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Hi! Yeah, over the last few years, there’s definitely been a shift from relying mostly on printed drawings to making CAD the go-to source. With how advanced CAD and MBD are now, a lot of the key info, like dimensions and tolerances, is embedded right in the model itself. It’s making traditional drawings more of a backup or reference. We’re seeing more drawings auto-generated from the 3D models, but really, the digital file holds everything you need these days.

[Tamir C]

Hello, I’m working on a project that needs a lot of precision, and I’ve always thought parts should be fully reproducible from the technical drawings alone, without needing a 3D CAD file. Lately, though, I’ve heard that even low-tolerance features need to be dimensioned on the drawings. Is it normal to include those dimensions, and how does that affect the manufacturing process? Just trying to make sure my drawings give all the info needed for accurate production. Thanks, Tamir

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[Mattias]

Hi! Yeah, over the last few years, there’s definitely been a shift from relying mostly on printed drawings to making CAD the go-to source. With how advanced CAD and MBD are now, a lot of the key info, like dimensions and tolerances, is embedded right in the model itself. It’s making traditional drawings more of a backup or reference. We’re seeing more drawings auto-generated from the 3D models, but really, the digital file holds everything you need these days.

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[Christoph]

Absolutely! The whole CAD-first approach is growing fast, thanks to model-based definition and product manufacturing information. Embedding all the details directly into the CAD model cuts down on a lot of the confusion that can happen with traditional 2D drawings. It’s a game changer for more complex parts, where the 3D model gives a much clearer picture of what needs to be done. We’re not at the point of getting rid of 2D drawings just yet, but it’s heading that way.

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