MECE3408 Computer Graphics and Design

This course is designed to provide students with the necessary skills in Computer Graphics and Design. The focus of the course will be on: technical drawing for Mechanical Engineers, 3D modeling of parts, managing assemblies, generating flexible (re-usable) and robust 3D designs that are compatible for re-design, and generating assembly animations.

Course Administration

This course is intended for Mechanical Engineering students. It is a Junior level course. We admit ME students in the early decision track pending space availability. The course requirements include 5-8 home work assignments, mid-term, final exam, and a term project designed to showcase the students' skills.

Subjects covered

Computer-Aided Design/Modelling

• Importance of CAD, traditional and concurrent design methodologies.
• Introduction to Pro/Engineer: 3-D solid modeling: Parametric modeling, feature analysis, capturing design intent.
• Using the commands: extrude, sweep, blend, revolve, rib, sweep, helical sweep, blend, swept blend.
• Using sketcher & sketcher constraints, creating datum axes and curves.
• Introduction to view manager: creating 3D section views of parts, exploded views, adding drawing sheets, using formats, adding bill of materials and balloons.
• Setting units, setting material, calculating weight.
• Creating flexible components in Pro/E. Using relations to drive the geometry of the spring.
• Introduction to assembly in Pro/E, top down approach, assembly constraints, simplified representations.
• Assembling using mechanism connections, animating mechanisms, defining cams.
• Using the analysis features in Pro/E. Defining internal analysis features and analyzing the motion profile of a simple joint. Generating movies.

Introduction to machine design

• Introduction to the design process. Design methodologies (concurrent design). Consideration of manufacturing/machining processes.
• Projections, multiview drawings, line standards, creating multi-view drawings from a 3D part, creating an isometric pictorial view from given multi-views drawings.
• Auxiliary views, line types, Sections: aligned, revolved, partial.
• Creating & detailing multiview drawings and placing dimensions, centerlines, sections.
• Standard regulations for layout of multiview drawings. Functional dimensions & manufacturing considerations.
• Dimensional tolerances & Geometric tolerances, surface finish designations.
• Stress analysis / failure theories. Static failure theories.
• Calculations of machine elements, power screws, efficiency of machinery, calculating upper and lower bounds for power requirements, Safety factors.
• An overview of standard parts/components commonly used when designing a mechanical system.
• Design project focused on specific machine elements per term (usually analyzing lead screws/springs/cams/etc).

Assembly for the Spring 2005 final exam

View animations generated by Pro/Engineer:

Assembled geneva wheel (308 KB WMV)	(89KB MPEG)
(90KB MPEG)	Spring 2006 Final Project by Brian Lawson (424 KB MPEG)
Spring 2005 Final Project by Harold Jenson (410 KB AVI)	Spring 2005 Final Project by Harold Jenson (407 KB MPEG)