Computer-Aided Design

Overview

Framework:
RQF
Level:
Level 1
Unit No:
A/618/3623
Credits:
3
Guided learning hours:
24 hours

Aim

Learners will develop an understanding of CAD software to produce 2D and 3D drawings.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1

Know about CAD software.

  • Uses: used by architects, engineers, drafters, designers/artists, and others to create precision drawings or technical illustrations, CAD software used to create two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional (3-D) models which typically show objects that will later be manufactured and delivered to customers, for example, model of a mountain bike designed would be designed using CAD software.
  • Features: start-up menu, ribbon / toolbar, tabs, browser, design tree, dialogue boxes, properties, drawing aids, visual settings, background colour, units, viewing tools (zoom, pan, navigation tools, function keys), drawing templates, sheet sizes, drawing lines, limits and types, scales, text and dimension styles, screen display, layers, units, toolbars, drawing origin and datum, peripheral devices.
  • Advantages: productivity and speed of drawing creation, uniformity of production, standardised parts, symbols etc., electronic data exchange and transfer, computer aided manufacture (CAM).
  • Disadvantages: time taking process to know how to operate CAD software, high production costs (time and cost of training staff, software costs), files can get corrupted.

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1

    Identify the uses and features of CAD software. 

  • 1.2

    Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using CAD software to create drawings. 

2

Know why it is important to comply with national and international drawing standards. 

  • Features and symbols: use of 1st and 3rd angle projection, features used in drawings (symbols, lettering and numbering, line types, dimensioning), units of measurement (metric, imperial, angular), symbols utilised in engineering drawings (welding, electrical/electronic, mechanical, fluid power).

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1

    Identify the features and symbols used in national and international drawing standards. 

3

Be able to use CAD software to produce 2D and 3D drawings to meet requirements. 

  • 2D key features: reference point, ease of use, software and hardware compatibility, coordinate input methods, e.g. absolute, relative/incremental, polar, drawing aids (coordinate grids and snaps, object snaps, viewing features, e.g. zoom, previous, pan).
  • 2D drawing features: geometry (lines, circles, arcs, ellipses), dimensioning, including linear dimensions, radial dimensions, angular dimensions, leaders’ dimensions, text dimensions, tolerances dimensions, text, including text location, font type, size and orientation.
  • 3D key features: configuration of the parametric modeller, including origin, units, snap and grid, correct format, project files, selection of file types, and planes (XY, XZ and YZ), use of display commands, including pan, zoom, and orbit.
  • 3D drawing features: threads (male and female), holes (plain, drilled, threads, countersunk, fillet, chamfer, combination of solid objects, including Boolean operations), placing 3D components, including degrees of freedom, XYZ translational freedom and XYZ rotational freedom, assembly constraints and the relationships between components, including mate constraint and angle constraint assembly relationships, insert constraint and tangent constraint assembly relationships, modification to 3D components due to assembly constraints, consideration of assembly, including storyboarding, component relationship, use of rendering, including render, shadows, reflections, lights, materials, textures, ray tracing.
  • Tools and techniques: use of layers, scaling, mirroring, rotating, trimming, moving/translating, corner filleting/chamfering, exploding, copying, arrays/patterns, extending, stretching, erasing.

Assessment Criteria

  • 3.1

    Use CAD software to produce 2D drawings. 

  • 3.2

    Use CAD software to produce 3D drawings. 

  • 3.3

    Use tools and techniques to improve drawings.