Dividends of a University wide integrated approach to CAD

The University of Newcastle has adopted an especially integrated approach to the purchase and implementation of a new computer aided design (CAD) system throughout the University. The system provided, now meets the needs of virtually all CAD users and is intended to do so for a number of years to come. The paper charts the route to the successful implementation and discusses the effects on the various CAD courses and projects. The paper´s reflections on the implementation process and its outcomes, will prove interesting and helpful for any university considering updating its CAD systems. The choice of CAD system was greatly influenced by the need to provide the system centrally (by the university computing service) yet meets the needs of the vast majority of users in the Departments. The users range from fine art, through archaeology, architecture, geomatics and many others to mechanical engineering. The system chosen uses AutoCAD2000 as the core software with appropriate add-on packages for each major area: architectural desktop and mechanical desktop are included. Within the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering alone, the effects of the new CAD system have been great. The motivation of the students has improved remarkably and many aspects of the teaching of engineering design have been unproved, in many cases enabling students to consider detailed technical aspects not previously possible.