Boeing Co.'s sleek 777 jetliner and Frank Gehry's breathtaking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, share a surprising bit of artistry. Years before the first rivet was punched or scaffold raised, both designs were perfected as exquisitely precise three-dimensional computer models. Computer-aided design (cad) tools have been around for 30 years, speeding development of everything from microchips to running shoes to autos. But cutting-edge creations such as the 777 have pushed the outer limits of electronic design, leading to a powerful new breed of cad.
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