CAD supporting the Key Stage 3 Strategy

The objectives of the national programme for Design and Technology are to:

• increase expectations and challenges in teaching
• define progression through the yearly objectives in key skills and concepts to facilitate planning, teaching and assessment
• improve the teaching of designing
• improve the quality of teaching in design and technology by providing examples of effective teaching approaches, drawn from the training materials for foundation subjects, that include questioning, modelling and structuring lessons

The Framework of objectives for designing is described under five headings:

• Exploring ideas and the task
• Generating ideas
• Developing and modelling ideas
• Planning
• Evaluating

The following indicateS some of the ways in which the software in the CAD/CAM Programme supports these objectives:

Exploring Ideas/The Task

ArtCAM

• Select images
• Import existing images and models to explore possibilities
• Explore visual environment by rendering designs.

Pro/ENGINEER / Pro/DESKTOP

• Exploring existing virtual designs
• Exploring a virtual environment where the new design will exist
• Explore visual environment by rendering designs
• Explore proportions

Speed Step

• Explore fabric types
• Explore garment styles
• Explore colour combinations
• Explore proportions of shapes
• Save investigations on a ProPainter page

Generating Ideas

ArtCAM

• Create 2D images
• Combine relief
• Export images for portfolio

Pro/ENGINEER / Pro/DESKTOP

• Propose solutions

• Use alternative modelling methods

• Save alternatives

• Combine components

• Use palette of 3D shapes

Speed Step

• Use images from other sources
• Create new fabric design
• Create colour ranges
• Create logos

Developing ideas/Modelling

ArtCAM

• Develop alternative models
• Import other CAD models for additional 3D
• Create presentation views
• Modify models to fit volume requirements
• Reverse engineering (scanning)

Pro/ENGINEER / Pro/DESKTOP

• Analyse own ideas

• Develop alternatives

• Combine components

• Explore changes to proportions etc.

• Select and allocate appropriate materials

Speed Step

• Combine colours with fabric types
• Combine logos with fabrics
• Change colour ranges
• Fill sketch with proposed fabric design

Planning

ArtCAM

• Review/modify models to suite manufacture/ production

• Output STL and simulate CNC production

• Estimate quantities of materials for casting etc.

• Add notes to models

Pro/ENGINEER / Pro/DESKTOP

• Review/modify models to suite manufacture/ production
• Select and match materials to purpose
• Work as a team/ concurrently on the same assembly
• Output STL and simulate CNC production
• Estimate quantities of materials for casting etc.
• Annotate designs in engineering notebook

Speed Step

• Create storyboard
• Print colour swatches
• Print small section on transfer paper
• Use ProPattern to create sample pattern pieces

Evaluating

ArtCAM

• Compare virtual outcome against specification
• Evaluate how product benefits user

Pro/ENGINEER / Pro/DESKTOP

• Compare virtual outcome against specification

• Evaluate how product benefits user

• Compare existing products by reverse engineering

• Detect interference between parts

• Measure mass, volume, surface area etc.

• Investigate loading

Speed Step

• Drape fabric on photograph
• Compare screen output with fabric print
• Test user response to specification prints