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What is CAD?

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CAD stands for Computer Aided Design.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is when people use computer programs or online applications (apps) to help them design new products.

Before computers existed, designers would create drawings and make 3D models of their ideas to help them understand what the finished product would look like.

Now, many products are designed with the help of a computer. Some examples of products that can be designed using a computer are buildings, vehicles and clothes.

Boy jumping excitedly
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Video: Computer Aided Design

Join Emma in the workshop to find out about Computer Aided Design.

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Why is CAD used?

There are many reasons why CAD is used.

  • It is often quicker to produce accurate designs using CAD than to produce the same type of designs by hand.

  • It allows for changes to be made easily to designs, without having to redo hand drawn designs or rebuild 3D models.

  • It allows designers to view their designs from different angles.

CAD can help designers save time and money after they have first bought a program or access to an online application.

A 3D boat model
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Types of CAD

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, A floorplan, 2D CAD 2D CAD lets people see a flat version of their design or model. This is sometimes a simpler way to design and is often used for designing building floor plans and packaging layouts.
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Who uses CAD?

Woman in hard hat and hi viz working at a computer terminal with a design for a machine part on screen

Computer-aided design is used in a wide variety of jobs but anyone can use CAD.

There are lots of simple CAD programs available. CAD can help you present your ideas for products and designs.

They might be things you want to make, or things you just want to see.

Woman in hard hat and hi viz working at a computer terminal with a design for a machine part on screen
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CAD and careers

Take a look at these different careers that use CAD.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 4, A woman making a detailed model of a building, Architects Architects design buildings. They need to think about what a building will look like, how much space it will take up and how strong it will be. CAD programs let them see their design, how it will look in its surroundings, and test it for strength.
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Quiz

Take this quiz to find out what you know about CAD.

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