Table of Contents

CAD System Hardware | CAD Computer Parts

Define Hardware in CAD system

It is used to describe the physical equipment (electronic circuitry) and its peripherals (mouse, printer). The term “hardware” is used to cover all those pieces of equipment which are used to implement computer programs. These includes the computer with its memory and CPU, means of storing programs on disk or magnetic tape, the display screens, various devices for inputting instructions to the computer i.e., keyboards,etc. and output devices which can give “hard copy”, i.e., printers and plotters. Hardware consists of the graphics workstations, graphics input and output devices. Computer software include: the operating system which controls the basic house-keeping operations in the computer, software packages used for geometric modeling, and application software for design analysis and synthesis.

Input/output devices

Input Devices:

Keyboard :

The Computer keyboard is used to enter text information into the computer, as when you type the contents of a report. The keyboard can also be used to type commands directing the computer to perform certain actions.

Keypad:

Most laptop computers today have a touch pad pointing device. You move the onscreen cursor by sliding your finger along the surface of the key pad.

Digitizer:

Digitizer is defined as device for converting analogue signals into digital signals or to convert data to digital form for use in a computer. It is a term used by the American speaking countries and mostly used by physicists.

Trackball:

The trackball is sort of like an upside-down mouse, with the ball located on top. You use your fingers to roll the trackball and internal rollers sense the motion which is transmitted to the computer.

Joystick:

Joysticks and other game controllers can also be connected to a computer as pointing devices. They are generally used for playing games and not for controlling the onscreen cursor in productivity software.

Tablet:

A tablet consists of an electronic writing area and a special “pen” that works with it. Graphics tablets allows artists to create graphical images with motions and actions similar to using more traditional drawing tools.

Mouse:

The Mouse pointing device sits on your work surface and is moved with your hand. In order mice, a ball in the bottom of the mouse rolls on the surface as you move the mouse, and internal rollers sense the ball movement and transmit the information to the computer via the cord of the mouse.

Optical Mouse:

A Cordless or wireless mouse communicates with the computer via radio waves.

Output devices:

Monitor:

Monitor commonly called as Visual Display Unit (VDU) is the main output device of a computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called pixels, that are arranged in a rectangular form. The sharpness of the image depends upon the number of the pixels.

Printers:

Printer is the most important output device, which is used to print information on paper.

Speakers:

Computer speakers, or multimedia speakers, are speakers external to a computer, that disable the lower fidelity built-in speaker.

Projector:

An output device that can take the display of a computer screen and project a large version of it onto a flat surface. Projectors are often used in meetings and presentations to help make sure everyone in the room can view the presentation