Project based computer-aided engineering applications

The Computer-Aided Engineering Applications (Mechanical Engineering 371) course taught at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah (USA), uses sophisticated commercial computer aided engineering (CAE)/computer aided design (CAD)/computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems to teach advanced modeling, analysis, design and manufacturing skills. Lectures for ME 371 are mathematically based, where the students are taught the mathematics of curves, surfaces, solids, finite element analysis (FEA), mass properties, numerical control (NC) tool paths, etc., but not the graphical user interface (GUI) methods for creating these entities and executing applications. With a combination of mathematical lectures and GUI based laboratory assignments, students are able to fully understand the basic geometric parameters, constraints and relationships prompted by the CAD system. The paper presents a blueprint for teaching the mathematics of high-end CAE/CAD/CAM systems to undergraduates and the development of CAD skills that reinforce the theory presented in lecture.