ASEE PEER - Adapting CAD/CAM and CNC Curriculum to Advances in Technology
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Adapting CAD/CAM and CNC Curriculum to Advances in Technology

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Technology Integration in Manufacturing Curriculum

Tagged Division

Manufacturing Division (MFG)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46519

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Paper Authors

biography

Derek M Yip-Hoi Western Washington University

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Dr. Yip-Hoi is currently a professor in Manufacturing Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Design at Western Washington University. Previously, he served on the faculties of the University of the West Indies - St. Augustine, the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and the University of British Columbia. His research interests lie in the areas of CAD, geometric and solid modeling, machining and CNC, engineering design and ethics, and machine design.

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biography

David Gill P.E. Western Washington University

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Dr. David Gill is an Assistant Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at Western Washington University where he specializes in CAD/CAM and CNC. Prior to coming to Western, Dr. Gill was Principal Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratori

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Abstract

One of the challenges faced in manufacturing engineering education is how best to teach important, traditional content while branching out into new areas that are emerging as manufacturing technologies evolve. Dealing with this challenge requires a clear understanding of what is the foundational material for a MFGE student to acquire in each area, and an ability to integrate in new topics that keeps pace with advances of the technology that are relevant to the needs of local and regional industries. One such area of the curriculum is CAD/CAM and CNC. In this paper we will review some important advances in technology in this area that are being integrated into a manufacturing engineering curriculum. These include CAM part programming using sophisticated tool path generation capabilities that promote high speed and high efficiency machining, programming multi-axis machining operations, the use of various measurement techniques to quantify variation and efficiency of CNC operations, and the use of advanced simulation and verification techniques to develop insight into and troubleshoot programs. How these advances can be effectively integrated into courses on CAD/CAM and CNC in a MFGE curriculum will be discussed using examples from two classes offered to majors in the program. To promote effective instruction in these new areas, a substantial investment in resources both software and hardware, and time of staff and faculty is required. This paper will further describe the equipment investments made in this case and explain the rationale behind adopting the resources that were selected. The impact of including these advanced topics on more traditional topics such as manual part programming will be discussed using assessment data and student feedback. Finally, some opportunities for further enhancements of the CAD/CAM and CNC instruction in one of the classes reviewed will be presented.

Yip-Hoi, D. M., & Gill, D. (2024, June), Adapting CAD/CAM and CNC Curriculum to Advances in Technology Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/46519

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