The aim of this assignment was to determine the student's understanding of how computer based technology is used in the engineering design process. Please visit http://www.topengineeringsolutions.com/ to obtain a high quality paper for this assignment

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Title: Use of Computer based Technology in Engineering Design
Written by:

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Date: Thursday, 20 February 2014
Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 2
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 2
1
Task 1 Learning Outcome 3.2 ................................................................................................................ 3
1.1
2
Task 1 Learning Outcome 3.1 ................................................................................................................ 8
2.1
3
Explain the key features of a computer-aided design system. ...................................................... 8
Task 3 Learning Outcome 3.3 .............................................................................................................. 10
3.1
4
Use Computer-Aided Design Software to Produce a Design Drawing or Scheme....................... 3
Evaluate software that can assist the design process. ................................................................. 11
References .......................................................................................................................................... 14
List of Figures
Figure 1: Schematic Representation of the Desired Bracket Model ............................................................. 4
Figure 2: An Autodesk Inventor 3D Model of the Beam Complete with the Pin ......................................... 5
Figure 3: Top View of the Beam .................................................................................................................. 5

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Figure 4: Stress Analysis Results when the Beam is fixed at the Bottom .................................................... 6
Figure 5: Stresses in the Beam When the Beam Is Fixed Using Two Screws with Holes Drilled at the
Places Indicated ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Figure 6: Different Templates in Autodesk Inventor (Metric and Imperial) ................................................ 8
Figure 7: Bolts in the Content Centre Showing Different Standards ............................................................ 9
Figure 8: Rapid Prototyping using Autodesk Inventor ............................................................................... 12
1
1.1
Task 1 Learning Outcome 3.2
Use Computer-Aided Design Software to Produce a Design Drawing or Scheme
a) The model of a bracket shown in figure 1 below was created using Autodesk Inventor
and it is shown in figure 2 and 3 below.

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Figure 1: Schematic Representation of the Desired Bracket Model

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Figure 2: An Autodesk Inventor 3D Model of the Beam Complete with the Pin
Figure 3: Top View of the Beam

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b) Stress analysis results for the beam considering a fixed end is shown in figure 4 below:
Figure 4: Stress Analysis Results when the Beam is fixed at the Bottom
When the beam is fixed at the bottom, the maximum stresses are experienced at along the
vertical section of the beam. The maximum stress value observed was 6.02Mpa. This is less than
the yield strength of aluminium 2014 alloy which is 96.51Mpa. However, the results indicated
that the stresses at the point of load application (at the pin) were as high as 9.91Mpa.
When the beam is fixed using two screws with holes drilled at the places indicated, the
resulting stresses are shown in figure 5 below:

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Figure 5: Stresses in the Beam When the Beam Is Fixed Using Two Screws with
Holes Drilled at the Places Indicated
For this case, the maximum stresses in the vertical section of the beam are 5.5Mpa, while
the stresses at the point of load application are 13.7Mpa. This stresses are very low compared to
the yield strength (96.51). Nevertheless, the stresses in the screws are extremely high, that is,
645.7Mpa. Therefore, the screws can easily fail hence the entire beam will break from the
support. It is important to note that the screws used in this case had a diameter of 1.25 inches.
The probability of failure of these screws will depend on their diameter as well as the material.
However, increasing the diameter of the screws will require bigger holes to be drilled in the
beam which will weaken the beam. If screws must be used to fix the beam, then at least 3 pairs
should be used; one pair near the top of the vertical section of the beam, another one at the
middle while the last pair should be used towards the bottom of the beam. However, fixing the
end of the beam is sufficient for this application.

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2
2.1
Task 1 Learning Outcome 3.1
Explain the key features of a computer-aided design system.
In this section, the key features of Autodesk Inventor are discussed.

Accessing standards
Autodesk Inventor is rigid when it comes to accessing standards, particular standards
involving units and dimensions. For instance, if the user intends to use imperial units (inches) in
the model, the user must select the imperial template when starting a new drawing a shown in
figure 6 below: It is important to note that the user cannot change the units while modelling.
Figure 6: Different Templates in Autodesk Inventor (Metric and Imperial)
However, the software is a bit flexible when accessing standards associated with standard
components such as bolts, bearings and gears. For this case, the user selects the component from
the content library depending on the desired standards as shown in figure 7 below:

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Figure 7: Bolts in the Content Centre Showing Different Standards

Parts and material storage and retrieval
Compared to other 3D modelling software packages, Autodesk Inventor is rigid when it
comes to storing and retrieving files. For instance, it lacks the provision for searching inventor
files by typing the exact name of the file. The user is always required to save files in the active
directory to reduce time wasted in searching the files. This is very important particularly when
making assembly drawings because all parts from the content library will be stored in the active
directory. Therefore, failure to work in the active directory means that components of the
assembly will be in different folders. However, the active folder cannot be changed while
inventor files are open.

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
Engineering calculations
Autodesk inventor can only execute a limited number of engineering calculations. It can
be used to carry out stress analysis, dynamic simulation of assemblies, frame analysis and design
optimisation. However, it has no module to execute computational fluid dynamics or heat
transfer analysis. However, models designed in inventor can be exported to other software
packages which are dedicated to engineering analysis such as ANSYS.

Integrated circuit design
Autodesk Inventor has no module designed for integrated circuit design. However,
Inventor IDF Modeller can aid the design of integrated circuit design this software. It uses the
IDF standard to create PCB assemblies. Intermediate Data Format (IDF) allows for exchange of
printed circuit assembly data between mechanical design and printed circuit board (PCB) layout.

Circuit and logic simulation-including AC, DC and transient analysis
Autodesk Inventor has no module designed for circuit and logic simulation-including AC,
DC and transient analysis.

Schematic capture
Autodesk inventor lacks the schematic capture capability and is also not meant for 2D
modelling. Nevertheless, 2D electrical designs and schematic capture can be carried out using
AutoCAD electrical then exported to Inventor. Since there is smooth interoperability between
AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor, AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor can be used to digitally
prototype and document electrical designs.
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Task 3 Learning Outcome 3.3

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3.1
Evaluate software that can assist the design process.
In this section, the capability of Autodesk Inventor was evaluated on the basis of costs,
compatibility with other software packages and technology used such as CNC machining and 3D
printing (rapid prototyping), functional as well as technical capability of the software when used
in product design process.

Costs associated with Autodesk Inventor
There are two main versions of Inventor namely; inventor and inventor professional.
According to Autodesk.com (2014), Autodesk Inventor Professional 2014 costs $7,295. On the
other hand, Autodesk Inventor 2014 costs $4,725 (NOVEDGE, 2014). However, Autodesk
offers institutions and schools affordable pricing for Autodesk Inventor Educational version. The
price can be as low as 30% less than the commercial version (USA.Autodesk.com, 2014).

Compatibility with other software and technology used. E.g. CNC machining
and rapid prototyping
Autodesk Inventor has the capability to carry out rapid prototyping. The model to be
printed is usually saved as an STL (*.stl) file which is compatible with most commercially
available 3D printers. The ‘send to 3D print service’ guides the user through the workflow. The
user controls the resolution and scale of the printout. This service is accessed as shown in figure
8 below:

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Figure 8: Rapid Prototyping using Autodesk Inventor
However, Inventor does not allow for direct CAM application. For CNC manufacturing,
Autodesk Inventor files are imported into CAM dedicated software packages such as
MasterCAM and InventorCAM. Autodesk Inventor models can also be saved into a universal
data exchange format such as IGES or STEP to allow for compatibility with other CAD software
packages.

Functional as well as technical capability of the software when used in product
design process.
Autodesk Inventor is CAD Software for simulation and mechanical design and has the
following capabilities: BIM compatibility, CAD file conversion and data exchange, AutoCAD
integration and DWG compatibility, Manufacturing and design documentation, CAD rendering
and visualization tools, data management, assembly design, sheet metal design, plastic part

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design, harness and cable design, rules-based design, direct manipulation, tube and pipe design,
sketching tools, tooling and model design, design optimisation and finite element analysis.

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4
References
Autodesk.com. (2014). Autodesk Inventor-3D CAD Software. [Online] Available at:
http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-inventor-family/overview [Accessed: 11 Jan
2014].
NOVEDGE. (2014). Inventor 2014- DVD version. [Online] Available at:
http://www.novedge.com/products/5095 [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
USA.Autodesk.com. (2014). Autodesk - Educators - How to Buy. [online] Available at:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=10916786 [Accessed: 11
Jan 2014].