Before the current advent of solid modeling techniques, computer- aided design strategies did not substantially differ from the design strategies used with traditional design tools: drafting boards and calculators. Recently, a wide gap has developed in these strategies and today new approaches are available to a modern mechanical engineering designer. These new approaches rely heavily on powerful graphics workstations and integrated CAD software which are becoming more and more affordable for routine design work. The project is concerned with modernizing the sequence of design courses in a traditional mechanical engineering curriculum by introducing three-dimensional solid modeling techniques and integrated CAD systems into these courses, starting with the freshman course on engineering design graphics and continuing through the senior capstone design project. Modern computer-aided design laboratories will be organized and educational materials developed that will support the concept of designing a mechanical component in three-dimensional space and using the created data base for direct analysis of its static, dynamic, flow, or thermal characteristics.
