The Evolution of CAD Software: From Sketchpad to Modern Powerhousesby FPDieulois :: 2025-11-06
The Dawn of Interactive Design: Sketchpad (1963)
The story of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software begins in the early 1960s, a time when computers were room-sized behemoths
and the idea of drawing on a screen seemed like science fiction.
In 1963, Ivan Sutherland, a visionary PhD student at MIT, unveiled Sketchpad: A Man-Machine Graphical Communication System.
This groundbreaking program, developed under the guidance of Claude Shannon, introduced the world to interactive computer graphics.
Sketchpad ran on the TX-2, one of the 1st computers capable of real-time interaction.
Using a light pen—a precursor to today's stylus—users could draw lines, circles, and other shapes directly on a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display.
What made it revolutionary were features like constraints (e.g., forcing lines to remain parallel)
and hierarchical structures, allowing complex designs to be built from reusable components.
Though limited to 2D and confined to research labs, Sketchpad laid the foundation
for graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and object-oriented design principles still used in CAD today.
It proved that humans could "talk" to machines visually, sparking the CAD revolution.
Parametric Pioneers: I-DEAS and SDRC (1982)
Fast-forward two decades, and CAD had evolved from academic curiosity to industrial necessity,
driven by the need for precise engineering in aerospace and automotive sectors.
In 1982, the Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (SDRC), founded in 1967, released I-DEAS (Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis System).
This parametric 3D modeling tool was a game-changer, emphasizing history-based design where changes to early parameters automatically updated downstream features.
SDRC's roots traced back to finite element analysis (FEA) consulting, but I-DEAS integrated modeling, simulation, and manufacturing into one platform.
It supported solid and surface modeling, making it ideal for complex assemblies.
By the late 1980s, I-DEAS powered designs for giants like Boeing and General Motors, boasting over 5,500 licenses worldwide.
Its variational geometry solver allowed "what-if" scenarios, reducing errors and iteration time—a far cry from manual drafting.
Democratizing Drafting: AutoCAD (1982)
The same year I-DEAS debuted, Autodesk was born in a California garage.
Founded by John Walker and a team of engineers disillusioned with expensive mainframe CAD, the company released AutoCAD 1.0 in 1982.
Unlike its high-end rivals, AutoCAD was affordable (under $1,000) and ran on personal computers like the IBM PC,
making professional drafting accessible to small firms and freelancers.Initially 2D-focused,
AutoCAD used a command-line interface with DWG file format, enabling precise vector-based drawings for architecture and mechanical engineering.
Its scripting language (AutoLISP) allowed customization, fueling rapid adoption.
By 1986, it had sold thousands of copies, and versions like AutoCAD LT (1993) further lowered barriers.
Today, with over 100 million users, AutoCAD remains the gold standard for 2D/3D design, embodying the shift from elite tools to everyday software.
French Precision: CATIA (1981) and Euclid's Integration
Across the Atlantic, France's Dassault Aviation sought to streamline aircraft design amid Cold War demands.
In 1977, they initiated CATI (Conception Assistée Tridimensionnelle Interactive),
which evolved into CATIA V1 in 1981 under Dassault Systèmes, a new subsidiary.
Released as an add-on to Lockheed's CADAM, CATIA excelled in 3D surface modeling for aerodynamics,
quickly becoming indispensable for aerospace (e.g., Boeing's 777 in 1990).
CATIA's strength lay in its parametric, feature-based approach, supporting wireframe, surface, and later solid modeling.
It integrated with NC programming for manufacturing, a boon for complex curves in fighter jets like the Mirage.
Enter Euclid, developed by Matra Datavision in 1980 as Euclid-IS,
a hybrid solid modeler blending boundary representation (B-Rep) and constructive solid geometry (CSG).
Known for free-form surfacing and NC machining, Euclid powered designs in automotive and consumer goods.
In 1998, Dassault Systèmes acquired Matra Datavision for $132 million, folding Euclid's technologies— including Strim (surface modeling) and Euclid Styler—into CATIA.
This merger enhanced CATIA's hybrid capabilities, making it a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) powerhouse used by Airbus, Ford, and Tesla.
Streamlined Innovation: Strim100 and Think3 (1990s)
As CAD matured, niche tools emerged for specialized needs.
Strim100, released around 1998 by Matra Datavision (pre-acquisition), was an advanced surface modeler within the Strim suite.
Building on Euclid's legacy, it offered intuitive tools for Class-A surfacing—high-quality, aesthetically pleasing curves for automotive exteriors.
Post-1998, Strim integrated into CATIA, bolstering its automotive modules.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Think3 launched in the early 1990s as a parametric 3D CAD system from Think3 S.r.l. (formerly CAD.LAP).
Aimed at mechanical design, it featured direct modeling with real-time collaboration, running on Unix and later Windows.
Think3's "intent manager" preserved design intent across modifications, appealing to SMEs in Europe.
By 2000, it competed with mid-market players like Solid Edge, but faced challenges in the consolidating industry
Parametric Power: SolidWorks (1995)
The mid-1990s saw CAD go mainstream on Windows desktops.
In 1995, Jon Hirschtick, a former MIT classmate of Sutherland's, founded SolidWorks and released SolidWorks 95.
Built on the Parasolid kernel (from ShapeData), it introduced intuitive, feature-based 3D modeling with drag-and-drop ease— no programming required.
Priced at $4,000 (half the cost of rivals), SolidWorks targeted mechanical engineers with tools for assemblies, simulations, and photorealistic rendering.
Dassault Systèmes acquired it in 1997 for $310 million, integrating it into their ecosystem alongside CATIA.
Today, with 6 million users, SolidWorks dominates education and product design, proving CAD could be both powerful and approachable.
Mergers and Modern Mastery: NX and the I-DEAS Legacy (2000s)
The CAD landscape consolidated in the 2000s as giants vied for dominance.
Unigraphics (UG), originating from McDonnell Douglas in 1975, evolved into a robust 3D system for aerospace.
In 2001, EDS (Electronic Data Systems) acquired United Global Solutions (UGS) and merged it with I-DEAS from SDRC in a $2.2 billion deal.
The result? NX (Unigraphics NX) in 2002—a synchronous technology hybrid blending parametric history with direct editing for faster iterations.
This fusion preserved I-DEAS's simulation strengths while adding UG's surfacing prowess, serving industries from Formula 1 to wind turbines.
Siemens acquired UGS in 2007 for $3.5 billion, evolving NX into a digital twin platform with AI-driven automation.
Legacy and Legacy:Think3's Fade and CAD's Horizon
Think3, despite innovations, struggled post-2000 dot-com bust.
Acquired by an investment group in 2007, it rebranded but ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2012,
its tech absorbed by smaller players.
From Sketchpad's light pen to NX's cloud simulations, CAD has transformed engineering—from manual sketches to virtual realities.
These milestones not only accelerated innovation but democratized design, enabling everything from iPhones to interstellar probes.
As AI and VR blur lines further, the spirit of 1963 endures: empowering human creativity through code.
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