CompuServe Messages

Dennis, No, question, the professor had an ego problem and was afraid. Looking back, I feel sorry for the guy, even though he made the lives of many a living hell for a few monthse. Oh well, that's history. What's my opinion of teaching 3D in a first semester course? Well, it depends entirely upon the objectives of the course and the instructor. If you're preparing individuals for a position as a 40-50 hr/wk drafting technician, I agree with your comments. If it's a course that introduces general drafting, design and engineering principles in a four-year program, an introduction to 3D modeling is appropriate. Of course, you'd also have to consider the courses that follow. Before the individual leaves the institution, s/he'd better be familiar with the concepts of 3D modeling and downstream benefits of using a 3D database, especially if they're going into manufacturing. I know of companies that began to use surface modeling so they could drive their NC machines and solid modeling so they could drive their rapid prototyping systems. Terry