8 min read
AI CAD for consumer electronics enclosure design
Consumer electronics enclosures need snap fits, EMI shielding, thermal management, antenna keep-outs, and cosmetic surfaces. AI-generated enclosures understand none of these constraints.
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9 min read
Text-to-CAD for rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is where text-to-CAD makes the most sense right now. You need geometry fast, accuracy is forgiving, and the goal is learning, not production.
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Text-to-CAD for product design: where it fits and where it doesn't
Product design involves more than geometry. But the geometry part is where text-to-CAD can help, if you know which parts of the process it actually speeds up.
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Text-to-CAD for mechanical parts: brackets, mounts, and fixtures
Brackets, mounts, and fixtures are the sweet spot for text-to-CAD. Simple geometry, clear dimensions, and forgiving tolerances. Here's what works.
13 min read
Text-to-CAD for manufacturing: can AI output survive a machine shop?
I showed text-to-CAD output to a machinist. The look on his face was educational. Here's what happens when AI geometry meets manufacturing reality.
6 min read
Text-to-CAD for gears: don't hold your breath
Gears require involute tooth profiles, precise module values, and geometry that follows standards. Text-to-CAD tools don't understand any of that. Here's what happens when you try.
11 min read
Text-to-CAD for enclosures: a practical test
I asked three text-to-CAD tools to generate a simple electronics enclosure. One of them came close. The other two produced geometry that would trap heat and embarrass a snap fit.
12 min read
Text-to-CAD for 3D printing: what works and what breaks
Text-to-CAD can generate models that print. Sometimes. The wall thickness is usually wrong, supports are your problem, and the tolerances are optimistic. But for quick prototypes, it's not bad.
7 min read
AI CAD for sheet metal: flat patterns and bend allowances
Sheet metal design has specific rules about bend radii, K-factors, flat patterns, and relief cuts. AI-generated CAD knows none of this. Here's why that matters.
9 min read
AI CAD for CNC machining: output quality and DFM
CNC machining demands tool access, reasonable radii, proper tolerances, and geometry that doesn't make a programmer swear. AI CAD output gets about half of that right.