3D solid modeling system for PUT

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 1 June 2000

113

Keywords

Citation

(2000), "3D solid modeling system for PUT", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772cab.034

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited


3D solid modeling system for PUT

Keywords SolidWorks Degree courses, Engineering, CAD

SolidWorks Corporation informs us that the Polytechnic University of Turin (PUT) has adopted SolidWorks as the standard 3D solid modeling system for its engineering courses. More than 100 SolidWorks licences have been incorporated into the university's engineering courses in order to supply students with the CAD tools necessary for competing in today's mechanical design market.

SolidWorks has been installed in the information technology laboratories of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Department, and in the Economics and Production Systems Department at the PUT.

Professor Stefano Tornincasa, of the Economics and Production Systems Department, states, "We introduced our students to CAD in 1998 with only five licences of SolidWorks. Our students showed incredible enthusiasm and interest in the design program. In fact, our students were able to create designs with SolidWorks after only two hours of training. The university then decided to purchase an additional 40 seats of SolidWorks."

Tornincasa continues, "SolidWorks also provides an easy transition from the 2D environment to 3D. Solid modeling is a fundamental part of training - consequently, with SolidWorks the quality of their education is significantly improved. Our students are also extremely interested in SolidWorks' new eDrawings. With this extraordinary tool, students can create and e-mail drawings with just one mouse click. The information remains intact, and the obstacles posed by software incompatibilities are overcome."

SolidWorks is also used in the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Department's CAD lab. Professor Sergio Chiesa states, "My group is involved primarily in the design of onboard aircraft equipment and systems, and is concerned with their reliability and accessibility for maintenance purposes. Our students are also working on preliminary aircraft design. SolidWorks enables sophisticated drafting with a user-friendly interface."

Chiesa continues, "In the past, preliminary aircraft design was done in an empirical manner. Today, thanks to new CAD tools, we can calculate overall dimensions, collisions, interferences, and weight, and we can modify designs rapidly. SolidWorks is also compatible with aeronautical industry standards. Today, the PUT is collaborating with several firms such as Alenia and FIAT Avio on several new projects. Therefore, it's important that our students learn to use design software that is accepted in the industrial job market."

"Italy's design engineers have a long history of developing a broad range of products that incorporate excellence, efficiency, and elegance", said Rosanne Kramer, manager of SolidWorks worldwide education markets. "We are delighted to have the Polytechnic University of Turin as one of our significant, international academic installations."

The PUT is working with SolidWorks' reseller Solid Technology in Milan for implementation, training, and ongoing technical service and support.

Details available from: Solidworks UK. Tel +44 (0) 118 931 0436; Fax: +44 (0) 118 931 3177.

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