Institute of Technology Carlow Curriculum

Introduction to modelling in sheet materials. Base Flange, base tab, lofted bends, edge flange, mitre flange. Bending, folding and flatten commands.

Introduction to Surface Modelling using features like: surface extrude, surface revolve, surface sweep, surface loft, surface boundary, filled surface and freeform surfacing. Surface editing tools. Surface modelling is a powerful 3D modelling tool and facilitates learners to manipulate and control the surfaces of a model with greater precision than can be achieved by solid modelling alone. Techniques for utilising surface modelling, either exclusively or partially, in the generation of product forms will be demonstrated.

Base Part of existing product from Review Case Study project (P12) using solid or surface modelling techniques. Reworking of Base Part file to reflect detail design revisions and improvements from course work on the Review Case Study project (P12).

Conversion of Base Part file to .stl file format to facilitate printing of 3D printed component parts within the Prototyping and Surfaces module.

Preparation of Part and Assembly files incorporating and reflecting the design revisions proposed in the Review Case Study project (P12)

Where design revisions propose moving elements and articulations the learner shall demonstrate these features using Motion Study analysis features within the 3D solid modelling programme.

Photorealistic rendering of the three-dimensional parts and assembly files using ray-tracing renderings programmes (KeyShot and PhotoWorks 360). Learners will utilise the product swatch material generated within the Prototype and Surfaces module to inform the material, colour, and texture selections within the rendering packages.

Generation of Drawing files direct from 3D solid modelling files. Learners will construct a suite of part and assembly files showing a fully dimensioned and annotated 3D models that comply with the latest BSI and ISO standards of technical product specifications and documentation. Elements covered include: adding a title block, creating holes and callouts, adding centre marks and centrelines to a drawing, adding item notes, including a bill of materials, adding balloons to specify parts on an assembly drawing, exploded views and making drawing revisions

Introduce learners to advanced form generation techniques and encourage learners to integrate these techniques with solid and surface modelling techniques covered earlier in this module.

Bottom-up design, where parts are created separately and then inserted into an assembly, is the traditional method used to generate assembly files. To change the parts, learners must edit them individually and these changes are then seen in the assembly. This skills element will explore Top-down assembly techniques where parts’ shape, sizes and locations can be designed within the assembly with modelling that automatically resizes to reflect changes made to dependent component parts. This capability is particularly helpful for parts like brackets, fixtures and housings whose purpose is largely to hold other parts in their correct positions. Learners will be encouraged to employ top-down design where design changes are likely to occur and, therefore, encourage efficient working methods and eliminate or reduce reworking of multiple files within the assembly.

Learners prepare a fully defined and dimensioned Base Part file of their product design proposal for the Form and Story project (P14). Learners will be expected to employ skills and techniques demonstrated within this module. Learners will prepare tool path files necessary to machine appearance evaluation models in appropriate modelling material.

The remainder of this module is allocated for learners to work in parallel with studio-based modules and to prepare deliverables for the Form and Story project (P14). Learners will be constantly challenged during self-directed projects and this section of the module requires learners to employ creative thinking and problem solving when solid-modelling forms they have designed on sketch pads or through sketch models in the studio. Should learners encounter problems with individual project work then instructions or modelling procedures, salient to their specific needs, will be demonstrated either directly within the learner’s solid-modelling file or as a live working example to the entire class. Additional modelling skills will be demonstrated using interactive exercises, examples and also as individual learners encounter problems with project work.

Learners must prepare and submit, on a memory stick or other storage media, a suite of part and assembly files for the Form and Story project (P14) showing fully dimensioned and annotated 3D models that comply with the latest BSI and ISO standards of technical product specifications and documentation. A full set of printed technical drawings (GA and two, or more, interconnecting parts files) also form part of this module’s submission requirements.