The Many Different Uses of AutoCAD – by Eric M. Hoover
When one is using computer aided design software, it’s typically in a classroom or engineering setting. AutoCAD, one of many products that is part of the designing of modern architectural wonders, makes dreaming up a 99-story skyscraper or mile long bridge as simple as dragging the mouse. Architects no longer need to work off of 2D drawings, thanks to the more than realistic modeling available from today’s technology.
In fact, 3D design is so futuristic that structures, sculptures, even humanoid statues can evolve from a few keystrokes. So, aside from buildings, what does CAD software help to create?
Renderings of Molecules – The use of 3D models not only assists in the creation of homes and office buildings, but also recreates a universe of tiny molecules to be used by scientist demonstrating molecular structure to students, or to bone up on a lesson for their own needs. Recently, a Harvard team was able to build a 3D-printed 10,000,000:1 rendering of a DNA-RNA molecule. Using data fed into a computer, the 3D model was created similarly to how you’d blow up a small photo. The rendering was developed by XVIVO – a science animation studio.
Retail Display Models – Displays like those seen in Macy’s on 34th St. in New York City are not just thrown together the night before. People actually spend years going to school in order to learn how to dress, position, and market the products and mannequins seen in those windows. Professionals in the business use 3D modeling software to gain a truly realistic feel for how to place the displays for optimal visibility. 3D design provides great depth and detail, which can enhance projects that need to be churned out quickly, yet still professionally.
Works of Art – They say art is objective, and many feel that the process of creating a sculpture or painting is just as important, if not more, than the final outcome. Some would indeed argue that building a sculpture with a 3D printer might be “cheating.” However, the same software can be used to help envision pieces getting ready to impress audiences all over the world. Many large sculptures are now designed using this form of computer assistance. Modern art hanging in galleries across the globe came to fruition with help from computer renderings.
Human Replication – Ok, not exactly a real human, but a perfect rendering of, well, anyone who stands in a 3D photo booth for a few seconds. We might be stepping into a Total Recall realm of Sci-Fi one day, but right now the technology exists to recreate a fully human-like sculpture using CAD software and 3D printing. A photo booth device, actually it’s more like a contraption, recently built using roughly three-dozen cameras takes a 365-degree shot of one person, and then exports the photo to a 3D printer, rendering a human-like copy out of plastic or cardboard. There’s one catch – the rendering isn’t made in one top-to-bottom process. You guessed it – a bit of assembly is required. Someone has to piece together their doppelganger after the body parts have been completed. It’s actually quite metaphoric.
Eric M. Hoover is a Social Media and Content Strategist, building global marketing campaigns for a wide variety of brands. Eric has a fondness for automotive and architectural design, and previously developed website strategy for major automakers and renewable energy companies.
