Welcome to Chapter One of SendCutSend Education! In this first lesson, we’re laying the groundwork for understanding CAD by looking back at its history and why it matters for anyone learning 3D design today.

We’ll cover how design began with pen, paper, and even dirt and sticks, the challenges of manual drafting, and the birth of CAD in the 1960s with Ivan Sutherland’s light pen. From there, we’ll look at key milestones like the launch of AutoCAD in 1982 and the rise of industry staples such as SolidWorks, ProE, and CATIA in the 1990s. Along the way, we’ll connect these advancements to the concepts you’ll be learning, like parametric design and design for manufacturing (DFM), that still shape CAD today.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The origins of CAD and why it was revolutionary
• Key milestones: Ivan Sutherland’s light pen, AutoCAD, and modern CAD systems
• How parametric design and DFM changed the game
• Why history matters for building a strong CAD foundation