Week 7

 For the last week of the term, we learnt about Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD). As the name of the topic suggests, we have learnt how to use a software named Autodesk Fusion 360 to aid us in designing and drafting products. This means that we are exposed to MANY different tools and functions that the software provides (note: emphasis on the word many). Since there were too many, we had to focus on the most important tools, that of which are fundamentals to using any kind of CADD software.

Most important buttons to press in order to create a simple 3D sketch:

1. Create sketch (duhhhh...)

2. Literally any shape under the "CREATE" section.

3. Extrude/Press Pull

4. Fillet

5. Trim

6. Offset

7. Coincident

8. Tangent

9. Collinear

10. Concentric

Buttons 6 - 9 are constraints which are very, very important in CADD because they can make your life so much easier. Seriously.

Honorable mentions:

Sketch Dimension

Mirror

Symmetry

Measure

As instructed, each of us created our own nametag following a document with the steps one should take in order to create a nametag.

Derrick:

Haziq:

Dorson:

Hai Jie:

As you can see from our images, we have very similar nametags. The only difference is....wait for it....our names!!! We had a fun time learning and creating sketches of our nametags although it was "a tad bit" tiring.

With this newly gained knowledge, we were tasked to design and sketch a picture frame which could hold a 4R sized (102 by 152mm) photograph. This photo frame consists of 5 different parts, namely, the frame (1), glazing (2), frame mount (3), backing board (4) and stand (5). Since we had 4 people in our group, we distributed 1 part to each member of the group. Since there was 1 part that was unassigned, derrick volunteered to complete it.

Exploded view of the picture frame

Fully assembled picture Frame

Our key takeaway is that CADD has a low skill floor but high skill ceiling. This means that it can be easy to learn but hard to master. As we've mentioned, the software has many functions, tools and shortcuts to use and take advantage of, which is what makes it hard to master. However, a simple video on YouTube can help new users, even without a DNT background, on how to start their first sketch. However difficult or easy it may be or seem, CADD has proven to be of extreme help to everyone interested in creating sketches of existing or new products, either because they do not have the skill to hand-draw or they may not have enough paper...:) Jokes aside, it is a very handy tool that every engineer should be familiar with.