The use of Computer aided-design (CAD) software applications such as Autodesk’s AutoCAD Revit, Bentley’s Microstation amongst others, have long been incorporated by furniture designers and manufacturers in developing unique designs for prospective clients. CAD technology has become so important in the furniture and cabinet manufacturing industry that student interested in picking up furniture making as a career must take-up and peruse courses in CAD technology
This fairly recent revolution in the furniture industry has greatly improved the precision and arrangement of furniture designed specifically for use in office spaces.
Enhancing Furniture Manufacturing
The use of CAD technology has greatly enhanced the furniture manufactured for use in general office spaces and the private workspace of individuals in diverse ways which include:
Enhancing Creativity—with the use of computer drafting applications, furniture makers are provided with the opportunity to create designs, collaborate with other furniture makers with photo realistic 3D furniture modeling and renderings, and receive inspiration from already designed products available on most CAD software platforms. The extensive collaboration available on cloud platforms supports the sharing of ideas on designs that would bring something unique to an office space.
Precision and Accuracy—the limitations of drafting furniture designs by hand are numerous but the lack of precision and accuracy—when drafting by hand—stands out. The use of drafting tools eliminate these problems by incorporating automated dimensioning, and an intuitive workspace that allows a manufacture take control over all aspects of the design process. Some CAD applications also provide manufacturers with suggestions on the best dimensions and materials that should be used to enhance the beauty and durability of furniture designed on their workspace.
Increasing Manufacturing Speed—3D modeling combined with 3D printing can be used by furniture manufacturers to create quick prototypes of designed furniture. A CAD software is used to handle the responsibility of developing an accurate 3D model of a furniture design, this model will then be copied into a 3D printer which will be utilized to develop the final prototype. The speed, at which this can be done, totally eclipses that of traditionally drafting a design by hand and manually fixing all the design’s parts with physical tools.
Maximizing Space—office spaces are notorious for been small and cramped, therefore the need to maximize available spaces by adequately manufacturing and arranging customized furniture for them is real. Drafting by CAD gives you the flexibility to measure an office space, and take that measurement into consideration when designing office furniture. Therefore, every available space will be maximized while eliminating the cramped and uncomfortable look/feel most office spaces have.
Presentation and Customization—furniture manufacturers who routinely seek for projects involving furniture design, make use of CAD software applications to build models for their portfolios when giving a presentation to interested parties. These models can be rendered in such a way that it shows the audience how this furniture can be arranged and used by the staff of interested companies. Prospective customers can also note these 3D models, and request for personal changes in order to ensure that the manufactured furniture fits their personal aesthetic taste. And CAD use makes all this possible.
Maximizing Cost—finally, with the use of computer aided design tools furniture manufacturers’ cut cost by eliminating the possibility of producing impractical furniture that may be beautiful but have little or no functionality. Furniture models can also be tested through simulations of applied force on the surface of furniture to see how they will react to human weight or other equipment that may be kept on them.
So, creating a virtual prototype saves extra cost and the need for troubleshooting already made furniture and outsourcing these designs to a reputable CAD firm ensures that a furniture maker gets the best help when designing office furniture.
– The CAD Chief
