Course: EW470 Desktop Manufacturing and Product Design
4 Credits – 2 Recitation Hours – 4 Laboratory Hours
Course Description:
This course focuses on the fundamental principles of commercial product design and prototyping using tools from desktop manufacturing, including 3-D printers, laser cutters, 3D scanners, vacuum formers, and printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing capabilities. Students are introduced to a wide array of tools, including CAD principles for desktop manufacturing, professional graphics software for documentation and promotion, and product design concepts ranging from usability to aesthetics. The course culminates in the generation of a novel product design including a fully functional prototype generated using the tools from the course. Cannot receive credit for both EW470 and EM434.
Pre-requisites:
EW202, and ERC or ERCH major
Course Coordinator:
Prof. Bishop
Textbook:
Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance… by Lidwell, Holden and Butler.
Materials and Design: The Art and Science… by Ashby and Johnson (3rd edition)
Course Objectives:
1) Describe the concept and reality of low-cost desktop manufacturing
2) Properly choose and utilize existing tools for:
(1) Additive manufacturing and 3D printing
(2) 3D scanning
(3) Laser cutting and engraving
(4) Printed Circuit Board Layout and Production
(5) CAD and digital art tools for 3D modeling
3) Understand the primary principles of product design
4) Demonstrate the skills needed to carry a product from concept through prototype
5) Demonstrate design principles in preparation of presentations and digital media
6) Understand the implications of the desktop manufacturing revolution
Topics:
Product Analysis
Creativity Methods
Propositional Density and Stickiness
Aesthetics
Material implications for Design
Affordances
Usability
Presentation Design
Printed Circuit Boards - design and practice
3D printing
Laser Cutting
3D Scanning
Vacuum Forming and Molding
CAD
Engineering Graphics
Graphic Design