January 2007, Issue #54
Design and Drafting Engineering
Design Engineers research and develop concepts for new products, structures, production processes, and manufacturing systems. They also modify existing products, structures, and systems to improve performance and efficiency. Almost every product manufactured or structure built also requires the skill of a professional drafter.
Drafters are responsible for preparing the technical drawings and plans using computer-aided design or CAD. The drawings show the technical details of the product or structure to be produced and specify dimensions, materials, and procedures required to take it from concept to completion. Drafters reference a number of resources—including technical handbooks, tables, codes, and calculations made by engineers, surveyors, architects, or scientists to complete the plans.
Design and drafting engineers work in virtually all the engineering specialties including mechanical, electrical, electronic, automotive, biomedical, and civil engineering. Everything from iPods to spacecrafts, homes to football stadiums, and motor vehicles to refrigerators required the skills of a design engineer and drafter.
Whether developing a new product of modifying existing ones, design engineers take into account functionality, aesthetics, strength, safety, reliability, efficiency, and costs, as well as the environmental impact of finished a product and processes used to make it.
Design engineers use mathematical modeling to carry out feasibility studies for new developments and innovations. Next they turn their ideas into detailed drawing and specifications with computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-assisted engineering (CAE) software. The next step is to develop a prototype or working model to further evaluate the design. They collect data on how the prototype performs in a number of situations and settings. Prototypes are modified and testing continues. It can often take several rounds of revisions before a product is approved for manufacturing or construction.
Design engineers work closely with other engineering professionals and technicians including field specialists who work directly with customers, manufacturing engineers who are responsible for production, finance or management accountants who track production costs, and marketing specialists.
Different kinds of technical drawings are required for various products and structures:
Aeronautics—detailed plans and specifications used to manufacture aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and their parts.
Electrical—detailed wiring and layout diagrams to build or repair electrical equipment or structures. These range from electrical equipment to power plants, buildings, and electrical distribution systems.
Architectural—specifications, drawings, and floor plans, plus plans for mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Civil—drawings and maps used in major construction applications such as roadways, bridges, pipelines, water systems, and other projects.
Mechanical—detailed drawings and assembly instructions used in manufacturing or installing a product.
Process piping or pipeline—detailed drawings used in gas and oil fields, refineries, and other industries such as pharmaceuticals or chemicals that use significant piping systems.
Drafters and Drafting Technologists—Educational Options
While engineering requires a four-year degree, students interested in drafting and drafting technology have more options. Technical schools, two-year associate's degrees, and some four-year colleges and universities offer certificate or degree programs. In addition to drafting skills, employers are looking for applicants with knowledge of drafting standards, mathematics, science, and engineering technology who have a solid background in CAD techniques. Courses typically include computer-aided design, technical drafting, materials and processes, and static's and strength of materials, along with math and physics among others. As in all areas of engineering, effective communication and problem-solving skills are also important.
Related Links
American Design Drafting Association
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
