Additional information available on the Computer Aided Drafting and Design – Mechanical Department website at www.ppcc.edu/computer-aided-drafting.
Recommended basic skills standards are
The Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) program prepares students to enter the workforce as a skilled CAD technician for who are equipped with a solid foundation for drafting positions in manufacturing, engineering, and other areas requiring production-ready drawings and 3-dimensional or 3D printed models. Students will learn to prepare 2D and 3D projects for fabrication using the latest releases of multiple CAD software. In addition, students will acquire skills in subject matter of design principles, industry standards, fabrication materials, manufacturing applications, tolerance methods and analysis, problem-solving techniques and general organizational skills.
Career opportunities include drafting and engineering technician, project technician, design technician, draftsperson, and certified document technician. These career options play a critical role in product planning and the design of assembly parts and products which are to be fabricated and produced. With additional equipping and/or education, additional career options include mechanical engineer, commercial or industrial designer, civil engineer, product designer, and project designer.
Degree opportunities are:
CAD Mechanical Emphasis- this emphasis students are trained to be CAD technicians in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, and other areas requiring production-ready drawings and solid 3-dimensional models. Assisting with the design of residential and commercial buildings in an architectural or construction office. Subject matter such as design principles, technical drawing, print reading, product documentation, and fabrication materials and methods are included.
CAD Robotics and Automation Emphasis - this emphasis students are prepared for entry level careers as a CAD technician in the robotics and automation field. Graduates become qualifies to work in electronic automation and in control systems environments. Students in this program are trained on the principles behind robotic and automation technology while focusing on principles of robotics, design, programming, operation of robotic systems, and robotics system maintenance topics such as programmable logic controllers, sensors and transducers, and fundamentals of DC/AC.
CAD HVAC Emphasis- this emphasis students are prepared for entry level careers as a CAD technician in the heating, air conditioning and refrigeration field. This field of work involves different trade disciplines in residential and commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. This includes drafting technician positions in mechanical, electrical, and heating systems while learning basic refrigeration, fundamentals of gas heating, and electricity for HVAC systems for both residences, and large facilities.
Learning outcomes: Upon completion of the Computer Aided Drafting and Design – Mechanical program, students should be able to:
- Read and interpret industry prints, using current drawing standards in dimensioning, symbology, linetypes, lineweights, drawing notes for working drawings, engineering assembly and design related manufacturing drawings
- Apply and integrate computer technology using the latest 2D and 3D CAD software to develop technical engineering drawings in two-dimensional multi-view and three-dimensional solid models in a manner that is efficient and compliant with standard industry practices
- Recall and define the principles and theory of manufacturing processes and basic operation of machine tools
- Determine part function and relationship to each other, to include tolerancing of parts for assemblies while calculating mating part conditions to guarantee parts fits
- Apply and diagnose Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing according to ASME Y14.5M – 1994 standards
- Define and apply proper design materials while identifying proper standard part vendors for design applications
- Compare additive manufacturing to traditional technologies and choose the best technology for a given application to include proper 3D printing materials and select appropriately for a given application
- Create rapid prototypes using additive manufacturing to include identifying vendor parts to make a functional prototype
Interested students should schedule appointments with CAD program advisor prior to enrolling. Students may address and complete prerequisite requirements with the beginning program courses. Students not meeting a course prerequisite must have prior permission in order to enroll in the course.
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