Future of the CAX systems
The rapid development of computer chips and the increase in the performance capabilities of graphics cards are opening up completely new paths in the CAX world today. With this post I would like to venture a look into the future, even if I may be completely wrong or this development starts much earlier than expected ...
CAX systems are the umbrella term for all computer-aided systems for the design and manufacture of products. This term includes, for example, CAD (Computer Aided Design), CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) and CAE (Computer Aided Engineering). Since these individual software products are merging more and more and the computing power is becoming increasingly cheaper thanks to cloud systems, this trend is already clearly recognizable. Autodesk Fusion 360 is a prime example of this. However, this article is less about the individual functions of different CAX systems, but rather about a prospect of future systems. Perhaps this contribution also serves as an impetus to expand your own software.
If you are a fan of the Marvel series "Iron Man" with Tony Stark, you might have already dared a look into the future - especially when it comes to CAX technology. I noticed two things that are certainly the future.
We already know this technology from the smartphone - a voice assistant or an intelligent assistant. With “Tony Stark” this is “Jarvis” who, with almost infinite computing power, records and implements design adjustments, calculations and the generation of variants for the Iron Man armor using voice commands.
The second technology is currently suitable for the masses: Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Here, too, Marvel is pioneering the real-time 3D projection display of the product. I see tremendous progress in this area and certainly the future of design. In the future, a 3D product will no longer be designed on the 2D screen, but directly in 3D space. This has decisive advantages, since the dimension is directly visible and expensive dimensional errors can be reduced in advance.
The third technique is less based on CAX systems, but is related to the data that will be generated by the designs. From my point of view, it is conceivable that a marketplace will either be created here for finished designs and constructions or that the basis for a construction kit for the aforementioned "Jarvis construction software" will be offered. No matter how - the use of existing data (3D models + 2D drawings + manufacturing data + simulation data) will, in my opinion, become an essential part of the CAX industry with self-learning systems.
All three sub-areas are not completely unthinkable and will probably come faster than many would like! I am personally looking forward to these technologies and I am very excited to see what future computing power in the CAX area will enable. It remains exciting!