The University of Alabama at Birmingham in the US has installed 70 copies of Intergraph SmartSketch 3.0 in its School of Engineering computer laboratory. Students in both introductory and advanced classes in graphics, draughting and design classes are using SmartSketch to help them learn and fine-tune their draughting skills. Part of the Intergraph SmartPlant family of software, SmartSketch 3.0 is an 'all-in-one', 2D precision design, production draughting and diagramming solution for the engineering and technical enterprise.

B.J. Stephens, PhD, the associate chair of the university's Department of Mechanical Engineering, comments that: "SmartSketch helps students to quickly visualise objects and turn them into isometric drawings. We chose SmartSketch because its ease of use enables students to learn the art of draughting instead of having to first master the complexities of traditional CAD software."

Stephens says SmartSketch helps students complete assignments with professional-looking drawings, and helps them apply key concepts such as dimensioning, tolerancing, drawing conventions, machine shop processes, materials, multiview projection and descriptive geometry. For example, SmartSketch dimensioning and tolerancing features allow students to explore the relationship among dimensional variance, materials, fit and manufacturing capabilities and costs. Parametric symbols allow student draughters to infinitely resize symbols without losing detail, while isometric functionality helps students draw perspective details and practice technical illustration.

The software package is applicable to different types of engineering students, including mechanical engineering majors as well as civil, electrical and biomedical engineering majors. The university's engineering department believes that being introduced to SmartSketch allows their students to become quite proficient at draughting, providing them with a solid base for the rest of their academic career.

About SmartSketch

Formerly sold as Imagineer Technical and Imagination Engineer, the R584 (Student Version)* SmartSketch improves drawing productivity through its streamlined, intuitive user interface, WorkSmart Technology, 46 Industry Solutions templates and more than 8000 industry-standard symbols. SmartSketch integrates with Microsoft Office and Mathsoft MathCAD products, and runs on the Microsoft Windows 95, 98 and Windows NT operating systems.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is ranked as one of the top US research universities, receiving more than $180 million annually in research and training grants. The university enrols some 16 000 students and has a faculty of about 1800.

*Note: SmartSketch License R2923

SmartSketch (Student Version) R584

Based on an R/$ exchange rate of 6,25

Intertgraph Systems Southern Africa

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