Category

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Insights into Computer Aided Design (CAD) for manufacturing, from 3D modelling and design for manufacture to file formats, technical drawings, and photorealistic rendering. Helpful reading whether you are refining an existing model or starting from an idea, sketch, or set of measurements.

20 articles

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

07 June 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Why Professional CAD Matters Before You Print

A clean, well built CAD model is the foundation of every good print or machined part. Here is why the design stage is worth getting right before anything reaches a machine.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

02 June 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Design for Manufacture: The Basics Every Part Needs

Design for manufacture is the habit of shaping a part so it can actually be made well. These are the core principles we apply to every model that passes through our CAD team.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

02 June 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Preparing CAD for Printing vs Machining

The same idea needs a different model depending on whether it will be printed or machined. Here is how we adapt CAD for each process to get the best result.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

28 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

CAD for Enclosures and Electronics Housings

Designing a housing around a circuit board is its own discipline. Mounting, clearance, ports and airflow all have to work together. Here is how we approach electronics enclosures.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

28 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Parametric vs Direct Modelling: Which Suits Your Project

Parametric and direct modelling are two ways to build the same part, and each has a place. Understanding the difference helps you brief a CAD job and edit it later.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

23 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

From Sketch to 3D Model: How the CAD Process Works

A finished CAD model rarely appears in one step. Here is the path we follow from a first sketch to a clean, manufacturable file, and what you can expect at each stage.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

23 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Lightweighting and Topology Optimisation in CAD

Strong does not have to mean heavy. Lightweighting and topology optimisation remove material where it does no work, leaving parts that are lighter, cheaper and just as capable.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

18 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Photorealistic Rendering: Selling an Idea Before It Exists

A photorealistic render lets you see and share a product before a single part is made. Here is how rendering fits into the CAD workflow and where it earns its keep.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

18 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Common CAD Mistakes That Cost You Money

Most expensive manufacturing problems start as small modelling errors. These are the CAD mistakes we see most often, and the simple habits that prevent them.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

13 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

2D Technical Drawings and GD&T Explained Simply

A 3D model is only half the story. Technical drawings and GD&T tell a maker exactly how accurate each feature must be. Here is what they are and why they still matter.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

13 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

Designing Threads and Fasteners in CAD

Threads and fasteners look simple but trip up many designs. Knowing when to model a thread, when to use an insert and how to size holes saves a lot of stripped parts.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

08 May 20264 min readGlobal3D Team

CAD File Formats: STEP, IGES, STL and 3MF Compared

STEP, IGES, STL and 3MF each describe a part in a different way. Sending the right format saves rework and protects detail. Here is what each one is good for.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

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