Professional Documents
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Smart Clothes Rack
Smart Clothes Rack
Table of contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………….p.2
Task 1………………………………………………………..................... p.10
Task 2……………………………………………………………………..p.23
Task 3……………………………………………………………………..p.37
Introduction
We are living in a modern world, with the fast development of technology and the
replacement of robots instead of labour, as a result the demands for high-
quality products are rising too, there are a lot of products which are produced to make
people’s lives more comfortable and convenient, in addition, they can bring perfect
experiences to their lives in high-quality every day.
The i-Home Company is a leading company in Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam in the
field of home innovative appliances and they are focusing on meet those requirements.
Research and development (R&D) group is built up to solve newly appearing
problems and rising issues, it's also responsible for the new (showing the ability to
create interesting new things) product too. I am assigned to participate in a R&D team
of i-Home company and I need to team up with another individuals, to research and
develop a new creative product and make it real. The developing product must follow
engineering design process to ensure viability and meet customer satisfaction.
➢ Personal profile and team establishment:
To establish a good team, the team members managed and done MBTI test which is a
personality test designed to help him/her to identify some significant personal
preferences helps us understand ourselves better as well as know the most common
(feature/ quality/ trait). After the test, I’ve teamed up with three other members, they
are Ha The Viet, Tran Tien and Tran Khanh Toan.
I’m Nguyen Thuan Chi and I will do my best to become a good electronic and
electrical engineer. It’s great to have a chance to join a team in a leading company in
Vietnam to get hands-on experience in proactive environment and apply what I learned
in university into real life. My type due to MBTI test is ISFJ and arcording to function
table I can define my dominant character (ISFJ stands for Introvert, Sensing, Feeling,
Judging and represents individual's preferences in four dimensions characterising
personality type, according to Jung's and Briggs Myers' theories of personality type).
My type is introverted sensing, extraverted feeling, introverted thinking and
extraverted iNtuition. And there is functional analysis of ISFJ type (I 64%, S 76%, F
71% and J 57%). 40% to 45% population of the world has my temperament. People
who have this temperament is a kind of quiet, kind and conscientious. Can be
depended on to follow through. Usually puts the needs of others above your own needs
(make decisions mostly based on personal concerns and the people involved). Stable
and practical, we value securityand traditions. Well-developed sense of space and
function (see the world with more emphasis on information that comes through own
five senses). Rich inner world of observations about people (prefer to spend time and
re-energize in own inner world of ideas and images). Extremely perceptive of other’s
feeling. Interested in serving people.
My symbolic name is Protertor. Natural personality type matches are ESTP (Promoter)
and ESFP (Performer) (for more information, please visit
http://digitalcitizen.ca/myers-briggs/)
ISFJs are characterized above all by their desire to serve others, their "need to be
needed." In extreme cases, this need is so strong that standard give-and-take
relationships are deeply unsatisfying to them; however, most ISFJs find more than
enough with which to occupy themselves within the framework of a normal life.
(Since ISFJs, like all SJs, are very much bound by the prevailing social conventions,
their form of "service" is likely to exclude any elements of moral or political
controversy; they specialize in the local, the personal, and the practical.)
ISFJs are often unappreciated, at work, home, and play. Ironically, because they prove
over and over that they can be relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality
work, those around them often take them for granted--even take advantage of them.
Admittedly, the problem is sometimes aggravated by the ISFJs themselves; for
instance, they are notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do it
yourself"). And although they're hurt by being treated like doormats, they are often
unwilling to toot their own horns about their accomplishments because they feel that
although they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow wrong
to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is supposed to be a virtue in itself).
(And as low-profile Is, their actions don't call attention to themselves as with
charismatic Es.) Because of all of this, ISFJs are often overworked, and as a result may
suffer from psychosomatic illnesses.
In the workplace, ISFJs are methodical and accurate workers, often with very good
memories and unexpected analytic abilities; they are also good with people in small-
group or one-on-one situations because of their patient and genuinely sympathetic
approach to dealing with others. ISFJs make pleasant and reliable co-workers and
exemplary employees, but tend to be harried and uncomfortable in supervisory roles.
They are capable of forming strong loyalties, but these are personal rather
than institutional loyalties; if someone they've bonded with in this way leaves the
company, the ISFJ will leave with them, if given the option. Traditional careers for an
ISFJ include: teaching, social work, most religious work, nursing, medicine (general
practice only), clerical and and secretarial work of any kind, and some kinds of
administrative careers.
While their work ethic is high on the ISFJ priority list, their families are the centers of
their lives. ISFJs are extremely warm and demonstrative within the family circle--and
often possessive of their loved ones, as well. When these include Es who want to
socialize with the rest of the world, or self-contained ITs, the ISFJ must learn to adjust
to these behaviors and not interpret them as rejection. Being SJs, they place a strong
emphasis on conventional behavior (although, unlike STJs, they are usually as
concerned with being "nice" as with strict propriety); if any of their nearest and dearest
depart from the straight-and-narrow, it causes the ISFJ major embarrassment: the
closer the relationship and the more public the act, the more intense the embarrassment
(a fact which many of their teenage children take gleeful advantage of). Over time,
however, ISFJs usually mellow, and learn to regard the culprits as harmless
eccentrics :-). Needless to say, ISFJs take infinite trouble over meals, gifts,
celebrations, etc., for their loved ones--although strong Js may tend to focus more on
what the recipient should want rather than what they do want.
Like most Is, ISFJs have a few, close friends. They are extremely loyal to these, and
are ready to provide emotional and practical support at a moment's notice. (However,
like most Fs they hate confrontation; if you get into a fight, don't expect them to jump
in after you. You can count on them, however, run and get the nearest authority
figure.) Unlike with EPs, the older the friendship is, the more an ISFJ will value it.
One ISFJ trait that is easily misunderstood by those who haven't known them long is
that they are often unable to either hide or articulate any distress they may be feeling.
For instance, an ISFJ child may be reproved for "sulking," the actual cause of which is
a combination of physical illness plus misguided "good manners." An adult ISFJ may
drive a (later ashamed) friend or SO into a fit of temper over the ISFJ's unexplained
moodiness, only afterwards to explain about a death in the family they "didn't want to
burden anyone with." Those close to ISFJs should learn to watch for the warning signs
in these situations and take the initiative themselves to uncover the problem.
(according to Jung's and Briggs Myers' theories of personality type)
Introverted Sensing
As for ISTJs, the dominant Si is oriented toward the world of forms, essences,
generics. Again, "for both of the IS_J types, the sense of propriety comes from the
clear definition of these internal forms. ... A 'proper' chair has four legs," etc. (by Joe
Butt and Marina Margaret Heiss, Humanmetrics.com, 2017).
Extraverted Feeling
A kind of "regression toward the mean" provided by the Fe auxiliary function serves to
socialize the expression of these forms. I suppose it's the auxiliary nature of this
Feeling, coupled with the balancing effect of {detachment from the internal
idiosyncratic view of free-floating data perceptions} that makes ISFJs tentative,
conservative, and reticent to boldly state the rights and wrongs in the relational world.
(by Joe Butt and Marina Margaret Heiss, Humanmetrics.com, 2017).
Introverted Thinking
Introverted Thinking is turned inward and is largely invisible. It is only with great
difficulty, if at all, that the ISFJ could willingly commit anyone to their doom. Perhaps
this explains why ISFJs are loyal to the end; there is no sense of purely objective (i.e.,
impersonal) judgement of anyone but themselves (and that only by their own
standards). Here is this type's achilles heel that makes many of them so vulnerable to
the scoundrels and ne’er-do-wells who often use and abuse them. (by Joe Butt and
Marina Margaret Heiss, Humanmetrics.com, 2017).
Extraverted iNtuition
ISFJs are easily undone by Extraverted iNtuition, their inferior function. Believing in
the fantastic, and disbelieving the technologically extant, are errors that may guide the
gullible (or unfoundedly sceptical) ISFJ off a precipice of mis-conclusion.
This childlike Ne is, however, the likely source (coupled with fun-loving Extraverted
Feeling) of the practical joking, punning and (usually harmless) impishness of some
ISFJs. (by Joe Butt and Marina Margaret Heiss, Humanmetrics.com, 2017).
Following the clockwise arrow, this is supportive direction while diagonal is opposite.
We need to have a differences in a team to come up with more ideas or problems as
well as more solutions. While each person has a supporter, it means that they may
have same character or same the way of thinking and when they come up with some
common ideas, they can strengthen these. And when members in a team argue each
other, they will have the best solution for each issue.
Product planning
➢ Individual issue proposal:
• My problem
Each member must propose a critical issue so that the group can consider making a
product. Because I have a habit that I usually put my wallet in the back pocket of
jeans, so my wallet has been hooked by the robber twice when I go to university by
bus. I’ve seen my friends have some difficulties on finding their wallet they’ve lost
after having a meal in restaurant or washing their faces in the public toilet, they’re look
so tired.
• Potential solution
Before my solution, people have had some ways to reduce wallet losing, there are:
using credit cards or using digital wallet (eWallet) ( they have general features that
users don’t have to bring cash, they just need to swipe the cards or use their smart
phones to connect to the online bank transfer to pay online and users can pay more
than what they’re having at that moment then they refund and use as normal).
But I see one thing that in Vietnam, people use cash primarily and most shops and
restaurants don’t have card swipe machine or don’t have back account as well as not
using online bank transfer service, so solutions above are not appropriate. Therefore,
the solution I came up with which is created a better way to bring cash without losing.
There are several ways to make a normal wallet better such as smart phone activation
(the wallet connects to smart phone using GPS and Bluetooth and the phone will alert
everytime users forget wallet behind), fingerprint activation (store up to 5 fingerprints
and this locks the wallet and only unlocks on fingerprint recognition of the owner) -
the fingerprint method is chosen due to its simpleness and wasting very little while
working or producing something to even someone who is afraid of technology.
Because of smart functions above, this wallet will be different to normal wallets, it
needs power supply and long last without charging as well as can be fast-charged with
the battery charger. Those things will make the robber can’t hook users’ wallet, in
addition they also rarely forget the wallet on table in restaurant or washstand in public
toilet.
• Specifications
This product is based on a fingerprint, a bluetooth module and an Arduino
microcontroller chip. Fingerprint scanner is used for activation and GPS will locate the
wallet then send signal to smart phone through bluetooth module and if the owner is
away from the wallet, the phone will alert. While Arduino microcontroller chip is used
to control all functions through a code which is uploaded before by Arduino board. All
components are put into a small space and working under minor rechargeable battery.
Energy: Rechargeable battery
Size: Small, larger than normal wallet a little
Material: Leather
Features: Fingerprint + GPS + Bluetooth
➢ Group
• Issue and current solutions
My team have researched and we saw that in rainy season, people have some
difficulties in drying their clothes outside as they usually do. The problem is they
usually dry their clothes outside on the drying rack and when they go to work or
school and it’s raining, as the result their clothes are wet. There are some products in
the market which have already solved the problem but they aren’t familiar to
Vietnam’s people. So my team decided to design a product which is based on the
available one but have high-quality and ideas of the structure are provided by my
team.
• Other products
According to the research, my team has found some available solutions.
The first solution is the most ineffective way to handle this problem, it takes a large
home’s inner space and too much time to dry.
The second solution is the fixed rack and pull clothes back or frontwards from outside
to inside due to user’s settings but it doesn’t work automatically, user needs to control
it.
The last one is the most high-quality product, its operation is totally automatic thanks to
its sensors while the one disappointment is the size and user can’t move it.
Product
planning and
abstraction
5W and 1H
questions and
survey creation
Survey
conducting and
list of needs
List of metrics
and proposed
specifications
Concept
drafting and
mapping
Concept
drawing with
CADs
Concept
screening and
scoring
Concept
choosing and
re-mapping
CADs detail
Concept
implementatio
n
Concept
testing and
refinement
Concept
prototype
Write final
report
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Then, we come to step 2 and interpreting the gathered data from the survey, there are
survey outcomes,
The survey was conducted by 100 people and those are 57 men and 40 women and 3
LGBT. They include 62 students, 10 salespeople, 12 housewives, 4 production store
managers and the lefts come from different fields.
And here is the results
9%
24%
29%
38%
14%
86%
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8%
28%
47%
17%
14%
23%
63%
17%
79%
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19%
79%
6%
12%
82%
What would you do if you see that it’s going to rain while
the clothes are hanging outside and you are not at home?
7%
28%
44%
21%
Call the family member Run back home Accept to get wet clothes Other
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7%
10%
48%
35%
Under 5 million From 5 million to 10 million From 10 million to 20 million Over 20 million
8%
7%
30%
55%
23%
76%
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21%
22%
55%
20.20%
27.30%
52.50%
Wood Metal (Stainless steel, Iron,..) Do not care about the material Other
12%
12%
76%
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9%
49%
41%
Medium size, easy to move Small and compact Large, to be able to expose more clothes Other
14.10% 18.20%
29.30%
38.40%
16%
5% 28%
51%
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Shape
40%
Durability
75%
Price 58%
14%
The device is easy to clean
According to the collected data from the survey, we’ll take the most common choices
as a customer statement and then explain it.
Question Most common choice Explained choice
The feeling when hanging Uncomfortable Awkward with this problem
the washing in the rainy
season
The way they handle your Washing at home Handle by themselves
clothes
How frequent are you absent Regularly Don’t spend much time at home
at home
Do you want to solve this Curious Want to know the solution
problem
Have known or used any Not yet and never used Don’t know any product like that
automatic clothes rack
What would you do if you Accept the fact Can’t do anything
see that it’s going to rain
while the clothes are
hanging outside and you are
not at home
Monthly income 5 million VNDs to 10 million Average income
VNDs
How much they expect the 1 million VNDs to 2 million Affordable price
automatic clothes rack VNDs
Where they hang their Outdoor Place where their laundry can
washing easily be dried by sunlight
Fixed or movable equipment Movable equipment The equipment can be moved
easily in their place
Additional function Gather dried clothes Automatic gather clothes when
they’re dry
Material Metal It must be durable
Kind of power source Accu The power source can be
rechargeable and independent
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The equipment’s size Small and compact The equipment doesn’t take too
much space
Capacity 15 clothes It can store the clothes of a
normal family
Durability 5 years It can last in the acceptable time
Criteria which they care the Durability All the component should work
most well at least 5 years
Table 1.1. Survey’s results analysis
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Power consumption
Number of clothes
Battery capacity
Metric
Dimension
Life span
Material
Weight
Money
Shape
Need
Durability
Price
Mobility
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Capacity
Power
supply
Size
Table 1.5. Need/metric correlation matrix
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Source
(accu) Motor
Controller
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Ease of 0 0 0 0 0
maintainance
Capacity + 0 + 0 0
Ease of - 0 ++ 0 +
manufacture
Mobility 0 0 -- 0 0
0 2 2 0 3
Durablity 0 + 0 0 0
Price - + + 0 0
Ease of use - 0 0 0 0
Ease of
maintainance 0 0 0 0 0
Capacity + 0 + 0 0
Ease of manufacture - 0 + 0 +
+
Mobility 0 0 - 0 0
0 2 2- 0 3
Revised Y Y No
e conceptescreening
Figure 2.7. Completed
s
In concept scoring stage, concept 3 is chosen s
as a reference and there is a concept
scoring matrix.
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3.1 2.95 3
Develop No No
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Sensors
USB
port
Power source
Controller Motor
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As the result, the price for producting our product ( not included labor) is about
1,300,000 VND.
e) Produce a final design report
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(Autodesk.ca, 2017)
• Photo Plug-In: Quickly place any digital photo or image into your CAD Pro
documents using the Photo Plug-In feature. This is a great feature for Floor Plan
Software and House Plan designs!
• Paint Pro Plus: Easy to use paint tools allow you to quickly modify digital
photos or images to meet your design requirements.
• Auto-Shape Tools: With a simple click of the mouse you can add any of our
Auto-Shapes to your computer aided design floor plans in just a few seconds.
• Architectural Drafting Tools: Powerful point and click tools for quickly
creating any type of floor plans. These easy to use tools are great for any kind
of architectural drawings.
• Automatic Tape Measure Tool: CAD Pros’ automatic tape measure tool allows
you to know the precise distance between objects such as walls, symbols or
detailed parts of a drawing.
• Save any CAD Pro drawings as a PDF file: Save your computer aided design
CAD Pro drawings as a PDF file, this will allow you to quickly communicate
your design ideas with friends, family and consultants.
• Smart Dimensioning Tools: When creating drawings or blueprints that require
precise dimensions, let CAD Pro take the work out of the process. CAD Pro’s
“Smart Dimensioning” tools will automatically create all your blueprint
dimensions with a few simple clicks.
• Custom Clipboard Files: CAD Pro has the ability to create advanced custom
clipboard files. Users can create as many clipboard files as they want, while
keeping them handy for quick copying and pasting into other CAD Pro
documents.
• Sketch Tracing: Sketch your design on a piece of paper, scan it and it becomes
a traceable template. Saving you time and money!
• Free File Viewer: A multi-purpose file viewer and presentation tool which
allows anyone to view and interact with CAD Pro files even if they don’t own
CAD Pro.
• Free Do it Yourself Projects and Plans: Simply open any of the do it yourself
plans and projects and then customize them to fit your specific needs. Plans
include; deck designs, house designs, garage designs, shade arbor plans, tree
house plans and outdoor kitchens.
• FREE House Plans: Quickly view and print professionally designed floor plans.
CAD Pro includes some of the most popular house plans built. Simply open any
of the many CAD Pro floor plans and quickly modify any aspect to meet your
specific floor plan requirements.
• Microsoft Office Integration & Presentations: CAD Pro works excellent with
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other Windows® programs. Quickly
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insert any CAD Pro computer aided design document you have designed into
Microsoft Office documents.
• Email Image Imbedding: Quickly send any design created in CAD Pro as an
image in your emails by simply selecting the ‘Send as Mail’ option.
• Over 5000 Free Symbols Clip Art: Any designer needs to develop standard
blueprints so that your ideas can be easily interpreted. Common symbols and
their proper use can assist you in the creation process of your blueprints. CAD
Pro does include a variety of pre-drawn symbols and auto-shapes which save
time and money. CAD Pro allows you to create any type of customized symbol
you may require and save them as a symbol for future use, therefore saving
time and money.
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When it comes to 3D modelling both are similar and it can come down to some features
being better in one over another and personal preference of the user interface or what
additional features one has over another that is conducive to the company design
requirements and business needs.
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✓ Simulation
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✓ Collaboration
Here’s different ways of collaborating with Autodesk Inventor:
• Export and send a 2D/3D DWF file by email (or save it to the network) share,
collaborate, assign tasks, mark-up, measure, view animations, etc. using the free
Autodesk Design Review app
• Upload a 3D model and/or 2D drawings to the cloud (A360 Drive) to share,
view and track comments with stakeholders, manage versions.
• Upload a 3D model and/or 2D drawing and have people view it through a web
browser (A360 Viewer) and in real time, interactively invite stakeholders and
collaborate through the web, with functions like sectioning, measure, comment,
etc. without anyone needing to install a viewer.
Solidworks use the eDrawings Viewer program in Solidworks Standard and
eDrawings Professional in Solidworks Professional and Premium to share designs and
the typical workflow is to create content (or import content) in your edition of
Solidworks and export it to an eDrawings file.Solidworks has the 3D model based
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definition (PMI) which allows you to annotate the 3D model and share that
information rather than detailing a 2D drawing.
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✓ Translators
Here’s a list of popular translators, import/export functionality and how the CAD
systems can work with other CAD and neutral formats:
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✓ MS Office Integration
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• If you’re a general engineering company that works on parts and needs to cost
them, the costing module in Solidworks Professional is a nice feature.
(Australian CAD Blog )
Because in my section, I’ve used Autodesk AutoCAD to draw the draft CAD, so I will
have a small comparision between AutoCAD and Solidworks.
AutoCAD Solidworks
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And there are my team final concept 2D drawing with Solidworks support
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using the above criterion, AutoCAD emerges the top app for 2D CAD design for the
following reason:
Scope of work
AutoCAD comes equipped with all the necessary features and tools needed for the
design of 2-dimensional characters or models. With this app, users can design 2-
dimensional characters that cut across all verticals—engineering, architecture, graphic
design, modeling, and animation. Due to AutoCAD’s influence in computer aided
design, its file format the DWF is currently seen as one of the industry’s standard
which means other CAD applications are built to support its file format.
User Interface
AutoCAD can be called one of the pioneering design software of the CAD industry
and it has consistently raised the bar with its user interfaces and the intuitiveness they
provide designers. AutoCAD spots a simplistic interface, features and tools that are
easy to manipulate thereby making the learning process quite easy for both beginners
and anyone who has had prior design experience with any CAD application.
Cost and Availability
AutoCAD remains the oldest drafting software still available on the market and since
its inception in 1982, its parent company—Autodesk—has continued to release newer
versions concurrently to take advantage of both new design technology and the
advancing computer age. Therefore, the app and its different packages can be found
online with ease. Designers can choose to take advantage of its free packages or the
premium ones depending on your budget size. It is also important to note that
knowledge of prior versions of AutoCAD will serve you well when exporting your
design projects to its newer versions or any other CAD application on the market.
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User interface
SolidWorks is equipped with an expansive user interface, tools and different design
modes tailored to fit the user design needs. Its intuitive nature makes it an easy tool to
use for CAD users with some experience using design software. For beginners,
SolidWorks may provide some challenge before one can become proficient in using it.
But the multitude of tutorials—video and textual—available on the internet covering
the topic of SolidWorks, eases the slight difficulties that come with mastering its
interface.
Cost and Availability
SolidWorks can be purchased online and its packages are available worldwide to
graphic designers irrespective of their location. Its parent company also believes in
innovation, therefore, it releases a new version of the CAD application at the turn of
every year. A good understanding of any version of SolidWork can be translated to the
newer versions thereby eliminating the need to re-learn its features when upgrading to
newer versions.
The best CAD software for Architectural Design: Microstation
In architectural design circles, two CAD software applications—Autodesk Revit and
Microstation—stand out, which made it quite difficult to choose the best design
application for the architectural niche. But after pitting the pros and cons of both
applications against our criteria, Microstation edged out the Inventor as the best design
app for architects, project managers and interior decorators for the following reasons:
Scope of work
Microstation is an all-purpose CAD design software application which has the
capability to handle both 2 and 3-dimensional designs for architectural and
engineering projects. Microstation also doubles as Building Information management
system which makes collaboration between designers easy. Its unique features include;
Bentley architecture extensions, and Bentley building mechanical and electrical
systems. These features and extensions show that Microstation wasn’t built to serve
simply as a CAD tool, but was built to be a CAD platform for handling extensive
projects and providing solutions to complex modeling problems.
User Interface
Microstation is an advanced CAD software with a highly developed interface and
drafting tools built to handle both simple and advanced mechanical and structural
designs. Microstation has evolved with time and with the advent of the V8 versions, its
interfaces have been expanded to take on both the role of design and collaboration.
Due to the advanced nature of the software, learning to use its tools and features may
be quite difficult but having some knowledge of computer aided design will drastically
reduce the learning duration.
Cost and Availability
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Bentley, the parent company that builds Microstation, have spared no efforts in
making the software available to the general public and designers can purchase the app
in online stores as well as on its official website. As of now, there are no free
Microstation software applications available on the market. It is also important to note
that like many other major CAD applications, newer versions of Microstation are
released every year and knowledge of older interfaces can be transferred to these
newer versions. Lastly, the software falls in the range of $2,000 t0 $3,500 depending
on the chosen package.
The best CAD software for Designing Aerospace Components: Catia
Designing aircraft and its corresponding aerospace components require the use of
special CAD/Computer-aided manufacturing software for accurately designing
components, assembling them and testing their reactions to external forces such as
pressure and weight. And while there are several CAD apps that can be used to create
these 3D models only one stands out as the industries standard and it is Catia. Catia is
a 3D CAD/CAM created by Dassault Systems for the design of components used
primarily in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Scope of application
Catia provides designers with a suite of surfacing, reverse engineering and
visualization features which are used to create, modify and design complex shapes or
models. These tools also include the necessary features for testing structural tolerance
and kinematic functions. Catia also integrates aspects of systems engineering in
providing solutions to complex modeling problems these solutions include the use of
programming languages—C++, visual basic etc.—to solve complex issues.
Catia is used in various industries including aerospace designs, automation, defense
and the design of industrial equipment.
User Interface
The highly advanced nature of Catia projects means that its tools, features and
programs are designed to undertake tasks involving complex modeling problems
which mean learning to use the software maybe actually difficult. its interface also
integrates Building information management features to make collaboration between
designers, engineers and programmers possible. Also note that the new age versions of
Catia—V4, V5 and V6—are compatible which makes file sharing amongst them
possible.
Cost and Availability
Catia is not a popular CAD application. Therefore its availability on the market is
limited to the placing of orders which can be done by visiting its official website or
that of its parent company—Dassault Systemes. The suites that comprises of Catia’s
drafting tools are quite expensive and so are its supporting extensions thereby making
the app somewhat of a commercial product purchased by business, freelances and not
hobbyists.
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In 3D modeling, rendering plays a huge role for it is the feature that produces the final
product or 3D model the public sees which makes the need to obtain quality renderings
whenever possible quite important. Designers who are interested in obtaining quality
renderings for their designs usually achieve this with the use of third party rendering
software applications and after reviewing a number of rendering software out there,
Keyshot comes out as the cream of the crop. Using our criteria, here is an analysis of
the rendering software:
Scope of Application
Keyshot is a standalone rendering engine that supports almost all of the major 3D file
formats which makes importing and rendering 3D designs a piece of cake. This means
keyshot can render DWF files coming from all Autodesk’s product, DXF files from
Microstation as well as files in PDF format coming from other 3D CAD software
applications.
It is also important to note that Keyshot’s performance is entirely reliant on its own
rendering engine and the power of your CPU. Therefore, the advanced nature or lack
of advancement of your computer’s graphic cards does not affect the performance and
final result of Keyshot’s renderings.
User Interface
This rendering software’s interface is simplistic and very easy to use because an
imported scene from any 3D CAD application comes across with the geometry and
materials used in modeling that scene. And once the scene is in Keyshot, the
application automatically kick-starts the rendering process and the user will
immediately see the progress being made if he/she focuses on the screen.
Keyshot also comes equipped with a robust materials library in its suite which makes
the addition of external materials to an imported scene possible. With Keyshot,
designers as well as non-technical people can achieve specific lighting and extensive
textural fine tuning to produce realistic renderings.
Cost and Availability
Keyshot which is built by Luxion—one of the pioneer developers of the 3D mouse—
is available for purchase online and although its popularity is quite limited to designers
who make use of third-party rendering software applications, anyone can purchase the
app from the Luxion e-commerce website. Keyshot packages are quite affordable
when compared to the cost of purchasing any of the above CAD software application
listed in the article. So if you are interested in rendering software applications,
Keyshot should be the easy to go.
The best CAD software for 3D Animation: Maya
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Since its inception, Maya has stood at the pinnacle of 3D animation as the best app out
there for creating both simple and complex animations. In fact, most of the animated
movies and computer generated images used in non-animated movies have been
designed solely using Maya. Examples such as the animated movie Groods, and the
transformers in Transformer where designed using this application. This and other
reasons are why Maya makes our list as the best CAD application for 3D animation.
Using our criteria, Maya comes out tops because:
Scope of Application
Maya 3D is made up of an advanced user interface equipped with the necessary design
tools and features for creating 2D/3D models, animated scenes as well as rendering
these images and scenes to produce a complete animated figure/character or scene.
Newer versions of Maya also incorporate the use of programming to solve problems
associated with designing complex models. The design software also spots features
that classify it as a Building Information Management platform which supports
collaboration and the sharing of animated designs via social media platforms such as
Facebook.
User Interface
Maya’s user interface is designed to be intuitive when designing 3D models and
rendering animations which means it is equipped with both design tools and a
rendering machine for animating scenes. The level of complex design problems the
application is built to create makes learning its use quite difficult for beginners as well
as experienced CAD users who are new to using its features. Despite its steep learning
curve, there are multitudes of tutorials both off and online to help students/users
become acquainted with is features and workspace.
Cost and Availability
Maya—which was also built by Autodesk—is an expensive animations software
application to purchase but it can be easily be bought on any e-commerce store that
sells design software to the public. And like any other CAD software, Maya comes in
different packages with prices ranging from $2,500-$4,000. Autodesk also releases
newer versions of this software annually which includes a subscription plan for
students who do not have the resources to purchase a more complete version of the
application.
(Tutorial45, The Best CAD software list)
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Appendix
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Refferences
Australian CAD Blog. Autodesk Inventor Vs. Solidworks Review. [online] Available at:
http://austcadblog.com/2016/04/18/autodesk-inventor-vs-solidworks-review/
Autodesk.ca. What's New in AutoCAD 2018 | Features | Autodesk. [online] Available
at: https://www.autodesk.ca/en/products/autocad/features/
Cad.SoftwareInsider.com. AutoCAD vs Solidworks. [online] Available at:
http://cad.softwareinsider.com/compare/5-24/AutoCAD-vs-SolidWorks
Delta Software International. CADPro.com. Computer Aided Design Features. [online]
Available at: https://www.cadpro.com/computer-aided-design-features/
Humanmetrics.com. INTJ Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging. [online] Available at:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/intj
New World Encyclopedia.org. Computer Aided Design. [online] Available at:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Computer-aided_design
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