There are autocad, Pro-engineer, Autodesk inventor, solidwork,cartia and lots of software nowadays.
Autocad
AutoCAD is a Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting for software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting, developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. It is widely used as teaching tools to familiarized students with designs as it has 2D and 3D drawing.It is initially released in late 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers. Most CAD software at the time ran on graphics terminals connected to mainframe computers or mini-computers.
Pro/ENGINEER
Companies use Pro/ENGINEER to create a complete 3D digital model of their products. The models consist of 2D and 3D solid model data which can also be used downstream in finite element analysis, rapid prototyping, tooling design, and CNC manufacturing. All data is associative and interchangeable between the CAD, CAE and CAM modules without conversion. A product and its entire bill of materials (BOM) can be modeled accurately with fully associative engineering drawings, and revision control information. The associativity in Pro/ENGINEER enables users to make changes in the design at any time during the product development process and automatically update downstream deliverables. This capability enables concurrent engineering — design, analysis and manufacturing engineers working in parallel — and streamlines product development processes.
Inventor
Inventor software is a history-based parametric solid modeler. With Inventor, you create digital objects that simulate physical objects. Inventor models are accurate 3D digital prototypes. Autodesk calls its approach to model design “digital prototyping.” With the parametric modeling tools in Inventor, you can apply driving dimensions and geometric relationships to an object. These dimensions and relationships are called parameters. The size and shape or geometry of an object depends upon dimensions and relationships to other parts. When one part is changed, the object automatically updates to reflect the change. It is much more easier to used than autocad and Pro-e.
Solidwork
SolidWorks is a parasolid-based solid modeler, and utilizes a parametric feature-based approach to create models and assemblies.
Parameters refer to constraints whose values determine the shape or geometry of the model or assembly. Parameters can be either numeric parameters, such as line lengths or circle diameters, or geometric parameters, such as tangent, parallel, concentric, horizontal or vertical, etc. Numeric parameters can be associated with each other through the use of relations, which allows them to capture design intent.
Design intent is how the creator of the part wants it to respond to changes and updates. For example, you would want the hole at the top of a beverage can to stay at the top surface, regardless of the height or size of the can. SolidWorks allows you to specify that the hole is a feature on the top surface, and will then honor your design intent no matter what the height you later gave to the can.
Features refer to the building blocks of the part. They are the shapes and operations that construct the part. Shape-based features typically begin with a 2D or 3D sketch of shapes such as bosses, holes, slots, etc. This shape is then extruded or cut to add or remove material from the part. Operation-based features are not sketch-based, and include features such fillets, chamfers, shells, applying draft to the faces of a part, etc.
