Maintaining Drafting Standards with CAD

The affordability of 2-D and 3-D computer-aided drafting software (CADD), the relatively low cost of suitable PCs and the consequent increase of the use of this technology in industry has resulted in the widespread use of CADD in engineering courses. However, such software has a shallow learning curve: students are not normally able to address issues in computer-assisted drafting (as required by the appropriate Australian Standard) until they have become familiar with the software. This can reduce the content of drafting courses where CADD replaces the drawing board. At Monash University, CADD has replaced the drawing board with a small increase in the content of the drafting subject by using an innovative structured programme incorporating incomplete wireframe models, coupled to an increase in the use of freehand technical drawing. This paper describes the Monash philosophy.