EMG 2504: Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing

CAT I - October 2017 Solutions

Question One (30 MARKS)

(a) Computer-aided design (CAD) is the process of utilizing computers to create and
edit design models and drawings.
Use of computers in design:

• Construction of a geometric model - wireframe, surface or solid model, depend-

ing on application.
• Animation and visualization
+ Animate to evaluate motion of various elements
+ Render image to obtain a realistic view
• Analysis:
+ Dynamic analysis to evaluate motion and dynamic performance of model
+ Interference analysis for assemblies and subassemblies
+ Finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate if the system can withstand ap-
plied loads and to optimize shape, topology and structures.
• Documentation of design:
+ Generate detail and assembly drawings
+ Assign tolerance, fits and limits
+ Generate analyses (FEA or dynamic analysis) reports

(b) A CAD system consists of three major components:

(i) Hardware - all those pieces of equipment which are used to implement computer
programs.
+ the computer with its memory and central processing unit (CPU)
+ external memory means of storing programs
+ the display screens
+ devices for inputting instructions to the computer, e.g. keyboards, digitizers
and tablets
+ output devices which gives hard copy from the computer, e.g. printers and
plotters.
(ii) Operating system software - The operating system software is the interface
between the CAD application software and the hardware. Allocates hardware
resources among tasks and providing access to software resources such as files,
editors, compilers, and utility programs.

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 (iii) CAD application software - the collection of programs written to make it conve-
nient for a user to operate the computer graphics system. It includes programs
to generate images on the display screen, to manipulate the images, and to
accomplish various types interaction between the user and the system.

(c) Categories of CAD Software systems:

(i) Low-end CAD Softwares - mainly for 2D drafting and 3D wireframe

+ Autodesk AutoCAD, AutoCAD mechanical
+ Open source 123D, LibreCAD,Qcad
(ii) Mid-range for 3D modeling, parametric design and low level CAE
+ Autodesk Inventor
+ Dassault Solidworks
+ Siemens PLM Solidedge
(iii) High-end CAD softwares for 3D modeling, parametric design, CAM and CAE
+ Dassault CATIA
+ PTC Creo Parametric (formely Pro/ENGINEER)
+ Siemens PLM NX (Unigraphics), NX I-DEAS

(d) Benefits of solid models:

(i) Has all the advantages of surface models (uniqueness, non-ambiguous, realistic,
surface profile) plus volumetric information.
(ii) Allows the designer to create multiple options for a design.
(iii) 2D standard drawings, assembly drawing and exploded views are generated
from the 3D model.
(iv) Can easily be exported to different Finite Element Methods programs for anal-
ysis.
(v) Can be used in newly manufacturing techniques; CIM, CAM and DFM & DFA
(vi) Mass and volumetric properties of an object can be easily obtained; total mass,
mass center, area and mass moment of inertia, volume, radius of gyration

(e) Wire frame models can be interpreted in more than one way (as shown in Figure 1),
which is undesirable in engineering.

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 Figure 1: Ambiguity in wireframe models

(f) Using generalized Euler’s formula: V − E + F − H = 2(C − G)

V = 2 + 2 = 4,
E = 2+3=5
F = 2+3=5
H = 0, G = 0, C = 2,
4 − 5 + 5 − 0 = 2(2 − 0),
4 = 4.

(g) B-Rep finds extensive application in Finite Element Method (FEM) programs since
it allows the interior meshing of the volume to be more easily controlled.

(h) Figure 2 shows the operations required for creating the object.

Figure 2: CSG tree structure