The use of product based projects for effective learning and research in CAD/CAM

A research and development programme has been in progress for the last eight years between Dunlop-Slazenger International (Golf Division), Delcam International Ltd., and the Department of Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University of Technology. This work has resulted in an extensive programme of product (in this case golf equipment) related design-and-make-projects. The work has been designed to develop student skills and appreciation of CAD/CAM methods with respect to product-specific design criteria. The project activities have been developed for all years of the Department´s undergraduate courses as well as for MSc and PhD students. They support an EPSRC research programme and provide an effective method for evaluating new ideas. It is apparent that the students appreciate the close product/industrial interaction gained from this type of programme of work, which is demanding, enjoyable and has proved to be an extremely effective learning and research facility for the application of advanced CAD/CAM methods