Abstract
The use of integrated Computer Aided Design/Engineering (CAD/CAE) software capable of analyzing mechanical devices in a single parametric environment is becoming an industrial standard. Potential advantages over traditional enduring multi-software design routines can be outlined into time/cost reduction and easier modeling procedures. To meet industrial requirements, the engineering education is constantly revising the courses programs to include the training of modern advanced virtual prototyping technologies. Within this scenario, the present work describes the CAD/CAE project-based learning (PjBL) activity developed at the University of Genova as a part of course named Design of Automatic Machines, taught at the second level degree in mechanical engineering. The PjBL activity provides a detailed overview of an integrated design environment (i.e. PTC Creo). The students, divided into small work groups, interactively gain experience with the tool via the solution of an industrial design problem, provided by an engineer from industry. The considered case study consists of an automatic pushing device implemented in a commercial machine. Starting from a sub-optimal solution, the students, supervised by the lecturers, solve a series of sequential design steps involving both motion and structural analysis. The paper describes each design phase and summarizes the numerical outputs. At last, the results of the PjBL activity are presented and commented by considering the opinions of all the parties involved.
Highlights
In the last decades, the development of efficient ComputerAided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools have enabled important changes in the engineering world [1]
– by implementing multi-software frameworks comprising a set of specific CAD and CAE environments that have been conceived as stand-alone [6,7,8,9,10]
Recent researches considered the possibility to employ open-source CAD/CAE software [31], though these packages (e.g. FreeCAD and OpenSCAD) have not yet reached a sufficient level to become valuable substitutes for commercial ones [32]. Building upon these introductory considerations, this paper reports a detailed overview of the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) activity [33,34,35] carried out at the University of Genova within the course named “Design of Automatic Machines”, as a part of the second level degree in mechanical engineering
Summary
The development of efficient ComputerAided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools have enabled important changes in the engineering world [1]. Recent researches considered the possibility to employ open-source CAD/CAE software [31], though these packages (e.g. FreeCAD and OpenSCAD) have not yet reached a sufficient level to become valuable substitutes for commercial ones [32] Building upon these introductory considerations, this paper reports a detailed overview of the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) activity [33,34,35] carried out at the University of Genova within the course named “Design of Automatic Machines”, as a part of the second level degree in mechanical engineering. At the end of the PjBL activity the students have potentially incremented their problem solving abilities, along with their CAD/CAE skills At this stage, each group proposes a novel design improvement and writes a detailed report about the project activity. The results of the teaching experience, both from students and lecturers point of view, are presented and discussed
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