Design Drafting

 

Consider any technological marvel about us, the amazing new Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane for example. It was designed on a computer, developed and tested on a computer, and the specifications sent to computer-integrated-machines (CIM) on the factory floor. Conception to flyby was done in record time. Ask yourself this: Do you have an artistic flare, get along well with computers, and find satisfaction in creating something new and wonderful? If so, you can be part of such a design team by joining us here in the Design Drafting program.

The Boeing 787 is an electro-machanical wonder and so are most products that flow from the technology. Therefore it was natural to divide the Design Drafting program into two areas of specialization: Electronic and Mechanical. For those "jack of all trades", we even have an Electro/Mechanical option which combines both, but each area is less in depth.

Electronic

All the electronics circuits aboard the Dreamliner must be fast, small, and very reliable. That means Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Your job is to take input from the electronic engineer and use the skills you will learn in this option to create the CAD documentation that will actually build these circuits.

This is the amazing world that will open to you, should you choose this Electronic option.

Mechanical

The Wright Brothers did mechanical design and so did those who crafted the Dreamliner. The difference, of course, is the level of sophistication. Today’s mechanical designer takes input from Aeronautical engineers, materials specialists, and many others, and uses a powerful CAD system to create the detail plans that make the parts and assemble the pieces of the final design.

This is the amazing world that will open to you, should you choose this Mechanical option.

Electro / Mechanical

When designing the Dreamliner, there are times when the electronic and mechanical components of a product or system are so entwined that it’s hard to separate them. For example, the electronic navigation system turns the electro/mechanics rudder to keep the plane on course. The electro/mechanical designer is a versatile team player and problem-solver on the engineering design team.

This is the amazing world that will open to you, should you choose this Electro/Mechanical option.

Take a look at this two-year AS Degree program in Design Drafting and the wide variety of available career choices.

Contacting the Department Chair

The chair of Design Drafting and the Technology Studies Department is Chris Martin. The best way to contact Chris is by email: christopher_martin@wvm.edu

or

telephone 408-855-5356, but be sure to leave a message if Chris is not in. If only a face-to-face meeting will do, just call the above number and find out when Chris will be in his office Main Building N1-302 (entrance through N1-405).

For extensive first-hand advice, make an appointment with a counselor by calling 408-855-5030 or just walk in to Counseling Services on the first floor of the Main Building. To make an appointed with a counselor, call 408-855-5030 or just walk into Counseling Services on the first floor of the Main Building E1-301.