Unit 1: Introduction to CADCAM
Q1. Explain product engineering activities.
- Product engineering involves the following activities that comprise its entire development lifecycle from
ideation to final version:
1. Product Function - purpose
2. Product Specifications - material, parts
3. Conceptual Design - rough sketch, base, foundation
4. Ergonomics and Aesthetics - efficiency and appearance
5. Use of Engineering Standards - mass produced parts with standard dimensions
6. Detailed Design - refining, adding, improving. 2D and 3D models
7. Simulation - real world environment, texture, colours
8. Analysis: Strength (stress, strain, deflection), Kinematic (relative motion), Dynamic (variable loads,
transient), Heat/Flow, DFM & DFA (optimisation to cut down costs)
9. Prototype Development - functional models, can be 3d printed
10. Testing - real life tests
11. Drafting - final design to be sent for manufacturing
Q2. Explain manufacturing engineering activities.
- Manufacturing engineering comprises of the following activities:
1. Process Planning - optimum production process to be used
2. Tooling: Cutting tools, Jigs (holds tool) & Fixtures (holds job), Dies & Moulds
3. Manufacturing: Information Generation (tool path, NCC), Simulation (visualisation of machines)
4. Product Organisation: BOM, MRP, Production Planning
5. Marketing: Packaging, Distribution
Q3. How different stages of the design process are interconnected with each other?
The different stages of the design process are interconnected in an iterative fashion as shown in the diagram
below. Even after the implementation of manufacturing, the design process loops back to each of the previous
steps of the design cycle, in the form of making changes in each one to receive a better output at the end of the
cycle. The stages of the design process proceed in a linear fashion but at certain stages some feedback needs to
be given back to the previous stage such when spatial analysis of the product model is done, the problems are
propagated back to the previous layer that is the problem definition and conceptualization layer in which the
changes are made to initial concept and the process is again performed. As we can see from the diagram below,
the stages in the design process relate to each other in an iterative fashion. During the stage of engineering
analysis and optimization, some changes need to be done to the geometric model as well as the product
conceptualization depending upon the result of the analysis which is also propagated back to make the changes
accordingly. And during the end of the cycle, while planning the manufacturing process may be found out that due
to certain specifications/features, the manufacturing of a product may not be viable/economically feasible and
hence changes to be performed again at conceptualization as well as the geometric modelling phase. This entire
interconnected flow of the design process is shown in the diagram below.
