Model Based Definition: Finally, the Engineering Drawing Killer?

Abstract

The Engineering drawing has stood as the universal method of translating design intent since the first standard was formalized in 1927 as BS308. Further development of national and international standards has been informed by advances in CADCAM technology and the need for transfer of complex yet unambiguous definition between organisations. The emergence of model based definition (MBD) has driven a new workflow where the engineering drawing is no longer required. Instead, the dataset includes semantic, machine readable, tolerancing of surfaces and features for integration into manufacturing and metrology procedures. Despite the advantages of MBD, it has been largely ignored in UK Higher Education. However MBD is the ideal method for teaching and learning geometrical tolerancing since it ignores the theoretically exact dimensions and housekeeping, concentrating on the functional limits. Further, it utilises the 3D workspace that students are increasingly familiar with.