Education and Internet Integration of 3D-CAD Design and Manufacturing for Complex Products

This paper describes Internet integration for 3D-CAD design and manufacturing for complex products. The Kochi University of Technology (KUT) in Kochi, Japan, has collaborated with a company (Sakamoto Giken Co. in Kochi), who in turn has collaborated with other companies using Internet technology in the field of design and manufacturing. Using collaborative software installed in the company, an Internet camera, and an Internet telephone, design meetings among engineers at distant locations were conducted. Several cases of collaborative design and manufacturing work are introduced. The company aims to produce complex products that are difficult to design and manufacture. In addition to describing such collaborative work among industries or between industries and universities, the importance of education in 3D-CAD and manufacturing, as well as some actual trials of design education, are introduced. 3D-CAD, manufacturing, and rapid prototyping have been utilized in activities between universities and companies as well as among companies. The use of Internet technology in this way reduces the time required for design and manufacturing and accelerates product development.