Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is a design service used across a multitude of industries to create designs in either 2D or 3D to visualise the construction process. In many sectors, CAD has all but replaced manual drafting due to its numerous benefits and improvements, and CAD enables the development, modification and optimiszation of the design process to be undertaken quickly and effectively. Many engineering, architectural and construction companies utilise CAD services for high-end modelling, and many CAD service providers include specialised programs for 2D and 3D CAD rendering.
Which Industries can benefit from CAD Design Services?
CAD Design services are a versatile and efficient tool which is used across a variety of sectors, and whilst CAD does not belong exclusively to one specific industry, it is utilised in engineering and manufacturing on a very regular basis.
How CAD Design provides Value to Projects
Architects, engineers and construction industry professionals can benefit from CAD design services as CAD creates highly-accurate visual renderings of projects that are time-consuming and difficult to render manually.
One of the main value-adding advantages of using CAD design services is the amount of time, energy and focus that CAD saves compared to other, more manual ways of designing projects. CAD services utilise a range of software functions and applications to automate the processes of project design, increasing the speed at which the project is completed and freeing up the time of designers and professionals which can be assigned to other areas of the project and increase the overall efficiency and productivity of the team and project.
CAD design services streamline the design process, allowing designers to make highly accurate designs and modify them easily – a step that can become complicated and difficult unless automated. The automation of the design process also allows the designers and relevant professionals to preview the final design and to go back and access previous versions of the digitised design, as the design can be completed in one application and multiple versions of the project are stored in one place. This allows for quick and easy access to ongoing designs, and means that modifications can be made to the design whenever needed, including once the project is underway.
Traditional, manual methods of designing and producing plans often face limitations, such as changing project requirements, the inability to predict how different materials will impact the design, and several contributors working on the same project. Using CAD design services means that project designs can be shared between entire teams and multiple contributors, including contractors at the worksite. This way, it is much easier for the relevant parties to have input on the design and to raise issues or changes that need to be made, even once the job has already begun.
Types of CAD Design Services available
Many CAD services fall under two main categories: 2D CAD services, and 3D CAD services.
2D CAD Design: This service refers to any 2D drafting or designing processes using CAD technology to provide designers with fully comprehensive digitised designs. This includes floor plans, landscaping layouts as-built drawings for larger scale projects, which can be accessed and modified throughout the process. 2D CAD design can also be used on smaller scale projects, such as P&ID drawings and M&E drawings, which detail the plans and designs for installations, piping layouts and plant locations.
3D CAD Design:This design service allows industry professionals to fully view and understand a completed project in more detail, by offering the opportunity to zoom in and out of projects, view multi-level renderings and strip away elements to view the different layers of a project, which is an invaluable tool when it comes to identifying potential issues before construction. 3D CAD design is also useful for larger planning and design projects, as the software can create photorealistic 3D renderings of building designs within its surroundings.
It is a common misconception that 2D plans simply cannot meet the realistic standards of 3D modelling, as 2D and 3D CAD are often meant for different purposes. 2D drawings are often turned into 3D models once the initial design is approved, with 3D CAD models being favoured by architects and engineers for animations, computer imagery and photorealistic renderings.
Thinking of Outsourcing your CAD Design Requirements?
As is the case with many services within the engineering and construction industries, the opportunity to outsource CAD design services is a worthwhile and cost-effective undertaking.
When selecting a CAD design service to outsource design services to, it is essential to consider the unique requirements of each specific project.
OutsourceCAD is an experienced and multi-skilled UK-based CAD company that specialises in meeting the CAD requirements of structural, architectural and electrical engineering businesses. To discuss your business’s requirements, please contact +44 28 9009 8876 or visit their website today.