Before the invention of computer aided design programs, all drafts were made using simple tools such as rulers, T-squares, paper, and pencils. The result was drawings that could only be viewed as a flat plane in two dimensions: the length and the breadth. A 2D drawing can only be created using an x-axis and a y-axis.
The advent of three-dimensional design CAD software meant that designs could show the length, breadth, and height of objects. Three-dimensional objects can be created using an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis.
Using CAD software engineers, designers, construction experts, and architects can create detailed 2D drawings faster and more accurately than they can manually. 2D drawings can be used to develop highly realistic three dimensional models. Taking a 2D design and transforming it into a complex, highly detailed 3D model requires the use of sophisticated CAD software such as DraftSight Professional.
Using CAD software engineers, designers, construction experts, and architects can create detailed 2D drawings faster and more accurately than they can manually. 2D drawings can be used to develop highly realistic three dimensional models. Taking a 2D design and transforming it into a complex, highly detailed 3D model requires the use of sophisticated CAD software such as DraftSight Professional.
Why 2D drawings are important when ordering parts from a manufacturer
Why 2D drawings are important when ordering parts from a manufacturer
Digital 3D files have changed the way engineers work with manufacturers. Engineers can now design a part using CAD software, send the digital file to a manufacturer, and have the manufacturer make the part directly from the file using digital manufacturing techniques like CNC machining.
But although digital files have made manufacturing faster and simpler, they haven’t totally replaced the art of drafting, i.e. the creation of detailed, annotated engineering drawings. These 2D drawings might seem outdated compared to CAD, but they are still an important way to provide information about part design — especially information that a CAD file can’t easily convey.
This article looks at the basics of 2D drawings in engineering: what they are, how they work in relation to digital 3D models, and why you should still submit them to the manufacturing company along with your CAD file.
How are 2D drawings and 3D models used?
How are 2D drawings and 3D models used?
2D drawings and designs in architecture and construction
2D drawings and designs in architecture and construction
2D drawings and designs are still widely used in architecture and construction. They display the height, width, and length of buildings and structures. 2D drawings are commonly used for:
Site plans
Floor plans
Cross sectional drawings
Elevation drawings
3D modeling in architecture and construction
3D modeling in architecture and construction
While a 2D drawing can convey technical information, it cannot depict the finished result as realistically or with as much detail as a 3D model. Architects and construction experts use 3D modeling to show clients how a building will sit in its environment, what features it will have, and how it will look aesthetically. 3D models are also used to provide information on how functional systems such as HVAC systems and plumbing systems are to be installed.
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