UTPA STEM/CBI Courses/Graphics/Introduction to Multi-view Drawings - Snap Cubes

Course Title: Engineering Graphics Lab

Lecture Topic: Introduction to Multi-view Drawings – Snap Cubes

Instructor: Gregory Potter

Institution: UTPA

To visit the Engineering Graphics website click here

Backwards Design

Course Objectives

Primary Objectives- By the next class period students will be able to:
- Draw a multi-view drawing of a simple object

Sub Objectives- The objectives will require that students be able to:
- Understand parallel projection
- Draw a multi-view drawing using the proper format

Difficulties- Students may have difficulty:
- Telling the difference between parallel projection and perspective drawings
- Understanding the geometric basis for the multi-view format

Real-World Contexts- There are many ways that students can use this material in the real-world, such as:
- When reading technical drawings as engineers
- When creating technical drawings as engineers

Model of Knowledge

Concept Map
- Multi-view sketches and drawings are used in every stage of the Engineering Design Process.
  - Used to identify the problem
  - Used to brainstorm
  - Used to refine the design
  - Used to verify the design
  - Used to manufacture the design
  - Used to market the design

Content Priorities
- Enduring Understanding
  - Students should be able to look at a multi-view drawing and visualize the object from the information shown in the drawing.
  - Students should be able to generate a multi-view drawing when shown a simple 3D object.
- Important to Do and Know
  - The format of a multi-view drawing
  - The concept of parallel projection
- Worth Being Familiar with
  - Sketching techniques
  - Engineering Graphics website - tutorial movie available

Assessment of Learning

Formative Assessment
- In Class (groups)
  - Examples by instructor during lab
  - Worksheet assignment on website
- Homework (individual)
  - Simple parts multi-view sketches
Summative Assessment
- Quiz at the end of lab
- Question on Exam 1

Legacy Cycle

OBJECTIVE

By the next class period, students will be able to:

Draw a multi-view drawing of a simple object

The objectives will require that students be able to:

Understand parallel projection
Draw a multi-view drawing using the proper format

THE CHALLENGE

This exercise will take place during the second week of Engineering Graphics Lab as an introductory assignment. It is designed to use a simple example to make the students think about the format of a multi-view drawing.

GENERATE IDEAS

Show a multi-view/isometric drawing showing a basic shape created by adding cubes together. The drawing is purposefully without color and as basic as possible. At this point, the information the students receive is limited to the simple line drawing below.

Basic Block Multi-view Drawing

MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

Show students an Isometric Drawing of the same Basic Block Shaped Part made from different colored Snap Cubes. Ask the students to build what they see in the drawing. Ask them to match the color of each snap-cube.

Block made with color snap-cubes

RESEARCH & REVISE

Now the instructor can reveal the lesson of multi-view drawings and give the students some examples in class using standard sketching tools (triangles, ruler, pencil, etc.). Below are a couple of sketches done as an example of how to use geometry to produce a multi-view drawing. The first figure below shows a sketch drawn while filming a tutorial movie on this topic. The movie is accessible on the UTPA-EG website. The darker lines are the actual finish product, but notice the other lines on the drawing. A miter line is used to derive the depth dimension for the right side view from the top view. The use of extension lines and miter lines is the purpose for the format taught earlier in this lesson. The second figure below shows an example drawn in class. The instructor should perform at least two example sketches in class before issuing a homework assignment.

Example screenshot of a multi-view sketch from tutorial movie

Example photo of a multi-view sketch drawn in class by instructor

TEST YOUR METTLE

Assign homework (4 multi-view worksheets available on the UTPA-EG website) designed to exercise the skills learned during this exercise. This is the same homework assignment that the control group will receive. At this time the students are still in the lab and have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and ask questions. During this time, the instructor will give one-on-one instruction to the students who request help. The students are required to complete the worksheets and hand them in the following week. The students are also required to generate multi-view drawings for parts drawn in a CAD lesson. This is to reinforce the concept that a multi-view sketch with dimensions can help when creating a 3D model. This also insures that all students use the same dimensions for the CAD lesson. This is important, because these parts are to be used in later lessons when creating assemblies using CAD software.

GO PUBLIC

Quiz students for a grade at the end of the lab. It will consist of displaying a block shape in isometric form and asking students to complete a multi-view sketch given the top and front views. The quiz is designed to test the students on the concept of orientation of the multi-view sketches. Students are asked to use the skills taught during the lesson to create the right side view. All test groups receive the same quiz and homework assignments. There will also be a specific question on the first exam where the students will use the skills learned during the multi-view and pictorial sketch lessons.

Pre-Lesson Quiz

Students are shown the following drawing.

Basic Block Multi-view Drawing

What are the different views?
- The students will try to answer, but do not have all the facts. This is the optimum time to introduce the concept of a multi-view drawing. The instructor should now inform the students about the top, front, and right side views.
Why are things the same size even though they are at different distances?
- This question introduces the concept of parallel projection. Parallel projection is a drawing technique in which lines that are parallel on the object are parallel in the drawing. This differs from the more artistic style of perspective projection. The instructor should show an example of perspective projection to distinguish parallel projection as the preferred method for the multi-view lesson, as well as for pictorial sketching in Lesson 2.

Test Your Mettle Quiz

The Quiz will consist of displaying a block shape (similar in complexity to the first shape of the lesson) in isometric form and asking students to complete a multi-view sketch given the top and front views. The quiz is designed to test the students on the concept of orientation of the multi-view sketches. Students are asked to use the skills taught during the lesson to create the right side view. All test groups receive the same quiz and homework assignments. There will also be a specific question on the first exam where the students will use the skills learned during the multi-view and pictorial sketch lessons.