A Blog About Computer Aided Design

  • What is AutoCAD used for?

    What is AutoCAD used for?

    AutoCAD is perhaps the oldest, most complete CAD software package. Because of its age, it is the granddaddy of all CADing applications with an extensive user base and vast function set. Also because of age, AutoCAD also has the granddaddy characteristics. It’s rigid, meaning you have to train yourself to it and the whole experience […]

  • 3D Pens: What They Are And What To Use Them For?

    3D Pens: What They Are And What To Use Them For?

    Any artists or illustrator has once come across the idea of weaving his or her pen in air as opposed to on paper in order to bring an idea to life. With the recent advancements in 3D printing, that is all possible now. Just like the average 3D printer, the 3D pen is the new […]

  • Best 10 Ways of Selecting Objects in AutoCAD

    Best 10 Ways of Selecting Objects in AutoCAD

    AutoCAD is a 2D drawing and drafting tool. Hence any drawing that you draw, you want to have control over the elements, no matter how complex or overlapped the lines/elements are. So, even though all other types of controls are available in either the context menus or in the ribbon up top, the options for […]

  • Importing Point Cloud Data in AutoCAD: Tutorial

    Importing Point Cloud Data in AutoCAD: Tutorial

    Before getting into how to bring your point cloud drawings into AutoCAD, let’s talk about its context. First, a point cloud, for those of you who don’t know is a set of points, in any coordinate-based mapping system. In 3D, the X, Y & Z represent the three dimensions, and a point with coordinates x,y,z […]

  • 15+ ways of accessing commands in AutoCAD

    15+ ways of accessing commands in AutoCAD

    AutoCAD has multiple accessibility options for commands and functions. Let’s take a look at all the ways you can call on AutoCAD’s functions. In this tutorial, you may click on the illustrative images to see a zoomed in version. 1. Ribbon First and foremost, since the introduction in 2009, the command ribbon up top has […]

  • Preventing and Allowing Explosions in Blocks: AutoCAD Tutorial

    Preventing and Allowing Explosions in Blocks: AutoCAD Tutorial

    Blocks of elements can range from any size to combination. If you’ve ever had to hand over your designs for review or follow ups and editions get committed, upon receiving the drawing back, one of the biggest problems I run into is re-assembling blocks. Other designers may explode your blocks and may not always be […]

  • Creating PDF from AutoCAD DWG – Tutorial

    Creating PDF from AutoCAD DWG – Tutorial

    It can come handy knowing how to convert your drawings and designs to PDFs for the purpose of exporting or simply archiving. Whatever the reason may be, AutoCAD has the option to let you save your designs as PDFs. The print option has options for you to enable and use this feature. Keep reading to […]

  • How to use Rigid and Flexible Assemblies in SolidWorks

    How to use Rigid and Flexible Assemblies in SolidWorks

    In terms of assemblies, and this methodology of design, multiple sub-assemblies can exist in a main assembly, hence advocating a parent child relationship among the assemblies. In sub-assemblies, we have a combination of elements that make up the sub-assembly, some parts restricted or locked in place, others free for manipulation. In order to exercise that […]

  • VectorWorks vs AutoCAD: Head to Head Review

    VectorWorks vs AutoCAD: Head to Head Review

    Once again, AutoCAD is pinned up against Nemetschek’s Vectorworks CAD package. Another great tool and strong contender popular in the theater and lighting design, VectorWorks was initially known as MiniCAD back when it was conceived in 1985. This is the first review where AutoCAD’s two decades worth of legacy, reign and experience-based evolution falls short. […]

  • ePlan vs AutoCAD Electrical Comparison

    ePlan vs AutoCAD Electrical Comparison

    A peculiar topic and discipline in the field of CAD, from designing electrical circuits to laying out electrical schematics for a building, electrical CADing is a complete industry all together. Electrical designing for all scales, forms, architectures and even more practical applications need a solid software package to integrate the non-electronic drawings with the electric […]

  • Top 5 Open-Source FEA Softwares

    Top 5 Open-Source FEA Softwares

    We have covered a raft of CAD related articles on 12CAD.com. However, it is important to know that designing a product only serves as the first step in bringing it to life. In order for the product to survive the conditions of the environment and the application it is expected to fit in, it is […]

  • Top 5 CAD Softwares for 3D Printing

    Top 5 CAD Softwares for 3D Printing

    3D CAD was an industry-shaking concept. And it’s no wonder that every bit of advancement in the field has ushered forth a new standard for builders and designers alike. Whether it be architects or product manufacturers, everybody saves time and money when creating soft prototypes before actual production. As of just recently, the revolutionary advancements […]

  • Choosing the Best CAD Workstation Furniture

    Choosing the Best CAD Workstation Furniture

    CAD furniture by itself is an extension of furniture and arrangements that maximize a CADer’s comfort during the experience. The furniture complements the person more than the software, as is the case when you’re building your workstation from scratch. The furniture allows you to house all your equipment, with progressive advancements in design and function. […]

  • Top Five Affordable CAD Software Packages in 2018

    Top Five Affordable CAD Software Packages in 2018

    CAD nowadays refers to a broad variety of software packages which include everything from 2D illustration to virtual electrical-component testing. From simulations to renders and animation, every package brings with it new items and features, design techniques and tips and other workarounds or tweaks, CAD packages are an array unlike any other modern day industry-specific […]

  • How Much Does Solidworks Cost?

    How Much Does Solidworks Cost?

    SolidWorks is high end, industrial-grade 2D and 3D CAD design and illustration tool with simulation and industry-specific modules developed and built-in. Its user interface has won the hearts of many, and allows a much shorter learning curve as compared to the mammoth AutoCAD by Autodesk. Also, some industries are specifically turning to SolidWorks and breaking […]

  • Guide to the Best CPU for CAD Workstation

    Guide to the Best CPU for CAD Workstation

    The CPU is the core of your system unit. It is the source of all logical reasoning and processing power whilst maintaining a queuing mechanism stronger than any human mind or hand is capable of. This scheduling or queuing mechanism allows every nano-second’s worth of time to be utilized in order to multi task with […]

  • Best CAD Packages For Linux

    Best CAD Packages For Linux

    Linux is the open-source operating system, third in popularity in the category of commercial, off the shelf system software. Linux is robust and kernel based, and the fact that it is open source makes it the favorite for the developer community. Hence it is no surprise that Linux has an array of CAD packages available, open […]

  • 3DConnexion SpacePilot Pro Review

    3DConnexion SpacePilot Pro Review

    Whether you are a CAD specialist or graphics designer, at some point you would come across some form of 3D mouse aimed at improving your work efficiency. The popularity and knowledge of such computer accessories although considered a bit arcane can not overshadow the efficacy of these devices to the world of designing. Here we […]

  • Best Graphics Card for CAD Programs in 2018

    Best Graphics Card for CAD Programs in 2018

    The graphics card or GPU is either the second or the third most important element to CADing, no matter what your experience or nature of the job. The GPU aids the processor by taking over the visual components freeing the CPU for its own workload. Nowadays, GPUs (Graphical Processing Unit, or just graphics cards) are […]

  • Top Cloud-Based CAD Software Packages

    Top Cloud-Based CAD Software Packages

    One interesting topic of discussion is that of cloud-based CAD software packages. It’s no surprise that with the progress of time and technology, increasingly services and software are being shifted to the cloud for more than one reason. The reasons are credible and the option is a viable one on the whole, but is it […]

Got any book recommendations?