The Design Process

1. The Design Process Engineering Graphics Dr. Stephen Crown

2. Objective • To understand the role that engineering graphics plays in the world of engineering • To understand the process of design

3. Overview • Embark on an adventure • Africa / Engineering • The design process • Six Steps • Application • Garage door problem

4. A Trip into Africa • You need to learn the language • You need to learn the culture • How are things done? • What is important? • An exciting experience that opens up new opportunities • A new perspective • A new way to communicate

5. A Trip into Engineering • You need to learn the language • Engineering Graphics • Definition: The use of drawings in the engineering design process based on a system of well established rules and conventions that clearly conveys information about an object • Imagine trying to describe a simple physical object that you have never seen without being able to draw it • Standard conventions (like vocabulary in language) allow us to communicate more effectively and with clarity

6. A Trip into Engineering • You need to learn the culture • How are things done? • Consideration of how a part is to be manufactured is essential in design • What is important? • Example: A radio button • Finish: The part will be painted • Color: The red color shows through when illuminated • Cost: The company may make thousands each day • Shape: The part must be aesthetically pleasing

7. A Trip into Engineering • An exciting experience that opens up new opportunities • A new perspective • Able to better visualize an object • The act of creating a drawing is often an iterative process as the drawing reveals critical information • A new way to communicate • Allows for simple clear communication with other engineers and technicians • When added to other forms of communication gives richness and strength to the presentation of an idea

8. A Six Step Design Process • Design • Definition:The process of bringing together engineering principles, material resources, and creativity to produce a new solution to a well defined problem • A non-linear process • Concurrent engineering • Many of the processes in design may be revisited several times • Engineers are just some of the players

9. A Six Step Design Process • Step One: Problem Identification • What is the problem? • Defining the problem is the most important step in the design process • Be creative even at this step (brainstorm) • What part of the problem do we hope to solve? • What is the design criteria? • What limitations or conditions will restrict the design? • Make a formal problem statement

10. A Formal Problem Statement • Problem Description • A concise description capturing the main problem • Requirements • Conditions that must be satisfied • Prioritize other items • Limitations • Determine constraints (cost, space, weight, environment, etc.) • Additional information • Has this problem been addressed in the past? • Are there solutions to similar problems?

11. A Six Step Design Process • Step Two: Preliminary Ideas • Brainstorm • Wild ideas are encouraged • Use your imagination (be creative) • Make sketches • Step Three: Preliminary design • Select best of preliminary ideas • Combine ideas • Refine sketches • Develop simple computer models • Evaluate the merits of each design

12. A Six Step Design Process • Step Four: Refinement • Look at the most promising ideas from the previous step • Work out the details of each design • More sophisticated computer modeling (design visualization) • How will the proposed design interact with other systems? • How will the parts be made? • What materials will be used? • Rapid prototyping • Step Five: Analysis • Apply engineering and scientific principles to evaluate the design • Stress, fatigue, or wear analysis • Thermal analysis, etc.

13. A Six Step Design Process • Step Six: Implementation • Choose the best design based on results of the previous steps (refinement and analysis) • Documentation • Design drawings (needed for patent application) • Create working drawings (production drawings) • Technical illustrations • Build a prototype • Do thorough testing • Marketing • Production planning

14. A Six Step Design Process • Application: The garage door problem • Assignment: Write a “formal problem statement” addressing all the elements discussed in class • Begin discussions (brainstorming) about the problem and write a concise description of the problem • Come to lab prepared to continue this process • Read the assigned section in your text for this week • Review your class notes