- [Instructor] Many people who build bicycle frames
work using hand-drawn 2D layouts.
So, why should we change this formula
that's worked so well for so many years?
Well, there's a few different advantages
to working in CAD that actually apply
to a lot of CAD models in different areas as well.
For me, one of the best things about working in CAD
is that we can fully create our model
without physically making anything yet.
This allows us to properly visualize
what we're planning, spot any problems and correct those
before we actually spend any money on materials.
And before we spend too much time on building anything.
Often I find with my product design jobs,
that when people see their idea in 3D
and they can spin it around, and zoom in
they get either new ideas or they see potential issues
and then they can fix them at quite an early stage.
Using CAD for a bike frame, in particular,
also makes sense because we can actually set
our model up and then play around
with the different parameters, like the frame geometry.
And we can actually see what effect
that will have on the finished bike.
Sort of related to this point
is that once we've set the model up
most of the maths and the measurement
is done automatically for us by the CAD program.
So, hopefully, this reduces the potential
for working out an angle wrong,
or measuring a size wrong and things like that.
And then, finally, possibly a bit more of a minor reason
for using CAD is that we can actually create images,
such as renderings of the design.
And then, we can use these for feedback.
So, if you're creating a bike for someone else
then you can easily present them with different options
for feedback, and you could possibly even make renderings
for marketing or fundraising and things like that.
And if you're making a bike for yourself
then maybe you can just share some images
on your social media and let your friends know
how much a new bike is going to shred.
With these points in mind, let's take
a closer look at what makes up a bicycle.