Teaching Computer Aided Design to Engineering Students

Abstract

The organisation and control of the engineering product cycle is currently undergoing a drastic change and it seems probable that some of the skills being taught on our engineering courses will become obsolete. I shall briefly discuss some of the developments that we should consider in the evolution of strategies for teaching design in a way that will respond to the needs of industry.

The engineer up to the 1930s was a good allrounder who could design a product for both function and production. This was because components were comparatively simple, quantities produced were relatively small and a limited range of materials and processes were available. Gradually, materials profilerated, the manufacturing processes to work them became more complex and components became more complicated. Consequently, no one person could be a total expert and effective design for production could only be brought about by employing specialists such as materials scientists and stress men.