WJEC Vocational Award Engineering Level 1/2

WJEC Vocational Award Engineering Level 1/2 CAD works very well when communicating with non-Engineers, as CAD can rotate digital models so they can be observed from all angles, show moving parts and mechanisms, show how the design operates under forces and also can be quickly amended to show non- Engineers the impact of any changes made. CAD is so versatile that is it used advantageously in many professions, from taking a customer on a virtual tour of a new building, to predicting how much material would be needed for a bridge to be safe enough to cross. As well as being a great digital communicator, CAD can also be used to create actual physical models by using CNC machines to cut-out 3D shapes from resistant materials, to the more modern approach where you can now print a 3D physical model of your digital image. 3D models created using CNC machines. 3D shapes and models An excellent way of communicating potential engineered solutions to non-Engineers is by using 3D shapes that the non-Engineers can pick up, hold, interact with and have a tactile experience with, in order to inform them of what the solution is. Physical models are really good for showing not only what the design solution is going to look like but also how it feels and looks in the real world. Non-Engineers can easily visualise the solution when they are interacting with a 3D model. Models, however, do not necessarily function and may not be able to show how a design actually works. Physical models can be created with any type of useful material such as paper, card, Styrofoam TM or even woods and plastics. A model of a head being 3D printed. Models of wind turbines. CNC machines: machines that are computer numerically controlled. Key term 40