This allows the team to analyze and visualize design decisions long before a project even breaks ground.Īt its core, BIM offers a digital representation of the real facility, including function systems (HVAC, electrical) and aesthetics (walls, roof, windows). What is BIM?īIM is a new process and methodology by which a team of architects, engineers and contractors work collaboratively to design and build a commercial building utilizing the same database and computer model. See what a dynamic CAD Engine can do for your business - take a tour of our CAD Engine Platform. Some of the most popular formats for 2D drawings include DXF and AutoCAD DWG, while 3D formats include Solidworks, Creo and a host of standard formats like IGES, STEP and SAT, to name a few. Now CAD has become a strategic imperative throughout the industrial market to create unique, high quality products which get to market faster.ĬAD programs are used widely by engineers across a span of industries, from industrial and manufacturing to civil engineering and plant design. It began with manufacturers adapting their processes to meet strict aerospace and automotive manufacturing guidelines and improving their time-to-market for new products. Who Uses CAD?įor the past 20 years, there has been a widespread adoption of 3D CAD software.

The use of 3D CAD software has transformed manufacturing over the past 30 years, allowing for more complex products to be designed and manufactured faster than ever before. Design engineers use CAD files for projects requiring multiple parts and components to fit precisely within a larger assembly.ĬAD users can efficiently produce 2D drawings and 3D models of parts and assemblies to be manufactured from their desired materials. So what's the difference between CAD and BIM?ĬAD, or computer-aided design, allows for design and documentation via computer technology. CAD and BIM file types differ in many ways, making a successful conversion nearly impossible. With building information modeling (BIM) files growing in demand among leading architecture firms, many building product manufacturers consistently ask the question, “Can’t I just convert CAD files to BIM files?” The short answer: No. These sophisticated programs are capable of creating extremely detailed 2D and 3D models.

For decades, product design engineers have used computer-aided design (CAD) programs - such as Autodesk’s AutoCAD - to design various parts and components.

Cad drawing