Too many designers are still stuck in a traditional way of thinking. There are so many ways in which components can be manufactured today.

There are Autodesk solutions that are much better for manufacturing and you should definitely engage Micrographics to ascertain if these solutions will boost your capability and productivity. For instance:

• Autodesk Fusion 360
• Autodesk Inventor

However, if you have AutoCAD available to you, there is nothing stopping you from starting to design in 3D and generating files for manufacturing. 3D is a lot of fun once one has learned the basics, and the more complex soon follows. It is just easier to design in 3D as opposed to 2D orthographic projections.

Consider a mechanism that would traditionally be welded. Is it possible to design it for CNC cutting? Assembly by one person?

Here is just such a concept (a rudder leaver that is set at an angle to the hull of a Yacht)

Instead of using complex welded structures, aluminium plate can be profile cut, tapped and assembled. Just like a layer cake:

Consider the following mechanism (in no way would I like to tackle this in 2D). Note how the UCS can be aligned to a component in 3D (indicated by the yellow arrow).

This allows one to create a base and projected views directly from the component.

Polylines cna also be used to generate stations for a yacht.

The point is, using the humble platform of AutoCAD allows one some really special tools for creating designs.

If you need training using AutoCAD or help in your office to apply it correctly, please contact Micrographics so we may be of assistance.