CAD/CAM II: Design Development in Digital Environments

This lecture course explores the design development process as it occurs within advanced digital environments, e.g., Catia, that support parametric modeling, and which are widely used computer-aided design and manufacturing applications (CAD/CAM) in architecture and other design and production industries (e.g., automotive, aerospace). The first major component of the course will examine the general utilization of different digital environments in the design development process via a number of diverse case-studies and modeling exercises on projects where digital design tools have been extensively used. A sampling of projects to be reviewed includes the following: B. Franken\’s Bubble and Dynaform, William Massie\’s PS1, Norman Foster\’s Chesa Futura and City Hall, Kas Oosterhuis\’s Floriade Pavilion, Schliach\’s Hippo House and other grid shells, recent Sagrada Familia modeling, several of Gehry\’s buildings, and others. The second major component of the course will focus on learning then basic use of digital tools that are used in the design development, component manufacturing, and construction control phases of a project that occur after preliminary design stages. Characteristics of Catia and similar solid and surface modeling systems to be explored include their hierarchical organization and related parent-child relationships. Via the use of parent-child relationships, design changes and parametric variations can be made at will and propagated through a whole system. Design histories can be retained. These environments also support parametric modeling based on specified local constraints, feature-based design approaches, and application modeling (e.g., sheet metal, mold design). Particularly important are assembly-modeling capabilities, including interference checking, for creating complex systems of inter-related parts. The third major component of the course briefly addresses a variety of related topics; including the use of shared digital models by different participants in the design and building process (architects, structural and mechanical engineers, fabricators, contractors), structural modeling, exporting digital modeling into CAM environments, the use of three-dimensional digitizing systems to create initial design models, rapid prototyping systems for design confirmation, and specific design development tools, such as those used in steel fabrication (e.g., SDS). Lectures will be held on Monday afternoons, 3-6 pm. Workshop sessions focused on skill building with Catia will be held on Friday afternoons, 1-3 pm. PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites to this course include GSD 2107 or equivalent, and completion of most of the building technology sequence at the GSD or its equivalent. GSD 6318 CAD/CAM I is desirable but not required. Familiarity with some 3d modeling system (e.g., Rhino or 3dStudio) is generally important.