Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of a wide range of computer-based tools that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their design activities. It involves both software and sometime special-purpose hardware. CAD is sometimes translated as "computer-assisted" or "computer-aided drafting". CAD is used in a variety of ways within engineering companies. At its simplest level it is a 2D wireframe package that is used to create engineering drawings. This has however over the last 20 years been overtaken by 3D parametric feature based modelling. 2D and 3D CAD systems are sometimes used for graphically represented of plant layout, usually with the aid of specific machine geometry libraries and layout tools.

Related technologies: Computer-aided engineering or CAE, Computer-aided manufacturing or CAM

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