Computer aided design and manufacture

Computer aided design and manufacture

311 ence guide for students of engineering drawing. It covers all the main elements of drawing office practice and amplifies many of the points found ...

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311 ence guide for students of engineering drawing. It covers all the main elements of drawing office practice and amplifies many of the points found in B.S. 308. The chapters are presented in a rational order which is obviously a reflection of the author's experience of teaching the subject. In addition to the engineering drawing there are chapters on some basic machining processes, useful details on I.S.O. threads and the proportions of some fasteners. Also discussed in this useful guide is the application of certain standard components such as locking devices and bearings; in addition, there are brief comments on Limits and Fits. There is a limited number of exercises scattered throughout the text although in general it does not set out to be a typical engineering drawing text book. This book serves as a most worthwhile complement to B.S. 308 and its objective of being a quick reference guide is successfully achieved. Students of engineering drawing would be well advised to purchase this book. The layout of the text is attractive with drawings and illustrations more than adequately supporting the text. B.G. SINGER

Computer Aided Design and Manufacture, by C.B. Besant, Ellis Horwood Series in Engineering Science, Chichester, 1980. ISBN 0-85312-117-6, 170 pages, hardback £12.50. The title and fly-leaf description of this book tend to suggest a general survey of computer-aided design and manufacture, whereas the text deals more precisely with some details of a specific CAD draughting system, in the development of which the author and his co-workers have been involved. The various aspects of this particular system are outlined in a concise and readable manner, but perhaps greater effort could have been given to putting the system into the wider context of CAD in general, by more comparison with alternative approaches to the problems involved. Relatively little attention has been given to the subject of computer-aided manufacture, which has been restricted to one chapter dealing with a rather specialised application to a doubly curved shape defined initially as a series of digitised contours. The text would have benefitted from a wider review of recent developments in computer-aided manufacture. The first three chapters deal with the general aspects of the use of computers in design and a brief description of the various types of graphics equipment available. Chapters 4--7 are concerned with the organisational aspects of the particular system with which the author has been involved. Firstly the software organisation, data handling and operation of the system are outlined. The approaches adopted are clearly described and well illustrate the considerations necessary for the development of a successful CAD draughting system. Two specific applications of the system are included: the first is the

312 use of the system as an interactive mesh generator for a suite of finite element programmes and the second, the application to the manufacture of a relatively simple doubly curved shape. These are realistic applications of the sy~ tern and well illustrate the usefulness of CAD draughting systems to a solution of a variety of design problems. The final chapter of the book discusses briefly some of the implications of the development of CAD draughting systems for industry, from both the management and union points of view. This is a well presented book, which is useful reading for all interested in the organisation of the hardware and software for a typical CAD draughting system. Although the text is largely restricted to one system, the techniques described are readily applicable to other systems and the major factors which must be considered in the development of a working CAD system are well indicated. WINSTON KNIGHT