Cliff Douthwaite was a Lecturer in CAD and the CV (Computervision) CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) Software Centre Coordinator at the University of Surrey, UK for the past twenty years and since his retirement has been appointed by invitation as a Director of CNS Ltd.
His industrial experience includes an aircraft industry apprenticeship with education at Kingston University and University of Technology Loughborough. Followed by a wide spectrum in the engineering design field; these include screen-printing machinery, the ELDO space vehicle previously known as "Blue Streak". The Harrier "Jump Jet" and P1154 supersonic VTO (Vertical Take Off) aircraft, heavy mechanical and hydraulic presses for the automobile industry, playground equipment, concrete handling units, street lighting components, press tooling, jigs and fixtures, domestic products such as toasters, satellite mechanical structure design.
Most of the above have been from the specification or customer liaison through the various conceptual design stages, layouts, costing, calculations and the supervision of technical and drafting personnel. His last industrial post being group design engineer with responsibility for technical staff.
Research Activities: - The University has successfully built and launched and monitors ten satellites. (many more since this report was written!) Cliff carried out the early conceptual and detail design and manufacture of these. UoSat3 to 10} This involved developing full three-dimensional CAD models of complete satellites, which were automatically manufactured on the Department's CNC machine. (Using Pathtrace software, at that time having a Teaching Company programme with Pathtrace Ltd.)
Above shows a module after machining and prior to fitting of the electronic circuitry. Whilst the assembly left shows the stacking of modules to achieve the different requirements of the launch rocket capabilities.
On the far left of the stack is the counterbalance mass that extends on the end of a boom once orbit has been achieved. The circular separation rings are seen at the other end, a compressed spring is the motivating force after explosive bolts are sheared.
The development of aircrew facemasks and helmets (DERA -Development & Evaluation Research Establishment at Farnborough, UK) using the scanning laser and ultra-sound data creating a 3D CAD solid model of the head and facial tissue. This model, with soft tissue thickness data, will enable the response of the face to various g loading conditions using finite element stress analysis.
Shown left is a laser scan input to MEDUSA-3D and then into the Shader module
Electro-Powder Inhalation research carried out in conjunction with the Department of Electronic Engineering who are modelling the motion of charged particles during inhalation. A solid 3D design and manufacture of the spray device allows the investigation of different parameters on the pattern of spray. Subsequent work has developed the design and manufacture to a stage necessary for clinical trials of a new pharmaceutical inhaler device, drastically reducing the drug charge for the same medical response.
(The 3D-MEDUSA model above is very small, the two electrodes are only 0.5 millimetres thick)
Cliff has experience in Computer Aided Engineering having the responsibility of selection and installation of a comprehensive computer system in l980 within the Department of Mechanical Engineering for design and manufacture. The Department over a twenty year period used a range of products such as 3D MEDUSA, CADDS5, GNC, DesignView, Lusas, Patran, Ansys, GINO, Ashlar Vellum, Flo3D etc. and evaluated CADstorm, DesignWave etc. (Pro/DESKTOP)
In the field of CAD he is Past President of the Computervision Global Users Council covering all CV world users and executive member of the UK CV User.
Cliff, is a firm believer in the value of computer software User Groups, he was the instigator and founder member of the CIS User Group in 1982. After the split (see user history) the founder and only Chairman of the Prime MEDUSA User Group in 1985 until 1991 when the two groups merged back into one, was joint Chairman for the transition period.
He founded the MEDUSA European Council in 1990 and remained its Chairman until it was disbanded when the CV Global Council (covering all the CV product range) was formed in 1995. He was the instigator and founder member of The Computervision Global Council and was the President until he retired in 1998.
He was also Chairman of the UK NPUG (National Prime User Group) CAD section from 1984 until 1989 when Prime Inc. went into liquidation.
Has lectured by invitation in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Berlin and West Africa to a wide variety of establishments. Via the British Council has headed teams to provide technology transfer to Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok , Thailand. University of Sierra Leone in West Africa. And collaborated with the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.
Cliff as a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Designers, has lectured on various CAD Conferences and was a member of the Council for the Institution of Engineering Designers for a good number of years and served on the Council of the Institute of Production Engineers.
Cliff also had the privilege of being selected to meet Her Majesty the Queen when she visited the University to open the Satellite Centre, here Cliff is explaining about the function of the power supply module CNC machined out of the solid direct from a 3D CAD model.
