1. Technical Drawing History
~2000BC – a drawing carved on a tablet for a temple in Babylonian Empire
( from a collection of Louvre)
Engineering Graphics
The artistic cave paintings on the left above (top;French -- bottom; Chinese) communicate familiar surroundings and the excitement of the hunt. Most graphics from earlier periods used simple stick figures, but these became more elaborate over time.
Early technical drawings, such as the one represented on the right above were used to communicate general shape information for the construction of a building or other item. At this stage, straight edged instruments were used to produce the drawings and proportions were more accurately portrayed.

2. Perspective drawing technique was invented during the Renaissance period (1300-1500)
Engineering Graphics
Perspective drawings provide helpful visualization cues but it is difficult to supply precise size, shape, and detail information.

3. Parallel projection technique was invented during the Industrial Revolution period (1750-1850)
Engineering Graphics
Monge used parallel projections to permit the accurate representation of 3-D objects on 2-D planes. These principles are used today to display a drawing on a 2-D CAD screen just as they were to show drawings on a 2-D piece of paper.
Parallel projection places the observer at a theoretical distance of infinity. This insures that the line-of-sight are parallel and allows engineers to make drawings that are free of perspective.

4. 2-D CAD systems were developed in the 1980s
Engineering Graphics
Almost everything being produced today has a 2-D representation made for engineering design and production purposes. These drawings contain all of the information necessary to produce or construct something such as a building, road, engine block, or paper clip.
The 2-D drawings are a distillation of some two hundred years of practice.

5. 3-D CAD systems were developed in the 1990s
Engineering Graphics
The Boeing 777 is the first jetliner to be 100 percent digitally designed using three-dimensional computer graphics. Throughout the design process, the airplane was "pre-assembled" on the computer, eliminating the need for a costly, full-scale mock-up.
Almost everything being produced today has a 2-D representation made for engineering design and production purposes. These drawings contain all of the information necessary to produce or construct something such as a building, road, engine block, or paper clip.
The 2-D drawings are a distillation of some two hundred years of practice.
Dodge Neon was designed using 3-D CAD system CATIA

6. Concurrent Engineering is the 21st century star
Engineering Graphics
Stress the importance of the database and the fact that it normally comes from the CAD model.
Have students list as many stages of a products life as they can -- define a problem, suggest solutions, make models, test models, purchase materials, make production parts, maintain product, dispose of product, etc.