Integration of robust 3D modeling software into the design curriculum

Engineering technology design curriculum is compartmentalized, and the students are not ready for contribution to the design team. This allegation is partly true, as there is no effective means of student integration of design concept into an indusrially sound application, using an industrially robust three dimensional design and manufacturing package. This paper studies the effectiveness of an Engineering Technology Program-Design concentration, via the traditional emphasis without an industrially capable integrated CAD/CAM software. The program effectiveness is evaluated by outcome based program evaluation and review technique. Next the program is studied along a different stream with the integration of a capable and robust 3D CAD/CAM/analysis software package. The same criteria of program effectiveness is used to compare the achievement and performance of the program. This is an evaluative study of efforts to integrate the design curriculum with a comprehensive unifying design software. Twenty final year students in a capstone Machine and Tool Design course used the robust design software. At the culmination of the course they were asked about their design skill experience and the effectiveness of the course. The survey revealed that student learning and professional design development was enhanced with the use of an effective CAD/CAM integration tool that enabled students to synthesize design problems which were challenging and practical. The result of this research is crucial to the ABET-2000 outcome based evaluation criteria and its implementation.