Design and manufacturing education utilized digital engineering

The most effective method in design and manufacturing education is to experience the series of processes, which are to be given a design subject, the design of the machine to qualify the specification, to manufacture or buy necessary parts, the assembly and the evaluation of performance, by oneself or few people. Firstly, the items to learn and improve in the course for the attending student were listed up and examined. These become the evaluation items of the program by the attending student. The program called 'Clock Project' was developed. The subject is to design the clock that displays 'hour' and,minute'. Various restrictions are installed in the size of machine, the parts can be used and etc. The evaluation function to decide the excellent/poor design is the number of parts. The design with small number of parts becomes an excellent one. A couple of students struggle with the program with collaboration. 3-D CAD is used to design and the efficiency is improved comparing with ordinary hand drafting. Moreover, the digital engineering such as a RP (Rapid Prototype) equipment and EC (Electric Commerce) service for the order of parts are utilized fully. As the result, the management cost was reduced drastically. The participated team designed unique clocks. There was no same clock though many types clock were designed in the class. The creativity is inspired through this program. In the paper, the progressed points are explained comparing with the ordinary educational program. And it is examined that whether the expected effect is obtained or not based on the result of evaluation by the students.