virtualization of design and production a thesis - Bilkent University

machines for the manufacture of products in high or medium volumes initially
seems unrealistic as cycle times, materials costs and capital equipment for
processes such as injection molding are generally far lower than those for RP.
However an appreciation that zero tool costs, reduced lead times and
considerable gains in terms of freedom in product design and production
schedules may significantly benefit manufacturing will help in accepting the
potential benefits to be gained." (Hopkins 197). On the other hand recent
developments in Rapid Manufacturing technologies enable the move from
prototype to production economics, this, in turn permits the mass production of
individually customized products, generally referred to as “Mass Customization”
(Bak 340).
3.5. Designers and Computer Aided Design Technology
According to the ACARD report on ‘Computer aided design and manufacture’,
the major benefit of CAD is undoubtly the improvement of designer and draught
person productivity. It is argued that the increase in draught person productivity
has a positive effect on designer productivity, since the designer is released from
the task of producing a detailed drawing, which he may otherwise have had to do
because of a lack of skilled draught persons.
Getting used to design through software may be challenging for the designer
despite the possibilities that it offers. In the process of design, CAD software
influences the designer in a certain manner so that the designer himself starts to
get used to think through the screen. CAD software becomes an element of
creativity although it does not have the ability. The reason for that is the
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