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Abstract More and more, industry professionals are turning to computer
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modeling software to help design machines, factories, assembly
plants and civil engineering projects in addition to the products
and tools they manufacture. This paper will take a closer look at
the growing field of computer-aided manufacturing design, dis-
cussing the use of such technologies as well as their applications
in the important arenas of architecture, manufacturing and the
medical device industry.Overview7211
The famed science-fiction author Isaac Asimov once com-
mented, “I do not fear computers,” adding, “I fear a lack of
them.” Indeed, the modern world has become heavily dependent
on computer technology, which has become vital for virtually
every aspect of life in the 21st century; invaluable for commerce,
education, government, health care and even the simplification
of household affairs.
Computer technology has also become a key component in orga-
nizing and processing data. It is also being used increasingly in
crafting a road to the future. Weather forecasters use computer
modeling and imagery to better predict storm patterns, and econ-
omists use similar technologies to help understand market trends
of the present and the near future. Computer modeling software
is even used in hospital and medical research facilities, help-
ing doctors and medical professionals track patient responses to
medications as well as to better conduct surgical procedures.
The manufacturing and engineering industries are no excep-
tion. More and more, industry professionals are turning to
computer modeling software to help design machines, factories
and assembly plants and civil engineering projects in addition to
the products and tools they manufacture. This paper will take a
closer look at the growing field of computer-aided manufactur-
ing design, discussing the use of such technologies as well as
their applications in a number of important arenas.
A Brief History of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
The practice of using computers for the purposes of design-
ing complex machinery and systems began in the early 1960s,
although it was conducted privately with specific design purposes
in mind. Specifically, the automotive, electronics and aerospace
industries employed such design techniques through automated
3-D modeling programs (“History of CAD,” 2009).
Early computer-aided design (CAD) programs, however, were
extremely complex, expensive and required massive computer
hardware systems to conduct their calculations. Few industries
could afford to support such systems. Among the companies that
did utilize such systems were US automaker General Motors, US aerospace giant Lockheed and European automaker Renault.
These applications stemmed from the 1963 program known
as “SKETCHPAD,” which was created by MIT scientist Ivan
Sutherland. That system, for the first time, contained a feature that
enabled the designer to interact with his or her computer through
graphics. Such a graphical user interface would ultimately
become indispensable among computer-aided design circles.
Particularly notable among these systems were the works of Dr.
Peter J. Hanratty, who in 1964 introduced Design-Augmented
by Computer (DAC-1) for GM. In 1971, Hanratty rolled out the
program known as ADAM – Automated Drafting and Machining
– not long after he started his own firm, Manufacturing and Con-
sulting Services, Inc. Shortly thereafter, Hanratty began offering
code to a number of companies outside of the three discussed
above. Among the industry leaders who would adopt similar