ENGINEERING

CONCORD, Mass.,The University of Ottawa has adopted SolidWorks(r) as the three-dimensional computer-aided design (3D CAD) software it uses in its unique mechanical engineering design curriculum. Students learn how to finalize mechanical product designs in a simulated real-world business climate, complete with tight deadlines, third-party design collaboration, and weekly project management meetings. Every semester, all fourth-year students spend four months collaborating in teams of three using SolidWorks software to design different aspects of a given product. For the Spring 2003 semester, it's an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that travels over snow, mud, and rocks. The university has 100 seats of SolidWorks software that it uses to quickly teach 425 students in either English or French, the principles of solid modeling. SolidWorks' intuitive interface allows students to begin creating solid representations of their 3D CAD designs much faster than with other products so they can prepare for their most challenging task - the fourth-year mechanical design course taught by Dr. Atef Fahim. Throughout the first three years, students hone their basic design skills, including the engineering science, engineering analysis, and solid modeling capabilities required for complex designs. In Fahim's class, each student team is assigned a specific part of the product design, such as the engine, before partnering with other teams that will design the transmission and chassis to complete the ATV design. They also develop customized analysis programs that interface with SolidWorks and allow them to automatically modify the product design based on user input. "We don't have the time to teach students all of the tricks of the software," said Fahim. "SolidWorks has an impressively fast learning curve together with the power needed to deal with complex designs, so we can quickly teach students the basics, and let them discover and learn the details on their own. That's how they develop the design skills they need to get the most rewarding jobs after graduation. We've established this curriculum to expose students to the everyday challenges a professional mechanical engineer faces, including creating the design, working with other design teams, refining the design, and meeting production schedules. SolidWorks is used as the vehicle for design creation." Like others in her class, graduate student Julie Mondoux learned the importance of relating complex theoretical design calculations to a solid model by using SolidWorks software. "SolidWorks was a good tool in helping us learn actual computer-aided design, as opposed to computer-aided drafting," she said. "Using SolidWorks, we can communicate all of a 3D design's components so that when we modify one of the initial parameters, we can easily complete the change throughout the design. SolidWorks also allows us to see our design limitations and capabilities, which is the essence of CAD." The University of Ottawa will also incorporate COSMOSWorks(tm) and COSMOSMotion(tm) finite element analysis tools into its mechanical engineering design curriculum. Experience gained in this curriculum has helped University of Ottawa graduates win jobs at such organizations as IBM, the Canadian government, 3M, Nortel, and Shell Oil Company. "The University of Ottawa immerses its mechanical engineering students in the kinds of situations they will face after graduation," said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks Corporation. "They learn what it will be like to contract with outside firms that specialize in transmissions for example, to create an accurate product design and collaborate on changes and improvements. SolidWorks eliminates the complexity of CAD, so the students can focus on communication, collaboration, and design problems." The University of Ottawa is working with SolidWorks' reseller Javelin Technologies for ongoing software implementation, training, and support.