The New Digital Engineering Design and Graphics Process

Abstract

With current computer-aided design technology, the traditional tasks of a designer, drafter, analyst, and prototype maker are all performed by a single engineer using modern digital engineering design tools.  These digital tools include computer systems with 3-D solid modeling software, seamless links to engineering analysis and manufacturing simulations, and digital interfaces to rapid prototyping machines.  While these new technology tools have been developed and are commercially available, they have not yet been integrated into mainstream engineering graphics education as the contemporary curriculum.  This paper will summarize the digital engineering design process using current software that is widely available for the educational setting.