Introduction To CAD 1
CAD 1 creates a whole new perspective with drafting and design in the real world. The class teaches students how to draw and dimension mechanical drawling's on paper and CAD drawling's online. This class not only teaches you the fundamentals about drafting in general, it shows students how manufactured items are all designed and created. The student also gets a small introduction to architecture and is exposed to how buildings are drafted. Drafting in general is essential for communicating a designed idea in engineering and industry. I liked learning how to precisely and efficiently learn how to draft on both paper and the computer knowing that almost everything that is manufactured has to go through this same process. The mechanical drawings can get tedious at times and it is very hard to fix or erase a mistake on paper.
Mechanicals
Mechanical drawings are precise, hand drawn, drafting that is done with precision instruments. All manufactured objects have to be drafted and mechanical drawings are the backbone of the drafting industry. Mechanical drawings may be the older and the inferior style of drafting when compared to Auto CAD, but it is still necessary to learn the background of drafting on paper.
Auto CAD (2D)
Auto CAD is a computer aided drafting and design software, which was developed by Autodesk. Auto CAD is not only very accurate, it is also easy to use when you have the knowledge of basic drafting. The Auto CAD application has become the modern day mechanical drawing, with most industry design and engineering/architecture drafting being created on Auto CAD. It may be complex and hard to use at first, but once you know your way around the software, you will be able to finish drawings in half of the time when compared to a mechanical drawing.
Onshape (3D)
Onshape is a online computer aided drafting/design system and software that is similar to Auto CAD. The main difference between Auto CAD and Onshape is the fact that Auto CAD is strictly for 2D and 3D drawings/designs. Onshape dives deeper with real time analytics like the volume, surface area, and weight on the object. Onshape also allows the user to chose different materials from its material library to apply to the object for real life statistics. Onshape is a system that shows how far drafting and design have come within the modern world.
Architecture
Architecture involves the practical science and art of designing any type of physical structures, like buildings. Architecture is the process of sketching, designing, planning, and the actual construction of a certain building. There are 6 types of architecture, which includes domestic, governmental, commercial/industrial, recreational, religious, and welfare/educational. A computer software for architecture we used in CAD 1 was called Revit, which is a design software that supports all phases that are involved when designing and building a structure. Essentially without architecture, there is no correct physical environment that people could easy live within. Architecture is a solution for poverty, overpopulation, and land depletion.
Architect Presentation
For this project, we were able to choose an architect we wanted to research, and I picked Antoni Gaudi. The project helped the class see how these successful architects were before they became famous and the work they designed and help build. The buildings that these architects designed are truly amazing and it showed me the endless possibilities architects have in their profession.
Two Car Garage
The main drawling/assignment I had to complete for the architecture unit was drafting out a floorplan for a two car garage on Revit. It was really fun going through the process of making the garage, and it interested me greatly. I personally wish that we had more opportunities to draft out other buildings in this Computer Aided Drafting Course.
3D Printing
3D printing is an additive manufacturing process, which is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a digital 3D model. This idea can also be known as stereolithography, defining as a system for generating three dimensional objects. A 3D printer can use many different polymers, the two main types that Mr. Zeroth's CAD 1 class uses are ABS and PLA plastics. 3D printing can be used in both the industrial and domestic/hobby worlds. Industrial uses include rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, mass construction, and mass production. Domestic/hobby uses include clothing, 3D-Bio printing, 3D printing for implant and medical devices, and 3D printing service.
This 3D printed object is an outline of a whitetail deer, also known as a buck. This particular 3D sketch came from Thingiverse.com, which has hundreds of downloadable 3D models. I chose to 3D print a deer because I love to hunt and it is one of my favorite things to do. I am blessed to say I have harvested many deer in my lifetime, and some were very nice bucks just like this 3D printed deer. Overall the object I 3D printed turned out very well.
Conclusion
In the end, Computer Aided Drafting 1 has introduced to me many interesting topics and careers I may want to pursue further. This class has taught me the basics of drafting not only mechanically, but on computer software like Auto CAD and Onshape. Other main subjects that were introduced were 3D printing and architecture. I found after making the architect slide show and the two car garage, that architecture is very engaging. It is fascinating to learn about how to draft out different buildings and research different architects. In the future I definitely want to take the architecture course if it is offered at the high school and even look into architecture/civil engineering at different colleges.