Computer aided design

     Computer aided design

A major use of computer graphics is in design processes, particularly for engineering and architectural systems, but almost all products are now computer designed. Generally referred to as CAD, computer-aided design methods are now routinely used in the design of buildings, automobiles, aircraft, watercraft, space- craft, computers, textiles, and many, many other products. For some design applications; object are f&t displayed in a wireframe outline form that shows the overall sham and internal features of obiects. Wireframe displays also allow designers to quickly see the effects of interact the adjustments to design shapes.  Software packages for CAD applications typically provide the designer with a multi-window environment. The various displayed windows can show enlarged sections or different views of objects. Circuits  and networks for communications, water supply, or other utilities are constructed with repeated placement of a few graphical shapes. The shapes used in a design represent the different net- work or circuit components. Standard shapes for electrical, electronic, and logic circuits are often supplied by the design package. For other applications, a designer can create personalized symbols that are to be used to construct the net- work or circuit. The system is then designed by successively placing components into the layout, with the graphics package automatically providing the connections between components. This allows the designer t~ quickly try out alternate circuit schematics for minimizing the number of components or the space requirement for systems.