Table of Contents
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) has evolved dramatically and has come a long way since its beginnings in the 1950s. All these advancements have had a huge impact on Product Design and with promising new innovations, the future of CAD seems to be set to bring about a substantial change in the way we design and create products. We are discussing a few of the major anticipated impacts on Product Design Services.
CAD Cloud
CAD Cloud is one of the most promising technologies that is set to change the way we work. Traditionally, product design process is sequential in nature; with one step following the preceding step. With the passage of time, agile product design process is becoming the norm and teams are working simultaneously on different steps often from different locations as concurrent working increases the efficiency of a project.
As this kind of working becomes prevalent, cloud-based working will gain acceptance as different teams can work on the project simultaneously, even from different locations. It eliminates the need of working on a desktop and then sharing the progress with the team members. Cloud-based working enables better collaboration and any upcoming issues can be sorted out by providing feedback on the spot. This improves the design and fosters innovation.
Virtual Prototyping
Prototyping is a vital part of the product design process. All new designs are prototyped before being manufactured commercially to check its viability and functionality. Testing a product without physically manufacturing is possible using modern tools. This enables removing major flaws before the prototype is created. Virtual prototyping is a step ahead and refers to the process wherein the need of creating a physical prototype is eliminated completely. This means that final commercial product is manufactured directly from the CAD model without creating a physical prototype.
While this technology looks promising, the extent to which this will become a reality is uncertain at present. The most advanced CAD model can still have defects that can be detected only when a physical product is created and exposed to real-life forces and stresses. The nature of future advancements in CAD will hold a key to the success of virtual prototyping.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR VR)
AR and VR are gaining popularity in the design process because of its visible advantages. 3D CAD Modeling Services gives designers a three-dimensional view at different angles and perspectives of their product. AR and VR are a step ahead and gives a more realistic view of how the product will look in physical space and removes guesswork from the design process. AR/VR software lay a greater emphasis on intuitive design and the usability factor, implying a reduction in the learning curve for beginners as compared to traditional CAD software. This can help increase the pace of innovation.
Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is one of the most exciting and disruptive manufacturing developments of the decade. Popularly known as 3D printing, it is still evolving and many more buzzworthy developments are anticipated in the future. Nonetheless, the current 3D printing technology have gained a widespread acceptance. The price of 3D printers is declining gradually and becoming more affordable. A time may come wherein 3D printers become a norm in our homes, similarly to the PCs.
Additive manufacturing opens up many for customization. A future where people can 3D print their indigenous designed keychain or a lampshade is not very far. Additionally, this technology enables local production and reduces wastages – two of the most critical advantages in the modern world facing climate change threats and rural exodus.
Closing
It is evident that CAD technology has had a major impact (both positive and negative) on the Product Design process and will continue to do so in the future. The advantages of CAD far outweigh its disadvantages and has been a boon to the designers. We at Tesla Mechanical Designs closely follow the developments and adapt ourselves to evolving technology. Check out our blogs to follow them and visit our website to know more about our services.