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COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING AND DESIGN

A SABBATICAL REPORT

by: David A, Dobbs

date: February 28, 1988

Submitted to: Helen McCauslin

Dean of Instruction

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The intent of my sabbatical was to enable me to accomplish the

following: strengthen my knowledge of Computer Aided Drafting and

Design CC.A.D.D.); seek out other approaches to curriculum design; and

locate and review new instructional materials.

Objectives accomplished and activities performed.

I. To strengthen my knowledge of C.A.D.D..

To meet this objective, I read six C.A.D.D. or C.A.D.D./C.A.M.

books, numerous periodicals, articles and vendor materials.

Seminar or training activities that were accomplished include:

1. Three days training on CADAM (a two and one -halF D indu5trial

quality C.A.D.D. production system) at STEELCASE in Grand

Rapids.

2. One day training on an Intergraph 3D system at Dow Corning

in Midland, Michigan.

3. Two days training at Sinclair Community College in Dayton,

Ohio. Here I was taught to operate a 3D software package

called CAD-KEY.

% Trade shows that I attended were Autofact in Detroit, where I spent

two days reviewing hardware, software and systems offered by major

manufacturers. Also, in Detroit I attended a trade show sponsored by

Inacomp C a large vendor of computers and computer related technology.

It was called _the ONE COMPUTER SHOW. At the show, I was able to

attend a presentation on desktop publishing For the First time.

As a result of a contact made at Autofact, I was able to attend a

presentation at Oakland Community College (Auburn Campus) in their

hi-tech facility. This was both enlightening and depressing . I was

enlightened because I saw First hand an example of a well established

hi tech center. In contrast, though this event was promoted at

AutoFact, there was little interest (almost nonexistent) shown by

industry. Approximately eight people, including myself and a student.

attended this event. Does this say something about High Tech

Centers?

Another event, though not specified in my sabbatical proposal, that I

attended was Trends in Occupational Education, A conference at ACME,

(Traverse City), Michigan on October 7,8,and 9. Here I attended

several meetings of key interest to me. These included CAD/CAM

Instructional Considerations by Don Boyer of Grand Rapids Junior

College; Sketching Using CAD software by Phillip T. Stickell of C.S.

Mott Community. College and Microcomputer Applications - The Blossoming

of a Rose by Marilyn K Popyk of Henry Ford Community College.

• II. To seek other approaches to Curriculum Design.

While a minimum of six educational institutions was specified in my

plan, I made on-site visits to ten community colleges, one state

college and a skills center. Data sheets summarizing my visits to

selected sites are attached. The interest here was to see how others

were implementing this new technology referred to as C.A.D.D.. This

aspect of my sabbatical enabled me to establish a global perspective

of C.A.D.D./C.A.M..

Sites that I visited:

1. Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick, R.I.

2. C.S. Mott Community College, Flint, Michigan.

3. State Technical Institute, Knoxville, Ky.

Li. Glendale Community college, Phoenix, Arizona.

S. GMI Engineering and Management Institute, Flint, Michigan.

mmunity College, Downriver Campus, Detroit, 6. Wayne County Co

Michigan.

7. Oakland Community College, Auburn, Michigan.

B. Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio

9. Ferris State College, Big Rapids, Michigan.

10. Uan Buren Skills Center, Lawrence, Michigan.

11. Western Michigan University

•

Selection of these institutions was a result of library

research,professional contacts made at other events, and Family events

Cweddings) that occurred in other states. My selection of out of

state sites in two instances CPhoenix, Arizona and Warwick, R.I. was

made as a result of our own L.R.C. and the capable assistance of Mr.

Gene Radtke. Here I was able to find data about colleges

Cspecifically-program offerings) in other states and to follow -up

using our micro-fich collection of college catalogs. Through this

sabbatical I was reminded of the usefulness and the wealth of

information available in such a resource.

III. To locate and review new Instructional Materials.

There is a noticable absence of new texts for 1987 relating to

CAD/CAM or CAD. Several recent texts that appeared to be

appropriate were suggested as new acquisitions to our L.R.C.

Both were in our collection.

Other attempts at reviewing and collecting new materials for the

department met with more success. Specifically, I received a free

copy of CAD-KEY Ca 3-D Drafting package) software and with the

assistance of our computer staff was able to get it up and running on

our hardware. Also, I sent for and received an introductary copy of

Junior Drafter C a 2-D drafting package). This has also been reviewed

but has not been Fully explored because of a lack of a suitable system

Ccomputer peripherals). The last software package that I have just

received!is Microstation by Intergraph. Any immediate review of this

package is doubtful due to the necessity of getting ready for the

4 .•

.w winter term.

One of my first attempts at gathering data was to contact the Michigan

Vocational Education Resource Center at Michigan State University.

The results were disappointing, overall, as many of the resources were

too old to be of current value. Several bright spots did exist

however. I received a fifty page overview of Desktop Publishing that

I have distributed to the Media Center, Drafting and Art departments,

and the apprenticeship coordinator.

Next, I was able to obtain an outline by Don Boyer of Grand Rapids

Community College entitled PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR CAD/CAM TECHNICIANS

BASED ON AN OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS His study provides insight into

"competencies necessary to perform the job of CAD/CAM technicians".

The National Center for Research in Vocational Education, at Ohio

State University sent me their brochure and I have ordered Preparing

• CAD/Cam Programs. As of this writing, it has for High Technology

not been received. The abstract offers promise of relevent data but,

its validity is questionable because it was published in 1983. Why is

it suspect? In the last several years microcomputers in CAD and

CAD/CAM have become extremely powerful and useful as engineering

tools, not just in drafting. Today we are on the verge of running

multiple workstations off one micro-computer. When this document

arrives I will share it with the Center and others as appropriate.

The Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) has been

recently contacted for CAD curriculum materials. This too is minimal

• •

and veru disappointing.

One new text/workbook that has impressed me and has been recommended

to the department is Using Cadkey by Paul Resitarits. It is unique in

that it contains floppy disk exercises that students can work on and ......

that are keyed to the text/workbook. Thus instructors as well as

students may learn 3-D CAD using self-paced materials.

A new audio-visual package was discovered and ordered for preview in

early December. It has not arrived as yet. The title is the I.B.M.

P.C. explained. It was ordered from Bergwell Productions, Inc. It

too will be previewed and shared with the department. It is hoped

that this video will assist in teaching CAD students about computers

and about MS-DOS. If these conditions are met, it will be ordered for

the L.R.C.

CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM THESE ACTIVITIES

As a direct result of my sabbatical, I have grown ten fold over the

last four months. My perspective of CAD in the community college is

much more accurate. Terms such as buffer, baud rate, MS-DOS,

algorithm, EPROM and coons patch to mention only a few are more

comfortably understood. This is important to me because we must be

able to evaluate what software and hardware vendors are saying and

selling.

Our C.A.D. curriculum components are about average in course numbers

offered, degree of difficulty, prequisites, and depth of content.

Most institutions offer two C.A.D. courses, basic and advanced.

Glendale Community College near Phoenix, Arizona offers a Computer

Graphics course to anyone who wants it. The course is very basic and

some Geometry and Drafting must be taught in it. This could be a

tremendous boost to our S.C.H.'s but, there . is a catch. We need more

work stations and a low level Cfortunately less expensive) software.

This is an exciting concept and may be a good way to promote interest

in Drafting and Design, as well as other high-tech Fields.

Regarding equipment, in this observers estimation, we are less well

equipped Cworkstations and software) than these selected sites. CSee

hardware summary at the end of report.) One example close to home is

the Van Buren Skills Center. The Center has 21 new stations using

UersaCad, a contemporary software package. We currently are using a

rather obsolete software. Another limiting Factor is that Drafting

and Machine Tool are using the same hardware. While our equipment

utilization Figures are excellent, our Flexibility and expansion of

both day and night courses is non-existent.

Some of the better equipped schools, such as State Tech-Knoxville,

Sinclair Community College -Dayton and GMI-Flint are offering CAD

instruction on two or more hardware and software configurations.

Also, several of the more progressive schools are teaching several

operating systems (Unix and MS DOS) and at least one is teaching

programming and system customization.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College must, if it is to remain current in

technical edUcation, invest in many more microcomputers to support the

various occupational areas. The microcomputer is the key to survival

for the small design and manufacturing companies. Even the larger

companies are adding significant numbers of micros to Free up the

mainframes. The trend is clear For all to see. Do we want to

continue to be part of it?

Specific recommendations include:

1.expanding the current CAD/CAM lab to 22 stations.

2.teach a minimum of two CADD software packages.

3.As soon as Feasible add a new CAM lab and workstations (22

stations) with consideration for electronic linkage to the

CADD lab.

Li, hire consultants or use special advisory committees who may

advise us regarding "true CAD/CAM needs" and implementing a

timetable.

S. plan on a gradual phase - in of more micros into the standard

drafting and design labs.

THANKS!! IT WAS GREAT!

HARDWARE SUMMARY

Numbers of CAD workstations Cactual or estimated) by institution

Van Buren Skills Center 21

Western Michigan University SO C+SO additional this year)

Mott Community College, Flint 9 C2q to be added next year)

GMI, Flint SO

Sinclair Community College, Dayton, 0. 36+

C.C. OF Rhode Island, Warwick, R.I. 1S

Wayne Co. Community College, Detroit 10-12 Cmore on order)

Glendale C.C., Phoenix, Ariz. 3S

State Technical Institute, 2q-30

Knoxville, Tennessee

‘. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. McKissick, Michael Landon. Computer -Aided Drafting and Design.

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1987.

An excellent textbook For new students to computers and CAD. All

commands are in generic Form; includes 3-D, CIM overview, and new

directions in CADD. Good summary and pertinent questions at the end

of each chapter. Highly recommended For DRT 150 and 250. Hard cover,

2q8 pages.

2. Schildt, Herbert. DOS Made Easy.

Berkley, California: McGraw Hill, 1988.

A superior self study text for learning PC-DOS and MS-DOS . Includes

the basics of computers. Sample directories are given For input with

commands to manage them. also, includes a quick command reference

guide. Clearly written. Paperback, 286 pages.

3. Lange, Jerome C.. Interactive Computer Graphics Applied to

Mechanical Drafting and Design.

New York, N.Y.: John Wiley and Sons, 198q.

Good introductory chapter. Menu commnds are in generic format and CRT

screen is shown in before and after command sequence. Teaches some

drafting as well as CAD. Includes a Descriptive Geometry chapter.

Good illustrations and examples, but is a bit outdated now.

Li. Bowman, Daniel J.. Understanding CAD/CAM.

Indianapolis, Indiana: Howard W. Sams and Co., 1987.

Excellent instructor reference in paperback form. Too technical in

half of the chapters. A very comprehensive glossary is included.

Chapter 9, CAD and the Personal Computer, may be useful as outside

reading for DRT 250.

5. Teicholz, Eric. CAD/CAM Handbook.

New York, N.Y.:Mc graw Hill, 1985.

A very good, comprehensive refrence book. Each chapter is written by

an expert in the field covered. The print is too small in this

oversized manual. Actual case studies are presented to show various

applications of Cad/Cam. Several excellent overviews.

, SITE VISITATIONS AND REVIEWS

SITE: Wayne County Community College

DATE: October 26, 1967

CONTACT: Quill Pettway

FINDINGS: A lab with no day students. Program is affiliated with

Chrysler Corp. and must be taught off-times (nights) because oF the

use of Chryslers computers. This (shared and thus limited use) lab is

the danger oF partnerships. The lab also included 3 stations on-line

to Applicon that are too expensive and will be changed to stand alones

in the near Future.

Texronics hardware (approximately 6 stations) and QuickCon (Chrysler)

software were also used. The goal here appears to be CAD/Cam with a

link to the shop. Two courses Cby Chrysler instructors) are currently

in the catalog.

SITE: Glendale Community College

Phoenix, Ariz.

DATE: December 1, 1987

CONTACT: Dr- B

FINDINGS: Outstanding! Hi Tech facility had 336 micros in one room

and did not include the 26 drafting stations. Computers For drafting

included 12 XT's, 12 AT's, and 2 Compaq 386's. CIM (CAD/CAM) was not

offered.

A new course concept was found. It was called CAD for Everyone.

Students learned computer operation theory, drafting and basic

geometry. Two sections were offered this semester.

AutoCad and Computervision software were used in the 3 CAD courses-

2L-10.2S0 and 2SS. One observation: out of 6 C-U stations only 2 were

operational. It is felt that C-U is an overly complex software and

definitely not friendly.

CAD is currently not integrated into the other drafting courses.

Students do software customization including writing Auto exec.Bat

Files. The current lab will be reconfigured so that the instructor

will be able to see all CRT's easily. This is a most important

consideration.

SITE: Western Michigan University

DATE: October 30, 1987

CONTACT: Dr. Atkins

FINDINGS: Students do 2-D assignments then 3-D.

-Recommends assembling own systems as opposed to turnkey.

-Software: Cadkey, Technicad, Autocad, Applicon, Plot 10 and

Complot.

-Hardware: will add 50 new stations in 1966. Current estimate - 50

workstations. Zenith 286 hardware is popular.

-Cadkey users group is established in Kalamazoo area. Frank Lucatelli

contact. We will join this group.

Labs: -One lab - CAD shared with other segments of the college will

be doubled in size this year.

-One lab with 2ti CAD stations back to back with drafting

tables is being set up.

-One lab with Applicon set-up for industrial training with

approximately 10 stations.

Kalamazoo Christian and FabriKal has Cadkey. Half of Engineering

Graphics course - stresses Cadkey.

•

SITE: Mott Community College

DATE: November 12, 1987

CONTACT: Kermit B. Baker

FINDINGS: Mott Community College offers two CAD courses on six

Computervision workstations using CADDS q software. The First course

and Design Technology Program. The second is part of the Drafting

CADD course is elective. Mr. Baker has written his own instructional

materials, probably out of necessity.

The six systems will be replaced in the near future with 29

microcomputers. Software being considered are CADAM, AutoCad, and

Cadkey. Program courses in the Future would include 3 CAD courses and

Eight out of 16 courses in the program are drafting 5 manual courses. E

courses. A new lab for CAD will be added to replace the older smaller

lab.

SITE: State Technical Institute

Knoxville, Tennessee

DATE: November 6, 1987

CONTACT: George Cox/David Job

FINDINGS: This was one of the most impressive sites visited. The

Institute started with MATC-CAD on ten Apples; added one Cadlink; then

ten PC-AT'S with Computervision and Autocad. In 1965 the institute

added eight CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) systems with Unix

operating systems. Since then, it has added nine Intergraph and a

second lab for them. Also received were six Sun Systems, but as of

this date no software for them.

Students get very limited instruction on Autocad then transfer to

Computervision and lastly to Intergraph. They are trained in Pascal

(programming) and Unix (operating system). Students preferred to work

on the Computervision systems instead of the Intergraph. They were

taught to change the output device switches when running the various

software packages on one system. Students began to use the C-U solids

modeling package in about the fifth week of the course.

Course descriptions in the catalog include only one CADD course.

According to the instructors, CADD has been integrated into the other

manual drafting courses. Program emphasis is architectural/structural

detailing and design.

SITE: Community College of Rhode Island

Warwick, Rhode Island

DATE: October 5, 1987

CONTACT: Robert DeLuca

FINDINGS: The Community College of Rhode Island uses a prepackaged

software called MATC-CAD that simulates Computervisions CADDS-3

language. Hardware includes about 12 Apple stations and one IBM-AT.

Other software includes Versacad, Cadkey, and Computervision. These

additional software packages are used for enrichment as opposed to

requirements for the program.

CAD and manual drafting are taught in separate but adjacent rooms.

One CAD course is offered in the Machine Design Program. A course

syllabus and catalog are on file in the CAD lab. A CAM software

package by Bartsch was mentioned at C.C.R.I. that is offered For to

education at 90% off the list price. It is being sent to our machine

tool people.

Several computer programs for gear calculations have been written by

the staff for use in other courses. No other computer integration is

currently being done.