Engineering Design Communication

Lecture 8
Engineering Communication
• Communicate - to send information so that it is
satisfactorily received or understood.
• Here is a recording from a training tape on how
guided missiles locate themselves and get to the

Lecture 8
target. Listen to see if this information is
communicated as well as it could be.
Engineering Communication
• Engineers need to be able to communicate
thoughts, ideas, and plans to many other
specialists in many different fields.
• Engineers work in teams with people from

Lecture 8
different backgrounds.
• Therefore, it is necessary to have a variety of
communication skills. (VCSU, 2006)
Communication Skills
• Interpersonal -
• Do you picture the engineer as the nerd in the corner with the
pocket protector?
• Those days have passed.
• Engineering today means teamwork.

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• The Thomas Edison mythology would not work on problems like
the Manhattan Project. (VCSU, 2006)
Communication Skills
• Written
• It may seem that engineering projects would be too technical to
have much use for composition skills.
• However, in a survey of over 4000 practicing engineers, 99%
listed composition courses as important for future engineers.

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(VCSU, 2006)
Communication Skills
• Why?
• Engineers write proposals. They need to convince people to spend
money on their projects.
• These “shopping lists” may be read by their immediate boss, the
president of the company, a US Senator, the DOD (Department of
Defense), etc.

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• Engineers also write reports when a design change is needed or to
explain a failure. (VCSU, 2006)
Communication Skills
• Oral and Electronic Presentation -
• For the same reasons as listed for written skills, oral and
electronic presentation skills are needed.
• The use of presentation software and hardware can vastly
improve the effectiveness of an engineer’s report.

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• This is especially important with regard to concurrent
engineering. (VCSU, 2006)
Concurrent Engineering
• Concurrent means occurring at the same time.
• Concurrent engineering is the process in which
all aspects of the design process happen at the
same time.

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• Effective communication is critical.
• All aspects of design, manufacturing and support
have to be coordinated. (VCSU, 2006)
Concurrent Engineering
• Development teams are used to complete
projects. The team effort:
• Reduces development time
• Produces a faster time to market which equals

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increased market share
• Increases quality
• Increases productivity
• Eliminates costly and timely re-designs
• Lowers implementation risks
• (Berkeley, 1997)
• (VCSU, 2006)
Mathematical Expression
• A mathematical expression can be written in the
form of a statement that can be translated into a
formula and then tested.
• A simple example:

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• d = distance, v = velocity, t = time
• v=d/t
• A train travels 50 miles in 30 minutes. What is the
velocity of the train? (VCSU, 2006)
Mathematical Expression
• “A picture is worth a thousand words”
• Which is easier to interpret? The following table
or graph?

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8:00 1.031
9:00 1.032
10:00 1.086
11:00 1.043
12:00 1.041
1:00 1.030
2:00 1.089
3:00 1.042
4:00 1.028
Mathematical Expression

Hourly Measurements
1.1
1.09

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1.08
1.07
Measurement

1.06
1.05
Series1
1.04
1.03
1.02
1.01
1
0.99
00

00

00

00

00
00

0
0

:0

:0
:0
8:

9:

1:

2:

3:

4:
10

11

12

Time
Mathematical Expression
• The information is the same in both the table
and the chart.
• The chart clearly shows that during 10:00 and
2:00 the measurements increase.

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• This is a replica of a situation in which the
machine operator was leaning against his CNC
machine during coffee break throwing his
machining out of tolerance.
• The change in measurements were not
associated with the change in time until it was
put into chart format.
Mathematical Expression
• As an engineer, it is critical to use the best expression of
mathematics to clearly communicate with others.

Lecture 8
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
• Formerly referred to as drafting or engineering drafting (VCSU,
2006)
• (OCIW, 2003)

Lecture 8
Engineering Design Communication – Lockhart and
Johnson
Engineering Design Communication – Lockhart and
Johnson
Engineering Design Communication – Lockhart and
Johnson
Summary
 All dimensions include controls of geometry. Rule 1 states that a
size control inherently includes controls of form.
 Because of Rule 1, the need for GDT callouts is minimized. Use
carefully.
 GDT should be used to refine the relationship between feature and
form.
 GDT should open tolerances. MMC should reduce part cost.
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
• This form of communication has been an area of skill to
engineers and architects for hundreds of years. (VCSU, 2006)

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2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
• A drafting course would teach students to:
• Print clearly and uniformly
• Create accurate and uniform dimensions
• Make object lines of uniform thickness to make center lines,
dimension lines, hidden lines, etc. distinguishable. (VCSU, 2006)

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2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
• The next objective was to represent objects with top, front,
and side views.
• This is called orthographic projection. (VCSU, 2006)

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2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
• The next step was to teach isometric projection.

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Perspective Drawing
• 1 point perspective

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• 2 point perspective

• 3 point perspective
• (Anime-by-Example,1998).
2 Point Perspective

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• (Anime-by-Example,1998).
3 Point Perspective

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• (Anime-by-Example,1998).
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching

• The idea behind teaching these skills (that is still

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• Engineers are required to keep dated logbooks,
including sketches to document who created an
invention first.
• The award of patents are often dependant on
these logs. (VCSU, 2006).
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching

• Even in 1987, engineering students at NDSU had

Lecture 8
• The drafting course was one of the most
challenging and often seen as a test of
engineering determination - referred to as the
“weed out” class. (VCSU, 2006).
3 Dimensional Modeling
• Today (2006) the class offered at NDSU is:
Fundamentals of Visual Communications for
Engineers A visual communications for design
and manufacturing, computer-aided drawing

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and design, three-dimensional modeling and
orthographic projections, geometric
dimensioning and tolerancing… (NDSU, n.d.)
3 Dimensional Modeling
• 3-D modeling software is more productive at
communicating a design concept.
• Technology has drastically changed the way we
can communicate design ideas.

Lecture 8
• Not everyone that engineers are selling their
idea to can read a mechanical drawing. (VCSU, 2006).
3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
• Modeling provides a means of visually and
virtually representing ideas.
• The term computer model describes a
computer-generated perspective drawing. They

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are not physical models, but their realism allows
them to play similar roles. (VCSU, 2006).
3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
• Model building is a skill and process to translate designs into a
visual form to be used for discussion, analysis, development,
and testing. (VCSU, 2006).

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3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
• By creating a model on the computer, companies
can save a great amount of time and money in
development and redesign phases.
• The model can be designed, modeled, and

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tested on the computer before the first one is
manufactured. This speeds up production. (VCSU,
2006).
3 Dimensional Modeling
Characteristics
• After a model is created virtually, an actual
physical model can be made through a computer
controlled process called stereolithography.
• This uses lasers to “trace” out a part from a

Lecture 8
liquid polymer. Where the lasers intersect, the
polymer hardens and forms the solid part of the
model.
• Another process that sprays on layers of polymer
is called Rapid Deposition Modeling (RDM). (VCSU,
2006).
Standards
• Standard #8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of
design.
• [8.H] The design process includes defining a problem, brainstorming, researching and
generating ideas, identifying criteria and specifying constraints, exploring possibilities,
selecting an approach, developing a design proposal, making a model or prototype,
testing and evaluating the design using specifications, refining the design, creating or
making it, and communicating processes and results.
• Standard #12: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select

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and use information and communication technologies.
• [12.L] Document processes and procedures and communicate them to different
audiences using appropriate oral and written techniques.
• [12.P] Use computers and calculators to access, retrieve, organize, process,
maintain, interpret, and evaluate date and information in order to communicate.
• Standard #17: Students will develop abilities to use and maintain
technological products and systems.
• [17.P] There are many ways to communicate information, such as graphic and
electronic means.