Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Engineering
Sta. Mesa Manila

Computer Applications for ME – Activity 04

Signature
Name Lagman, Lance Andrew N. Date 12/15/20

Student
Section BSME 3-3 2018-02893-MN-0 Score
Number

Instruction: Answer the following questions. Write your answer on the space
below each question.

1. Explain how does CAD/CAM/CAE software affect the work done by engineers,
especially in the field of mechanical engineering?

Mechanical Engineering is a diverse and broad field that can focus machine
design for better efficiency in any kind of industry. With the aid of computer
software, the production life of a material becomes easier up to the planning
down to its operation and maintenance. Also, as for mechanical engineers, it is
not only focus on the first and second phase of the production life, which is the
planning and designing, but they are also part of the manufacturing the
product and its maintenance. To further visualize this, for mechanical
engineers, computer aided design is used in planning to come up with quality
product with exact dimension and material to be use. With the use of CAD,
mechanical engineers can easily communicate with its team on what will be
their exact product. The next phase of the production life is the testing of the
product with multiple parameters, now the computer aided engineering will
took place. Here instead of testing the product with an actual prototype, the
CAE is used to simulate the actual product and apply different parameter that
can produce actual result. By this, mechanical engineers can conclude and
recommend to the betterment of the product without wasting a single money
and time. Now for the production of the actual product, mechanical engineers
will use the computer aided manufacturing for faster work production and
minimal defects in making the product. It is also a huge help to the production
team for the reason that there wouldn’t be a single work power wasted. For the
last part of the production life is the maintenance, one of the job roles of a
mechanical engineers. Due to the stored information from the blueprints using
CAD, CAE, and CAM, mechanical engineers can easily resolve the problems. In
conclusion, computer aided software give the best quality with minimum time,
resources and effort wasted and it make the engineering team proactive about
their product.
2. In your own words, explain the functions of various software listed in this
module on the industry.

a. AutoCAD,
This software application helps engineers and architects of different
industries to produce or plan a 2 dimension and 3 dimension design and
blueprints. Due to its easy use, this AutoCAD software became one of the
three used software and became the primary language of communication
in different industry. Due to its faction, AutoCAD are now mostly been
used by civil engineers and architectures that is why AutoCAD is mostly
used as an architectural planning tool. Not only that, it is mostly been
used by electrical engineers to produce electrical wirings because of
AutoCAD’s build in templates. Also, because of its easy usage, it is used
as a first stepping stone by engineering students, architecture students
and students that focus on designs to easily get familiar with different
computer aided software.

b. Fusion 360,
This software only produces or generates 3 dimension drawing or solid
objects or surface. However, the advantage of this software to AutoCAD
and other software, in general, it can be used as a computer aided
drafting tool, computer aided engineering tool and computer aided
manufacturing tool. Because it can be used as a CAD, CAM, and CAE
tool this software can simulate the actual machine which can be very
helpful mostly to mechanical engineers which they can easily input
multiple parameters on the product or machine design to determine its
efficiency. Also fusion 360 analyses the finite elements of a specific part
to determine the strength of the material, which are very helpful to
material engineers. In general, Fusion 360 is very helpful in making
multiple 3 dimension objects and doing a complex assembly of each
design material.

c. Catia,

This software is almost alike with Fusion 360 that is that product life
cycle, which also focuses on computer aided design, computer aided
manufacturing and computer aided engineering. This software is mostly
use in different automobile industry and aerospace industry. The reason
it is used in this industry, because Catia creates complex assemblies and
surfaces with great option features. Like it allows the user to create and
deform smooth surfaces or shape modelling capabilities and analyse the
connection between them. Also another good thing using it is software,
 this is already link to the factory where the machine will be making,
Therefor, and the design on Catia on how it is drawn or made will be
directed to the machine factory to produce the actual design.

d. AutoPipe,

This software is focused only on the production of efficient and durable

piping system. This software can generate, test and analyse the piping
system using different fluids which are steams, liquids or chemicals.
AutoPipe software uses 3 dimensions modelling to produce the efficient
design of a piping system. It also simulates dynamic or static flow of
fluids to locate specific stresses and structural analysis within the
engineers design.

e. MSC Nastran,
Unlike other computer aided software, MSC Nastran only focuses on
computer aided engineering. MSC Nastran uses finite elements to
determine which part of the material that is most likely to fail. The MSC
Nastran would primarily use by material engineers or even civil engineers
in determining the factor of safety of the material.

f. CFD software and

Unlike the AutoPipe system which is only focus on the piping design and
simulation of fluids within the pipe, CFD of computational fluid
dynamics software are primarily used by mechanical engineers in
analysing the behaviour of fluids that are affecting your design. In
industry, this is use in designing HVAC system, design process of
airships and even automobiles.