Design for Engineering
Unit 3 Engineering Communication
Annette Beattie
June 9, 2006
Engineering Communication
ETP 2006 – Annette Beattie
This material is based upon work supported by the National
Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616. Any opinions,
findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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 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
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.
 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. (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.
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.
 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.
 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 increased market share
 Increases quality
 Increases productivity
 Eliminates costly and timely re-designs
 Lowers implementation risks
 (Berkeley, 1997)
 (VCSU, 2006)
Mathematical Expression
 Recall from Unit 1 the math
requirements for an engineering
major.
 Math is an important tool that
engineers use to determine design
solutions.
 Math is also a method to express
design solutions. (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:
 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?
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
1.07
1.06
1.05
Series1
1.04
1.03
1.02
1.01
1
Time
4:
00
3:
00
2:
00
1:
00
:0
0
12
:0
0
11
:0
0
10
9:
00
0.99
8:
00
Measurement
1.08
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.
 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.
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
 Formerly referred to as drafting or
engineering drafting (VCSU, 2006)
 (OCIW, 2003)
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
 This form of communication has been an area of skill
to engineers and architects for hundreds of years.
(VCSU, 2006)
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)
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
 The next objective was to represent
objects with top, front, and side
views.
 This is called orthographic
projection. (VCSU, 2006)
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
 The next step was to teach isometric
projection.
Perspective Drawing
 1 point perspective
 2 point perspective
 3 point perspective

(Anime-by-Example,1998).
2 Point Perspective
 (Anime-by-Example,1998).
3 Point Perspective
 (Anime-by-Example,1998).
2-Dimensional Drafting & Sketching
 The idea behind teaching these skills (that
is still valid today) is that many great
inventions and products are first put down
on paper on a napkin or the back of an
envelope.
 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 to take a minimum of 2
quarters of engineering drafting
producing drawings like the ones just
shown with front, top, side and isometric
views.
 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, computeraided drawing and design, threedimensional 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.
 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 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).
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 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 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).
Activity Sample
 Hand out Unit 3 Activity
 For your assignment, you will be in
teams of two.
 Put together a power point
presentation that you will give to the
class per the handout provided.
 A sample of what you will put
together is as follows:
Activity Sample
1 point perspective
 Perspective is the geometrical
technique in drawing that creates
the illusion of three-dimensional
space on a two-dimensional plane
(your paper). It is a technique that
uses overlapping, objects receding
in space, horizon lines and vanishing
points to create a feeling of depth.
Activity Sample
1 point perspective
 There is 1 point perspective, 2 point,
3 point, multi point, and no point.
 1 point perspective has all lines
converging on one vanishing point.
Activity Sample
1 point perspective
 The following is an example of an
artists drawing from one point
perspective that gives the feeling of
looking into another room. It was
painted by Santa Maria Novella
circa 1428 and titled Trinity.
Sources

Anime-by-Example. (1998). Retrieved June 9, 2006 from the website:
http://www.geocities.com/hamchoba/animex/3d.htm#3-Point%20Perspective

Berkeley. (1997). Retrieved June 9, 2006 from the website:
http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~pps/pps/ce_be.html

North Dakota State University. (n.d.). Retrieved June 9, 2006 from the website:
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu

Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. (2003). Retrieved June 9, 2006
from the website:
http://www.ociw.edu/instrumentation/ccd/imacs/images/SITE_MECH.JPG

Valley City State University. (2006). Technology education 660 design for engineering unit
3 reading assignment. Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website: http://www.vcsu.edu
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
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.