Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Keeping up with technology has always been a challenge, and parametric modeling software is a prime example.This paper presents findings from a project that deals primarily with answering a few key questions that every Engineering Technology program should ask when incorporating 3D graphics software into its program: What software is being used in industry?Which software packages should we use?Is it beneficial for students to be familiar with more than one type of software?How important are software certifications?A survey was created in order to help answer these questions.The survey was then sent out to several Engineering Technology program constituents.The constituents are made up of Advisory Board members and various industries that have hired Mechanical, Manufacturing, Plastics, and Electronics students in the past.Results from the survey were assessed and then decisions were made about how to implement the software into the ET program curriculum. Keeping Up With TechnologyFor years two-dimensional drafting has been the standard for creating drawings.These drawings were used to convey ideas to customers or to give machinists something to create an actual part.Drafting on a table with mechanical pencils, T-squares, and triangles was the preferred way to create drawings.But as with everything else in today"s society, technology is driving change in the world of engineering graphics.The days of learning to draft on a board are quickly giving way to three-dimensional, parametric modeling as the preferred method of conveying geometry and dimensions of a part.The PSU MET Program content was based on the historical program development versus meeting defined and documented constituent driven objectives.The program evolved from a drafting, then machine design/drafting program to an ABET/TAC accredited engineering technology program.The "baseline" program courses and course content matched the faculty credentials (2 faculty, 50%, engineering, 2 faculty, 50%, drafting) in 2000 when objectives were written to support constituent need as required by new accreditation criteria.The program baseline graphics communication courses and content included Engineering Graphics 1, Engineering Graphics 2, Computer Aided Drafting and Advanced Engineering Graphics.The first 2 courses were manual drafting courses with the content focus on producing drawings with a pencil and paper.Topics included, visualizing and drawing a 3-D object in a 2-D view, lettering, using manual drafting instruments, creating 2-D geometry (lines, angles, arcs), placing dimensions and tolerances, converting 3-D objects into 2-D descriptions to produce a 3-D shape.The 3rd and 4th course applied the content of the first 2 courses to learning to use a 2-D computer aided drafting tool, AutoCAD, to create 2-D geometry and drawings.The program baseline included an optional 5th course that introduced students to a 3-D software tool, AutoCAD -Mechanical Desktop.
Source: ASEE Midwest Section Conference
Authors: Greg Murray, Tim Thomas
Institution: Pittsburg State University
Language: English
Subfield: Media Technology
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4407678340