CAD06008 2019 CAD/CAM 201

Create solid models of mechanical parts containing intricate features and patterns.

Build 3D assembly models of mechanical mechanisms.

Design mechanical devices which incorporate gears, cams, bearings, belts, chains and the use of wizards and other standard parts libraries.

Produce working drawings which communicate all necessary manufacturing information for parts and assemblies of mechanical products.

Read and interpret engineering drawings and produce drawings that conform to international standards.

Use CAM software to construct 2D & 3D geometry of components and import and manipulate geometry created in CAD packages.

Select and specify suitable machining operations, machine parameters, machine tooling and component set-ups.

Generate machining code and graphically simulate the CNC machining process using CAM software.

This module will be delivered in a computer aided design laboratory and, along with the necessary theory, will involve the use of a 3D mechanical modelling CAD system to generate solid models of parts and assemblies and the drawings required to fully describe them.  It will also involve the use of a CNC/CAM system to generate CNC code for CNC machining. 

Students will be timetabled for three hours per week in a computer aided design laboratory.

Students will also be timetabled for two hours per week in a CNC laboratory.

In addition to the normal lectures and practical classes, Designers / Engineering Practitioners working in industry will be invited as guest lecturers and site visits to companies will be arranged, where possible.

Continuous assessment will involve the assessment of all assignments undertaken in class, design project activity completed independently and an end of term in-house assessment test.

Students who fail the module but satisfy the attendance requirements will be required to resubmit all continuous assessment assignments and/or undertake an repeat end of semester assignment test.

Part Modelling: Sketch options, entities, tools and patterns, sketch dimensions and relations, sketching techniques, reference geometry, file types, feature creation, extrusions, cuts, revolves, lofts, sweeps, shells, ribs, fillets, chamfers, holes, patterns, part properties, editing definition, colour and appearance, suppressing features.

Assembly Modelling: Inserting/adding components to an assembly, assembly relations and mates, sub-assemblies, exploded views, component patterns, display controls.

Design: Design of mechanisms which incorporate a range of machine elements such as: gears, cams, belts, chains, bearings, actuators, fasteners. Basic calculations involving the design, selection and inclusion of machine elements in mechanical mechanisms. Use of design libraries, blocks, standard parts toolbox, feature and part calculators, hole wizards, electronic catalogues, downloading of parts and assemblies, file formats.

Drafting: Creation of detail and assembly drawings of mechanical parts and mechanisms, selection and specification of sheet size, scale, format and drawing standard, creation of standard and derived views, view display and manipulation, insertion of dimensions and annotations, creation and placement of tables and bill of materials.

Drawing Standards: Drawing interpretation, determination of shape, size and manufacturing instructions, ISO drawing standards, principles of presentation, orthographic, sectional and special views, dimensions and annotations on drawings.

CAM Modelling: Create 2D & 3D geometries and components using functions such as; lines, circles, arcs, fillets, chamfers, extrusions, cuts, shells, revolves, sweeps, lofts. Manipulate 2D & 3D geometries and components using functions such as; trim, break, join, extend, translate, mirror, rotate, scale. Import external 2D & 3D geometries and components using file conversion e.g.; IGES & DXF files.

CAM Machining:  Selection of operation type e.g. mill, lathe, EDM. Selection of component material and stock size. Selection of workholding equipment. Definition of part & stock set-up. Selection of tooling and calculation of speeds and feeds.  Program machining process using toolpath functions such as; contour, face, pocket, drill, thread, roughing, finishing, multiaxis (3D). Generate code for machining process using post processor and understanding of basic code generated (G-codes M-codes). Program simulation and troubleshooting.