Home Shop Machining/CAD

Computer Aided Design

CAD systems are 2 dimensional, much like traditional drafting, or 3 dimensional modelling systems. With 3D, there are 2 approaches: parametric, in that work is started as a 2D sketch that is "defined" and then processed into 3D forms, or direct modelling, where 3D objects are manipulated. There is some convergence and the lines between these 2 approaches, and even between 2D and 3D, are getting blurry.

Home Shop Machinists use CAD to:

• Make shop drawings to work from.
• Model 3D objects to check for fit and function.
• Generate code to run CNC machines.
• As well, running structural analysis on designs is becoming possible.

Common Applications

Free for Hobby Use

• Fusion 360 - From Autodesk, parametric 3D modelling system. Requires online account but does allow some offline editing.
• OnShape - Fully web browser based parametric 3D modelling system. Free but models must be public domain.
• SketchUp - From Trimble (bought from Google). Very easy to use 3D modelling system. Intuitive inference engine.

Expensive but Industry Standard

• AutoCAD
• Inventor
• SolidWorks