Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the use of specialized computer software to create, modify, analyze, and optimize designs digitally rather than drawing them by hand, allowing engineers, architects, and designers to produce precise 2D drawings and detailed 3D models with exact measurements and tolerances; programs such as AutoCAD, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and Onshape enable users to visualize designs realistically, quickly edit and iterate ideas, run simulations like stress or motion analysis to test performance before production, and generate files that can be sent directly to machines such as 3D printers, CNC mills, or laser cutters; CAD also supports clear communication through technical drawings and documentation, making it essential across fields like architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering, product design, and manufacturing because it improves accuracy, reduces costs, speeds up prototyping, and enables the creation of complex designs that would be difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional drafting methods.

Blender

Before beginning any work for this week's assignments, a fellow Fab Academy student and Charlotte Latin teacher Ms. Horstman walked my group through a quick introduction to Blender. With her instructions, I was first able to manipulate a square into a multifaceted and abstract object. This is what it ended up looking like.

[Insert image of strange looking shape here]

With her guide, I was able to learn about various Blender tools, including the Move Tool, which is accessed by pressing G, the Rotate Tool, which is accessed by pressing R, and the Scale Tool, which is accessed by pressing S. These tools allowed me to transform and manipulate objects with precision. She also showed me how to use Extrude, which is accessed by pressing E, to add depth and dimension to faces. I also learned about the Loop Cut and Slide tool, which is accessed by pressing Ctrl+R, and allows you to add additional geometry to meshes.

Cloth Simulation Tutorial

After completing the initial modeling exercise, Ms. Horstman walked me through a cloth simulation demonstration. To start, she showed me how to use the Add Mesh menu to create a plane. This plane would serve as the cloth in the simulation. Using the Subdivide tool multiple times, she transformed the simple plane into a sheet with many faces. The increased geometry was crucial for creating realistic cloth behavior.

Next, she demonstrated how to access the Physics Properties panel and add a Cloth modifier to the subdivided plane. This modifier treats the mesh as a flexible fabric material, allowing it to respond to gravity and collisions. In the cloth settings, she showed me key parameters like Mass, Stiffness, and Damping that control how the fabric behaves.

To create something for the cloth to interact with, she added a Torus object using the Add Mesh menu. She then showed me how to apply a Collision modifier to the torus through the Physics Properties panel. This would allow the cloth to detect and drape over it during the simulation.

[Insert image of cloth plane positioned above torus before simulation]

With everything set up, Ms. Horstman demonstrated how to run the simulation by pressing the Spacebar to play the animation. The cloth fell through the center of the torus, responding to gravity and conforming to the shape of the torus as it made contact. This exercise taught me how Blender's simulation tools can create dynamic, physics-based animations without manual keyframing.

[Insert video of cloth simulation falling through torus]