For many years, computer-aided design (CAD) has fundamentally reshaped engineering and product development around the world. What began as manual blueprinting at a drafting table with drawing pens and templates has now transformed into intuitive digital experiences. These drawing tables took up a lot of space, and creating effective blueprints required tremendous skill, time, and attention to detail. The UNIX system gained popularity as it provided greater precision, speed, and efficiency.

However, the 1990s ushered in a major shift with CAD software being accessible to more users through Windows machines that were much cheaper than specialized CAD workstations. The cost per seat decreased significantly compared to the UNIX system, and the CAD software became easier to master while requiring less sophisticated hardware on personal computers. Now, engineers can use CAD to create innovations such as industrial machinery, dumbbells, microrobots, and doorbell cameras.

Over the years, CAD has developed into a community of dedicated designers, engineers, creators, and students who are eager to learn, network, and share their love for advancements in technology with each other. Modern CAD software has also become more accessible to a wider group of people, including academics, DIY enthusiasts, and even children. With technology such as AI and deep learning models being incorporated into CAD in recent years, we can expect smarter design tools with greater accessibility and capabilities in the near future.

Source: SolidWorks