Traditional drafting
tasks are greatly simplifi ed with the electronic
tools of a CAD system. CAD programs provide
setup tools, drawing and editing commands, and
customization methods to maximize accuracy
and profi ciency. There is a wide range of
programs to choose from depending on the
nature of the work. This chapter introduces
the various applications of CAD drafting and
discusses the common tools used to create
CAD drawings.
Overview of Computer
Graphics and CAD
Computer graphics was fi rst employed
for aerospace design in the 1950s. It is now a
required tool of industrial technology. Until
the advent of CAD, engineers, designers, and
drafters had to imagine and then evaluate a
three-dimensional object that was drawn in
two dimensions on a fl at sheet of paper. The
only way a design could be verifi ed in three
dimensions was to make a wood, clay, plaster,
or plastic model. This is an expensive and time-
consuming process.
The emergence of CAD provided designers
with a dynamic new tool. CAD technology
permits more time for creative work because
it eliminates the repetitive tasks required in
traditional drafting.
CAD is a computer graphics technology that
allows users to generate and display designs
electronically, Figure 7-2. Many people are able
to use a computer drawing program after a
suitable training period. However, the principles
of drafting are fundamental to both traditional
drafting and CAD. A working knowledge of
basic drafting standards, techniques, and
procedures is absolutely necessary to be an
effective CAD drafter.
The main function of a CAD designer or
engineer is to defi ne the basic shape of a part,
Iaroslav Neliubov/Shutterstock.com
Figure 7-1. Computer-aided drafting systems are
used for a wide variety of applications in design
and engineering. With the proper CAD program, it is
possible to generate realistic three-dimensional models
representing complex mechanical products.
Inga Ivanova/Shutterstock.com
Figure 7-2. CAD drafters use tools in the software to
create and display designs electronically.
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.