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The advantages of 3D solid modeling are fairly well understood and proven in practice. Surprisingly, given the obvious advantages, there are still engineering companies who have not adopted 3D technology. One reason may be a lingering belief that 2D and 3D CAD are in some way alternative methods of computerized drawing, which they are not. Modern 3D CAD systems are comprehensive product design environments in which 3D solid modeling and 2D drawing are completely integrated. The designer can move in and out of each mode seamlessly at any time, selecting the right tool for the task at hand. 2D drawings are often helpful for layout and as input to 3D models, and are still the preferred communication medium for many customers and suppliers.

From the system engineering viewpoint, an additional benefit of designing in 3D is the opportunity to migrate to performance simulation. Today, numerical simulation methods exist which allow designers to ‘test’ their design prior to fabrication. Numerical simulation is the discipline of designing a model of an actual physical system, executing the model on a computer, and analyzing the results. Simulation embodies the principle of ‘learning by doing.’ To understand reality and all of its complexity, we build artificial objects in the computer and dynamically watch the interactions.

As to innovation, it’s all about having time to think, to gather information and to explore alternatives. The quality of any design is to a large extent proportional to the amount of time the designer can afford to spend finding technical and product data, trying out ideas, exploring different configurations and sharing the current state of design development

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