Unit 02

CAD INTERFACE
Contents
Introduction to CAD
Hardware Requirements
Various CAD software Available
Familiarization of CAD
Window
Commands – New File, Saving the file, Opening the existing drawing file, Creating Templates
Setting up new drawing
Units, Limits, Grid, Snap
Standard size of Sheet
Selecting Various plotting parameters
Paper Size, Paper Units, Drawing Orientation, Plot Scale, Plot Offset, Plot area, Print Preview.

Introduction to CAD
CAD is an abbreviation of Computer Aided Design.
Computer Compatible Mathematical Description of Object is known as Geometric Modelling
CAD software displays the Geometric Modelling of the object on Computer Screen in the form of Image
Applications of CAD
Product Design
Product Development
Product Optimization
Advantages of CAD
Can print, save and edit CAD product.
Improved efficiency in the quality of design.
Increase in engineers productivity.
Improve record keeping through better documentation and communication.

Hardware Requirements
The Hardware requirements for setting up CAD system are
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The primary function of CPU is to execute set of instructions stored in computers memory.
The capacity of CPU ensures proper working of CAD system.
CPUs capacity is specified by its architecture, clock speed, cache, bus speed and MIPS
Memory (RAM – Random Access Memory)
RAM provides high-speed short-term memory for CPU
CAD software is a complex program that requires most RAM.
RAM is specified by its capacity, speed, etc.
Secondary Storage
Like Hard-disk is necessary for CAD software installation, temporary files created and
maintained while installing or running the CAD software.
It is specified by its type, capacity, transfer rate, etc.
Display Adapter
CAD software requires graphics and image processing.
It is specified by capacity, resolution, colors, etc.
User Interfaces
The devices used for interaction/communication between human and computer as termed as user
interfaces, Example,
Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse/Printer
Operating System (OS)
OS is a program that is initially loaded into computer.
OS manages/runs all other applications/programs in the computer
CAD software also runs inside OS.
Various CAD software Available
AutoCAD (Autodesk)
Autodesk Inventor
CATIA (Dassault Systèmes)
Fusion 360 (Autodesk)
IRONCAD
PTC Creo (successor to Pro/ENGINEER)
Siemens NX
Solid Edge
SolidWorks (Dassault Systèmes)
LibreCAD
OpenSCAD
Minimum Hardware Requirements for Solid Edge V20
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processo
Memory (RAM – Random Access Memory)
512 MB
Secondary Storage
1 . 4 GB
Display Adapter
Resolution – 1024x768
Colors – 65K colors
User Interfaces
Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse/Printer
Operating System (OS)
Windows XP Professional

Familiarization of CAD – Window

Solid Edge is a computer-aided design (CAD) system for mechanical assembly, part modeling, and drawing
production. Developed with STREAM technology, Solid Edge is designed to increase software performance with an
interface that ensures maximized user productivity and return on investment.

Solid Edge STREAM technology boosts essential CAD user productivity by capturing engineers' solid modeling
design intentions through inference logic and decision-management concepts. STREAM technology makes Solid Edge
easy to learn, easy to use, and more productive than any other mid-range CAD system on the market.

Solid Edge Environments

To make the commands you need more accessible, Solid Edge has separate environments for creating parts,
constructing assemblies, and producing drawings. Each environment is self-contained. For example, all the commands
you need to create a drawing are in the Draft environment. Environments in Solid Edge V20 are,
Part Environment (Solid Part)
Sheet Metal Environment (Sheet Metal Part)
Weld Environment (Weldment)
Assembly Environment (Assembly)
Draft Environment (Drawing)

Part Environment - The Solid Edge part modeling environment allows you to construct 3D solid models with
true features. The part modeling process starts with a base feature, such as a block or cylinder, which you
build upon with part features to create a part model. Part features include protrusions and cutouts (extruded,
revolved, swept, and lofted), holes, ribs, thin-walled solids, rounds, draft angles, and chamfers. You can also
construct rectangular and circular feature patterns and mirror copies.
 Draft Environment - Solid Edge provides a separate drafting environment for producing engineering drawings
directly from 3-D part or assembly models. Solid Edge drawings are associated with the 3-D model, so that
the drawing reflects changes in the model as the design progresses.
You can create drawings that display various views, sections, details, dimensions, notes, and annotations.
You can also add feature control frames, datum frames, weld symbols, and surface texture symbols to your
drawings.

Familiarization of CAD – Commands

Steps to Create New File
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on New submenu
3. A pop-up window will open
4. Select Normal.d ft for creating drawing or Normal.pa r for creating part model
5. Click Ok
6. A new window to create drawing/part model will open.

Steps to Save File

1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Save submenu
3. Properties Pop up window will open
4. Fill the details required and click on OK
5. Then Save Pop up window will open
6. Browse to the location where the file needs to be saved
7. Enter the file name
8. Click on save button
9. The file is saved

Steps to Open File

1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Open submenu
3. Pop up window will open
4. Browse to the location of the file to open
5. Select the type of file to open
6. Select the file
7. Click on open button
8. The file will open.

Steps to create Template

1. Open up a New Drawing (Normal.dft) file.
2. Click on View menu
3. Then click on Background sheet
4. At the bottom right click on Sheet1
5. Then click on Sheet Setup
6. Note the sheet size mentioned (Ex : A2)
7. At the bottom click on that background sheet (EX : A2-Sheet)
8. Design the sheet as required using various drawing features, texts, etc.
9. Now the existing/new drawing sheets of same size at that of above background sheet will have the
template that been created. (EX : A2)
Setting up new drawing - Units, Grid,

Steps for setting up of units in new drawing

Method 1
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on New submenu
3. A pop-up window will open
4. Click on More tab
5. Choose Normeng for units in inches or Normmet for units in mm
6. Click on Ok

Method 2
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on File Properties submenu
3. A pop-up window will open
4. Click on Units tab
5. Select the required unit
6. Click on Ok

Steps for setting up of Grid in new drawing

1. Click on Tools menu
2. Click on Grid option
3. Grid will appear on the sheet and also grid toolbar will open
4. In Grid toolbar – we can customize the grid lines using Grid Options button
5. We can reposition origin using Reposition origin button in Grid toolbar
6. We can reset origin position by using Zero Origin button in Grid toolbar
7. We can create drawings by taking aid of x and y co-ordinates

Setting up new drawing - Standard size of Sheet

Steps for setting up of standard size of sheet

1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Sheet Setup option
3. Sheet setup pop-up window will open
4. Under size tab choose the required standard sheet size (EX: A4 Wide (297mm X 210mm)
5. For customized sheet size use custom option
6. Click on OK
Selecting Various plotting parameters - Paper Size, Paper Units, Drawing Orientation, Plot Scale, Plot Offset

Paper Size
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Print option
3. Print Dialog pop-up window will open
4. Click on Properties button
5. Select the paper size (Ex: A4)
6. Click on Ok

Paper Units
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Sheet Setup option
3. Sheet setup pop-up window will open
4. Under size tab choose the required paper units (Ex: mm/in/cm)
5. Click on OK

Drawing Orientation
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Print option
3. Print Dialog pop-up window will open
4. Click on Properties button
5. Select the Orientation (Ex: Landscape/Portrait)
6. Click on Ok

Plot Scale
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Print option
3. Print Dialog pop-up window will open
4. Click on settings button
5. Select/enter the scale
 Fit to printer margins
 Scale line widths
 Manual scale
 Scale line types
6. Click on Ok

Plot Offset
1. Click on File menu
2. Click on Print option
3. Print Dialog pop-up window will open
4. Click on settings button
5. Enter the values of the origin X and Y at a offset distance
6. Note that plot offset can be used only when sheet size or plot scale is less than the paper size
7. Click on Ok