Abstract:

The ability in spatial vision is fundamental for an engineering student, who is a future engineer, it doesn´t matter what the speciality is, but it is specially important in those areas of engineering targeted at the production of mechanical or construction objects such as mechanical, aerospace, chemical or civil engineering. Traditionally, technical drawing which is based on Descriptive Geometry of representation systems in its classical conception, chiefly the dihedral and axonometric systems, has provided 3D skills that engineers need to open their minds to spatial concept. In the 70s of the last century there was a great change in the academic field in order to be able to use 2D-drawing software that streamlined the graphic layout, although it was only a matter of replacing classic drawing tools, such as rulers and compasses, with digital ones. However, the mental effort required to work with three-dimensional objects which are represented in two-dimensional form was the same as in traditional technical drawing. Since the 80's the situation has been radically different due to the use of solid-modelling programs. The possibility of virtual 3D designing simplified the work of engineers because it allowed to work with three-dimensional models which were able to generate flat projections easily with. But the use of such 3D design tools does not guarantee the development of the spatial vision that an engineering student needs, since they prevent them to strain their mind in order to understand the geometry of three-dimensional objects.

This work shows the gathered academic experience during more than 30 years in which 2D and 3D learning has been combined. It is also showed the obtained results in the achievement of spatial vision skills of students.

Keywords:

Solid Modelling, Industrial Design, Education in Engineering.