Design for Engineering

Unit 3 Engineering Communication

Annette Beattie
June 9, 2006

Engineering Communication
ETP 2006 Annette Beattie
This material is based upon work supported by the National
Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616. Any opinions,
findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in
this material are those of the author(s) and do not
necessarily reflect the view of the National Science
Foundation (NSF).

Engineering Communication
Communicate - to send information so

that it is satisfactorily received or

understood.
Here is a recording from a training tape
on how guided missiles locate
themselves and get to the target. Listen
to see if this information is
communicated as well as it could be.

Engineering Communication
Engineers need to be able to

communicate thoughts, ideas, and plans

to many other specialists in many
different fields.
Engineers work in teams with people
from different backgrounds.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a
variety of communication skills. (VCSU, 2006)

Communication Skills
Interpersonal Do you picture the engineer as the
nerd in the corner with the pocket
protector?
Those days have passed.
Engineering today means teamwork.
The Thomas Edison mythology would
not work on problems like the
Manhattan Project. (VCSU, 2006)

Communication Skills
Written
It may seem that engineering projects
would be too technical to have much
use for composition skills.
However, in a survey of over 4000
practicing engineers, 99% listed
composition courses as important for
future engineers. (VCSU, 2006)

Communication Skills
Why?
Engineers write proposals. They need to

convince people to spend money on their

projects.
These shopping lists may be read by
their immediate boss, the president of
the company, a US Senator, the DOD
(Department of Defense), etc.
Engineers also write reports when a
design change is needed or to explain a
failure. (VCSU, 2006)

Communication Skills
Oral and Electronic Presentation For the same reasons as listed for
written skills, oral and electronic
presentation skills are needed.
The use of presentation software and
hardware can vastly improve the
effectiveness of an engineers report.
This is especially important with regard
to concurrent engineering. (VCSU, 2006)

Concurrent Engineering
Concurrent means occurring at the

same time.
Concurrent engineering is the process in
which all aspects of the design process
happen at the same time.
Effective communication is critical.
All aspects of design, manufacturing
and support have to be coordinated.
(VCSU, 2006)

Concurrent Engineering
Development teams are used to

complete projects. The team effort:

Reduces development time
Produces a faster time to market which

equals increased market share

Increases quality
Increases productivity
Eliminates costly and timely re-designs
Lowers implementation risks

(Berkeley, 1997)
(VCSU, 2006)

Mathematical Expression
Recall from Unit 1 the math

requirements for an engineering

major.
Math is an important tool that
engineers use to determine design
solutions.
Math is also a method to express
design solutions. (VCSU, 2006)

Mathematical Expression
A mathematical expression can be

written in the form of a statement that

can be translated into a formula and
then tested.
A simple example:
d = distance, v = velocity, t = time
v=d/t
A train travels 50 miles in 30 minutes. What

is the velocity of the train?

(VCSU, 2006)

Mathematical Expression
A picture is worth a thousand words
Which is easier to interpret? The

following table or graph?

8:00

1.031

9:00

1.032

10:00

1.086

11:00

1.043

12:00

1.041

1:00

1.030

2:00

1.089

3:00

1.042

4:00

1.028

Mathematical Expression
Hourly Measurements

Measurement
Measurement

1.1
1.1
1.09
1.09
1.08
1.08
1.07
1.07
1.06
1.06
1.05
1.05
1.04
1.04

Series1
Series1

1.03
1.03
1.02
1.02
1.01
1.01
1
1
0.99
0.99

Time
Time

Mathematical Expression
The information is the same in both the table

and the chart.

The chart clearly shows that during 10:00 and
2:00 the measurements increase.
This is a replica of a situation in which the
machine operator was leaning against his CNC
machine during coffee break throwing his
machining out of tolerance.
The change in measurements were not
associated with the change in time until it was
put into chart format.

Mathematical Expression
As an engineer, it is critical to use

the best expression of

mathematics to clearly
communicate with others.

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching

Formerly referred to as drafting or

engineering drafting

(OCIW, 2003)

(VCSU, 2006)

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching

This form of communication has been an area of

skill to engineers and architects for hundreds of
years. (VCSU, 2006)

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching
A drafting course would teach

students to:

Print clearly and uniformly

Create accurate and uniform

dimensions
Make object lines of uniform thickness
to make center lines, dimension lines,
hidden lines, etc. distinguishable. (VCSU,
2006)

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching
The next objective was to

represent objects with top, front,

and side views.
This is called orthographic
projection. (VCSU, 2006)

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching
The next step was to teach

isometric projection.

Perspective Drawing
1 point perspective

2 point perspective

3 point perspective

(Anime-by-Example,1998).

2 Point Perspective

(Anime-by-Example,1998).

3 Point Perspective

(Anime-by-Example,1998).

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching
The idea behind teaching these skills

(that is still valid today) is that many

great inventions and products are first
put down on paper on a napkin or the
back of an envelope.
Engineers are required to keep dated
logbooks, including sketches to
document who created an invention first.
The award of patents are often
dependant on these logs. (VCSU, 2006).

2-Dimensional Drafting &

Sketching
Even in 1987, engineering students at

NDSU had to take a minimum of 2

quarters of engineering drafting
producing drawings like the ones just
shown with front, top, side and
isometric views.
The drafting course was one of the most
challenging and often seen as a test of
engineering determination - referred to
as the weed out class. (VCSU, 2006).

3 Dimensional Modeling
Today (2006) the class offered at NDSU

is: Fundamentals of Visual

Communications for Engineers A
visual communications for design and
manufacturing, computer-aided drawing
and design, three-dimensional modeling
and orthographic projections, geometric
dimensioning and tolerancing (NDSU, n.d.)

3 Dimensional Modeling
3-D modeling software is more

productive at communicating a design

concept.
Technology has drastically changed the
way we can communicate design ideas.
Not everyone that engineers are selling
their idea to can read a mechanical
drawing. (VCSU, 2006).

3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
Modeling provides a means of visually

and virtually representing ideas.

The term computer model describes a
computer-generated perspective
drawing. They are not physical models,
but their realism allows them to play
similar roles. (VCSU, 2006).

3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
Model building is a skill and

process to translate designs into a

visual form to be used for
discussion, analysis, development,
and testing. (VCSU, 2006).

3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
By creating a model on the computer,

companies can save a great amount of

time and money in development and
redesign phases.
The model can be designed, modeled,
and tested on the computer before the
first one is manufactured. This speeds
up production. (VCSU, 2006).

3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
After a model is created virtually, an actual

physical model can be made through a

computer controlled process called
stereolithography.
This uses lasers to trace out a part from a
liquid polymer. Where the lasers intersect,
the polymer hardens and forms the solid
part of the model.
Another process that sprays on layers of
polymer is called Rapid Deposition Modeling
(RDM). (VCSU, 2006).

Activity Sample
Hand out Unit 3 Activity
For your assignment, you will be in

teams of two.
Put together a power point
presentation that you will give to
the class per the handout provided.
A sample of what you will put
together is as follows:

Activity Sample
1 point perspective
Perspective is the geometrical

technique in drawing that creates

the illusion of three-dimensional
space on a two-dimensional plane
(your paper). It is a technique that
uses overlapping, objects receding in
space, horizon lines and vanishing
points to create a feeling of depth.

Activity Sample
1 point perspective
There is 1 point perspective, 2

point, 3 point, multi point, and no

point.
1 point perspective has all lines
converging on one vanishing
point.

Activity Sample
1 point perspective
The following is an example of an

artists drawing from one point

perspective that gives the feeling
of looking into another room. It
was painted by Santa Maria
Novella circa 1428 and titled
Trinity.

Sources

Anime-by-Example. (1998). Retrieved June 9, 2006 from the website:

http://www.geocities.com/hamchoba/animex/3d.htm#3-Point%20Perspective

Berkeley. (1997). Retrieved June 9, 2006 from the website:

http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~pps/pps/ce_be.html

North Dakota State University. (n.d.). Retrieved June 9, 2006 from the website:
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu

Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. (2003). Retrieved June 9, 2006

from the website: http://www.ociw.edu/instrumentation/ccd/imacs/images/SITE_MECH.JPG

Valley City State University. (2006). Technology education 660 design for engineering unit 3
reading assignment. Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website: http://www.vcsu.edu

Standards

Standard #8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of design.

[8.H] The design process includes defining a problem, brainstorming, researching and

generating ideas, identifying criteria and specifying constraints, exploring possibilities,

selecting an approach, developing a design proposal, making a model or prototype,
testing and evaluating the design using specifications, refining the design, creating or
making it, and communicating processes and results.

Standard #12: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select

and use information and communication technologies.
[12.L] Document processes and procedures and communicate them to different

audiences using appropriate oral and written techniques.

[12.P] Use computers and calculators to access, retrieve, organize, process, maintain,
interpret, and evaluate date and information in order to communicate.

Standard #17: Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological
products and systems.
[17.P] There are many ways to communicate information, such as graphic and

electronic means.