CAD and 3d modeling saves time especially when you add a 3d printer. Just a few short years ago when developing a new science like ‘therapy exoskeletons’ prototyping took so long. We have been at this for 27 years and we have seen the evolution of a science.
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In the old days the design engineer would come up with a design and the draftsman (that right they were mostly all men) would make up the drawings. The engineer would consult with the draftsman to help with some math and concepts. When the visionary, the engineer and the
When those drawings were done they would go out to the printer to have blueprints made. draftsman all could agree that the drawings were good they would be made ready to send out. These drawings in 1986 and 1987 were done with pencil. The latest advancement was mechanical pencil and an electric eraser that would spin to help the draftsman ‘cut’ or ‘delete’.
Those had to come back to the shop to be reviewed by the engineer again. Then approved or not. If not approved they literally went back to the drawing board. It was a board that had paper taped to.
Approved drawings went to the printer, blueprints that were approved went to the machine shop.
Usually eight weeks after the blueprints arrived the part would come back to the shop and the engineer would put them together to see if they fit. Larger parts would go to the shop foreman who would have the new ‘gofer’ employees assemble, or try to assemble.
If the parts were wrong they would go back to the drawing board again and have to go through the whole process again.
Today we are able to use 3d printers so that only hours after the design engineer makes a CAD model we can be holding it in our hands to see if it fits. Amazing how much time it saves.
We can avoid going back to the drawing board for the gift of walking and use it just for artistic expression.
