When it comes to CAD versus CAE, what stage of Product Development is your business at?

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A product or structure can be designed and engineered using Computer-aided Design or CAD software tools. As the name implies, computer-aided refers to the methodology used to accomplish the task. In addition to human input, computers carry out all the calculations necessary to develop a product that works properly.

Although CAD and CAE have different functionalities, both are essential to the creation of new products. While CAE is employed in the design analysis from an engineering standpoint, CAD concentrates on the conceptual part of a design. The findings of the study serve as the basis for developing the idea into a workable product.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Definition

Computer-aided design (CAD) is the program and technique that substitutes manual drafting and is essentially a digital drawing board. In order to promote seamless cooperation between designers and engineers, it is a technical record of a design with interactive elements and a standard structure. The term "design" might apply to a component, an assembly, or a building.

Workflow

Two dimensional manual drafting was superseded by CAD. A room full of engineers and drafts-people would need to sketch numerous alternative design iterations of the same object in order to design a product before the advent of CAD services. When the end product is a complicated assembly like a car or a skyscraper, the complexity rises. Although a team of designers and engineers is still required, digital drawing on a computer uses far less paper and allows for real time collaboration thanks to a file sharing capability.

CAD was substantially enhanced by the introduction of 3D modeling techniques, such as surface and solid modeling. A design is simpler to explore and analyze with three-dimensional visualization. The visualization gets more realistic as the program gets more advanced.

The automation technique is a significant advancement since computerized design sketching accelerates the timeline for product creation. CAD streamlines design communication and significantly boosts productivity thanks to cloud based software that enables team collaboration with teams around the world.

Popular CAD Software

Solid-Works, CATIA, and Fusion 360 are three of the most widely used 3D CAD applications. Though there are alternative software solutions, they are frequently used by CAD designers in the industry. For product design, several alternatives, such as Rhinoceros 3D and Blender, are just as effective.

Numerous options are available, each with its own learning curve and user interface. There are a wide variety of CAD software packages available to meet your needs, regardless of whether you are a beginner, hobbyist, advanced user, or professional.

Uses

The development of the great majority of contemporary items utilizes 3D CAD modeling. The manufacturing sector is one of the biggest users of software when developing a product idea into a workable concept. Numerous CAD software features enable designers to produce technical drawings of a design with true to life color, texture, and internal mechanism animation.

Architectural Sector

The architectural sector is yet another significant user of 3D CAD. Despite the continued popularity of conventional blueprints and two dimensional construction plans, 3D visualization of a project has emerged as the best choice for presentations.

Before construction even starts on a structure, an architect can exhibit it using a hyper realistic depiction of the 3D model. Exploring design options and experimenting with different aesthetics is made easier by rendering from a CAD model. Additionally, some tools may provide a Bill of Materials that lists all the materials needed to construct a project.

Animation

Advanced 3D CAD software used to build for animated videos and films. Digital tools offer automatic interpolation sequences to produce smooth CAD animation instead of traditional drawing or more individual frames to create one animation second. Most modern videos and films use 3D CAD software with rendering features.

Drawings created with 3D CAD software are also necessary for additive manufacturing or 3D Printing. For production, the digital objects are stored in a format that can be printed. A 3D printed object might be extremely complicated and filled with minute details or it can be plain and basic, depending on the artist's abilities.

Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)

Definition

Engineering analysis is the main topic of CAE or computer aided engineering. The term "CAE" refers to a variety of computational techniques used to simulate real world usage scenarios and analyze the performance, features, and functioning of products. The item is a digital prototype that only exists online.

When validating an idea early in the design process, CAE is most helpful. The design's strengths and weaknesses should be made clear through the results of digital testing. Practically speaking, CAE offers a path for product development to obtain an optimized design.

Workflow

Despite being able to stand alone, 3D CAD can be integrated with CAE. A 3D model has undergone simulations and testing following a CAE analysis. In contrast to 3D CAD, the models depict more than simply the aesthetic qualities of the product.

When a 3D bridge model in CAD looks exactly like the real thing, it would be sufficient. To perform a CAE engineering analysis, nevertheless, more is required than just appearance.

The digital bridge in CAE needs to contain every physical property of the actual thing. For instance, the dimensions and materials have a relationship that affects how rigid the structure is. Engineers must incorporate the variables into the model before doing structural analysis.

The digital representation of the PCB for electronic items must match the real board's specifications exactly. Component count, current flow, processor or microcontroller power, and heat sink design should all be exact replicas of the real world equipment. When performing thermal analysis and EMI simulation, it is the only way to obtain reliable findings.

Product prototyping and virtual analysis lower development expenses. Engineers should have enough information from the test results to improve the design. The modifications are initially applied to the digital models for additional investigation because the prototypes are virtual. Physical prototype is the next step in the development process only once engineers have determined that the design operates as anticipated.

Popular CAE Software

One of the most popular CAE program is Altair's HyperWorks for finite element analysis. Ansys Engineering Simulation, which is available in a variety of packages for diverse simulation uses, is the second best option. The premium edition of Fusion 360's software has CAE features as well.

Thermal analysis and computational fluid dynamics are examples of simulations. In the past, physical prototyping and a variety of sensors were needed to analyze an engine's cooling performance. To find efficient cooling systems, it is possible to simulate heat transfer and oil flow patterns using CAE. Early in the design phase, engineers can develop the virtual prototype.

Uses

CAE software is widely used in the mechanical engineering and automotive industries. The rising complexity of engine design and assembly has forced automakers to rely on simulation software to evaluate a variety of product related elements.

Thermal Analysis

Thermal analysis and computational fluid dynamics are examples of simulations. In the past, physical prototyping and a variety of sensors were needed to analyze an engine's cooling performance. To find efficient cooling systems, it is possible to simulate heat transfer and oil flow patterns using CAE. Early in the design phase, engineers can develop the virtual prototype.

To get online demonstration, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Ujjwal Kumar Sen

Structural Analysis

Structural analysis is advantageous to the construction sector and the architectural industry. An architectural firm can utilize computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis to determine how a building will respond to various weather factors, such as winds and water. The findings of the simulation provide the architects with sufficient knowledge to create a building that can endure weather damage without significantly changing the primary structure.

CAD and CAE in Product Development

A product goes through several stages of development, from ideation through market debut. In the concept stage, CAD software is utilized to decide on design, color, shape, and dimension, providing a variety of design options. For instance, the design department of a torch manufacturer employs CAD services to develop distinctive shapes and forms for their product line.

When further characteristics, such water resistant and shockproof enclosures, are needed, CAE software is useful. Engineers use simulation and virtual prototyping to test different designs and features rather than building numerous actual prototypes.

Engineers test out battery caps, sealing rings, shell materials, and shock resistant constructions using CAE. By replicating actual conditions, they are able to decide the optimal strategy for achieving the required design goals.