Rapid Prototyping in a Capstone Design Class

该项目的目标是将快速原型技术纳入机械工程顶点设计课程。快速成型是一种相对较新的技术，它允许直接从计算机辅助设计文件中生产物理模型。直到最近，这项技术对于小型教育项目来说过于昂贵。然而，现在的剪纸和粘合工艺可以以非常低的成本制造合理的零件。与仅在新生工程图形课程中使用快速原型可视化相反，我们将使用这种技术以几种方式增强高级设计课程。首先，学生在设计项目时实施的设计过程将通过能够传达功能和形式的物理模型来增强。其次，通过在设计过程的早期纳入许多生命周期问题，学生对设计的看法将得到拓宽。第三，设计交流将通过模型得到极大的改善，最后，学生将获得一种真实感，责任感和兴奋感，这些只有通过将纸上或电脑上的设计变成有形的产品才能获得。学生熟悉快速原型技术也是一个重要的好处。我们的课程与当地工业有着密切的联系，大约一半的学生在上学期间从事全职或兼职工作。我们将探索在顶点设计课程中加入模型构建的优势，并传播结果，使其他大学也能从中受益。

The objective of this project is to incorporate rapid prototyping technology into a mechanical engineering capstone design course. Rapid prototyping is a relatively new technology which allows producing physical models directly from computer-aided design files. Until recently, this technology was too expensive for small educational programs to afford. However, a paper-cutting and gluing process now allows the manufacture of reasonable parts at a very low cost. As opposed to using rapid prototyping for visualization only at a freshmen-level engineering graphics class, we will use this technology to enhance an advanced, senior-level design course in several ways. First, the design process implemented by the students while working on their projects will be augmented by physical models which can convey both function and form. Second, the students' perspective on design will be broadened by incorporating many life-cycles concerns early in the design process. Third, design communication will be vastly improved by the models, and finally, the students will acquire a sense of reality, responsibility, and excitement which can only be obtained by turning a paper- or computer-based design into a tangible product. The familiarity of students with rapid prototyping techniques is an important benefit too. Our program has strong ties to local industry, with about half of the students working full- or part-time while attending school. We shall explore the advantages offered by incorporating model-building in the capstone design class and disseminate the results so that other universities may benefit from them.