CAD - Computer Aided Design:
As previously mentioned on my home page, first, a design must be developed using a CAD (Computer Aided Design) package. I am a mechanical engineer, and I use a variety of CAD packages: CATIA, AutoCAD, IntelliCAD/ProgeCAD, BobCADCAM, or Inventor.
CATIA:
CATIA is one of the world's most power CAD systems. It is capable of designing very large, complex structures - such as automobiles, jet aircraft, military vehicles, etc.
AUTOCAD:
AutoCAD is one of the world's most popular CAD packages - because it has been around the longest, and is one of the easist to use CAD packages. AutoCAD has been termed an "electronic drafting board" - as it can emulate the commands that and design concepts that are familiar to drafts-persons.
INTELLICAD - ProgeCAD:
I have been a long time advocate of Cadopia's Intellicad. It is a freeware that is very similar to AutoDesk's AutoCAD package, with many similar commands and features. The beauty of this software is that it is free - and fairly powerful.
BobCADCAM:
BobCAD is both a CAD and a CAM package. BobCAD is very easy to use for both 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional CAD work.
AutoDesk's Inventor:
AutoDesk's Inventor software takes up where AutoCAD left off. Inventor is a true three-dimensional modeling software system. Inventor allows you to design three-dimensional products - and export the design to modern machining software (see CAM section). Inventor offers a lot of features that are found only in very high-end CAD programs - at a fraction of the cost. I find that Inventor is not as easy to use as is CATIA, but if a customer requests work to be done in this package - I can fulfill their request.
Summary:
In summary, I am skilled at many CAD and CAM products, and have tools that are capable of designing and machining jobs of any size. Please have a look around the website, and Feel free to contact me, me if you have further questions.
