Integration Of CAD/CAM Into The Engineering Curriculum

Engineering education is at a transition stage in its move from conventioal teaching methods to computer aided teaching methods. Engineering colleges should take prompt action so this transition will be smooth. The objective of this paper is to present some feasible suggestions that can be implemented by engineering colleges. First, a status analysis summarizes the result of a literature search on the development and activities of Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided-Manufacturing (CAM) among colleges, universities, and technical institutions. Then a number of areas including new course structure, new courses, new texbook, information coordination, software interface and laboratory upgrading are discussed in detail to demonstrate how CAD/CAM can be integrated into a comprehensive engineering curriculum. Finally, the experience of the School of Engineering of the University of Michigan-Dearborn is included as an example.