What is CAD software?

CAD stands for Computer Aided Drafting or Computer Aided Design. CAD software helps you design anything from architectural blueprints to machine parts, to cars, to planes, and most things in between. CAD software helps automate the previously tedious “grunt” labor of taking a drawing and adding dimensions to it, manipulating it into different angles, putting differing measurements, flat modeling (2D), or raised modeling (3D), and other drafting tasks. This enables the software's users to create professional quality designs without manual dexterity or artistic talent. You don't need to be able to draw a straight line with a pencil in order to use CAD software.

CAD software comes equipped with basic features such as drawing functions (lines, circles, arcs, polygons and other shapes), 3D modeling/composite builder, shape alteration tools, and form fillers (color fillers or filling in shapes with patterns). Most CAD software packages show 3D shapes in one of two ways: wire forms composed solely of lines or 3D solid models. Common shapes can also be formed into certain features of a model (ie., holes, slots, pegs, pockets, etc).

Advanced CAD software provides 3D animation—the software takes flat 2D or 3D items and animates them. This is a great debugging feature because any errors in the model will be magnified by animated motion. For example, gears that have the wrong dimensions or design flaws might be detected during an animated test run. Besides motion animation, advanced CAD software lets the viewer get inside views of an object or “walk through” a designed building or 3D space.

How do you find the right CAD package for you?

CAD systems are by no means cheap. Historically, the most popular CAD titles are priced in the 4 figures. It is therefore crucial that you select a system that can handle your current needs and possible future needs. Here are just some basic criteria to consider:

Scalability

Your CAD software must not only meet today's needs but must be able to tackle a wide range and increasing complex set of design requirements. Make sure that your package appeals to the beginner, the intermediate, and the expert user.

Technical Support Availability

Most CAD packages have a wide array of tools that can have complicated settings. Pick a software package that is supported with at least web-based technical support so you can get the answers you need quickly and conveniently.

Ease of Use/Intuitiveness

By necessity, most CAD packages pack a lot of increasingly complicated features and settings into the same application. Look at the interface closely and see if you can navigate the tools in an intuitive manner. While settings and features can get real complicated as you need more and more specific features, make sure the software is designed in such a way where the features you can quickly understand lead to more complicated operations in a straightforward and intuitive manner.

Size of installed base

Having a large installed base means that most issues you encounter using the CAD software have probably been encountered by other users. This might mean there are answers posted on support forums or in the software developer's knowledge base. Another advantage of a large installed base is that it makes it less likely your CAD software will become obsolete or won't have a decent amount of usage/tutorial and other resources available.

Systematic training infrastructure

Since CAD software can easily get complicated almost as soon as you proceed from the most basic features and scale to more involved operations, it is important that you pick a CAD package that offers extensive training support. Some packages have such a huge installed base that there are both company-provided training systems as well as large networks of third party training systems. This is one of the benefits of picking a CAD package that has a huge network of installations--the large market of users encourages third party service providers to release training systems and set up schools. If you decide to go this route, make sure to consider if the software developer has a STANDARDIZED certification system. Stay away from systems where just anyone can get a "certified trainer" accreditation.

The Bottom Line

When assessing and comparing CAD systems, look beyond price. Look for solid features that will help you tackle both today's and tomorrow's projects. Focus on advanced features and their scalability. Think about your long term needs and whether the package has the installed base and resource libraries, online and offline, to meet these needs.