As CADD Centre celebrates 25 years of passionate training, we look down memory lane and see our heritage tied with one amazing technology – Computer Aided Design!
Engineering, has a rich history, from the first machine to the pyramids, all these marvels would have required the first step – design. Here is a brief look at the evolution of this design space, aided by technology.
Early History
The earliest recorded engineering drawings are those done by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. This stage gave way to more technical drawings, when distinctions were drawn between artists and engineers. The initial drawings by engineers were done using a pencil, T-square, triangles, scales, irregular (French) curves and drawing instruments such as compasses and dividers.
One of the first advances was a device called a Universal Drafting Machine which combined the T-square, triangles, scales and protractor. It enabled the drafter to create perpendicular lines at any orientation. The manufactures of this device included Bruning, and Keuffel & Esser, they subsequently attempted to develop CAD system businesses selling mid-priced systems.
In 1957, Patrick Hanratty developed PRONTO (Program for Numerical Tooling Operations), the first commercial CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programming system. Ivan Sutherland presented his “Sketchpad, A Man-Machine Graphical Communication System.” Among its features, the first graphical user interface, using a light pen to manipulate objects displayed on a Cathode Ray Tube. Hanratty and Sutherland are known as the fathers of CAD.
1970s…
This decade saw steps towards a specialized technology for design and drafting. However this stage was still just the germinating period. CAD system, then was a 16 bit minicomputer with maximum of 512 Kb memory and 20 to 300mb disk storage space at a price of 125000$. Apart from the obvious disadvantages; engineers had to sit with an operator to carry out their creative design and the process was very expensive.
1980s…
The 1980s were the Golden Age in the evolution of CAD. The various CAD pioneers, that are leaders today were founded during this period, these included Autodesk, Bentley and PTC. CADD Centre, like a true pioneer, saw the potential of Computer Aided Design and Drafting and joined the foray in 1988. A glimpse into the formative years of these world leaders is given below.
On April 26, 1982 Autodesk was formally incorporated in the state of California. By November the same year company participated in COMDEX Conference showing AutoCAD-80. AutoCAD was different because it was microcomputer program unlike prior CAD programs that ran on mainframe computers or minicomputers. This initial version of AutoCAD consisted of approximately 12,000 lines of source code.
Keith Bentley developed a software package called PseudoStation that enabled a user to access Intergraph’s CAD software from a low-cost DEC VT-100 terminal, effective when designers wanted to make changes to existing drawings. In January 1987 Intergraph announced that MicroStation would be marketed on both UNIX and PC platforms.
Parametric Technology Corporation was founded in May 1985 by Dr. Samuel P. Geisberg as SPG Consulting Corporation. PTC developed a new approach for CAD software, one that would be based on solid geometry and would use feature-based parametric techniques for defining parts and assemblies. Beta testing of Pro/ENGINEER began in September 1987 and commercial shipments began in January 1988.
CADD Centre was established as an authorized training centre by Autodesk, way back in 1988. Mr. C. R. Vaitheeswaran and Mr. V. Sathyamoorthy started Shanthi Anand CADD Centre to equip engineers with the AutoCAD tool.
1990s…
In the 90’s each of these companies went from strength to strength. It was this era that witnessed the visions of these companies translated into reality.
Autodesk founder, John Walker’s statement reflects the commitment to keep technology evolving – “…most companies that attain great value then lose it do so by failing to adapt when technological progress or the market demand they change.” In January 1991, Autodesk released AutoShadeVersion 2 which included RenderMan for enhanced rendering of AutoCAD images.
Bentley in 1995 began distributing Microstation independent of Intergraph. Various new software from Bentley included MicroStation Modeler – a solids modeling package initially intended for mechanical and MicroStation Review– an easy-to-use package for redlining and revising MicroStation drawings.
In late 1993, PTC began shipping Pro/ENGINEER Release 12 with a number of sketching and design enhancements. The Release 12 version of Pro/MANUFACTURING improved the software’s user interface by tailoring the number of menu options presented to the user. For example, if the user was doing three-axis milling, only commands applicable to that type of machining would appear on the screen.
The network expansion of CADD Centre continued. This decade brought CADD Centre to every nook and corner of India. It also went global in the 90s, establishing centres in Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also launched courses in Colour graphics and multimedia. The nineties proved to test and approve of the CADD Centre motto – “providing CAD education that makes student employable and employees innovative”
2000s…
The modern CAD era has been marked by improvements in modeling, incorporation of analysis and product lifecycle management. The CAD leaders continued on the same track.
Autodesk’s former CEO Carol Bartz said, “Look around you: If God didn’t create it, AutoCAD did.” In 2002, Autodesk acquired Revit Architecture, a Building information modeling software, allowing users to design a building and its components in 3D, annotate the model with 2D drafting elements and access building information from the building models database. In 2010, Autodesk released its first AutoCAD mobile application AutoCAD WS.
Creo is a family or suite of design software developed by PTC. Creo provides apps for 2D design, 3D CAD parametric feature solid modeling, 3D direct modeling, Finite Element Analysis and simulation, schematic design, technical illustrations, and viewing and visualization.
Research International Engineers was acquired by Bentley in 2005, with this acquisition Bentley acquired rights to distribute STAAD Pro. The results of the analysis are used to verify a structure’s fitness for use, often saving physical tests. Structural analysis is thus a key part of the engineering design of structures.
CADD Centre in the new millennium grew to be a multiproduct training centre. It took the road less travelled and ventured into fields of creative design, project management and electronic CAD. It has always been a visionary, establishing Dreamzone, Synergy and Livewire, it carried forward this tradition.
Interestingly, the software’s main selling point today is the same today as it was the year of its birth: productivity. The buzzword at CADD Centre too remains: Productivity. The evolution of CAD and the evolution of CADD Centre ensure productivity keeps increasing.
References: www.cadhistory.net | www.cadalyst.com