期刊名称：Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association
出版年度：2011
语种：English
出版社：The Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
摘要：The engineering design process is traditionally modelled as proceeding from the functional domain to the physical domain. Function thus represents more abstract concepts and the form or structure resulting from the design process as the more concrete. A comparison of mechanical design with process planning, however, reveals that this model does not apply to all areas of engineering design. In mechanical design, engineers select those forms they believe will perform the desired function; in process planning, engineers select those functions (i.e., machining operations) they believe will create the desired form. This reversal of form and function raises important issues concerning how engineering design should be modelled as form and function may not be as distinct as the traditional model of engineering design might suggest. This paper is an initial exploration to better understand the nature and the implications of this "reversibility". Potential benefactors of this research are computerized design tools which use form and function to aid designers. By building upon a framework which supports both the mechanical design and the process planning perspectives, the design tool promises to better serve the needs of its users.
