GOVERNMENT

CONCORD, MA -- When it comes to cutting your teeth on three-dimensional computer-aided design (3D CAD) software, designing a sleek, rocket-fast Formula Student race car from the ground up is as good as it gets. That's what students at Britain's Aston University plan to do using SolidWorks software in collaboration with universities in the United States and Singapore. Aston University relies on SolidWorks' intuitive, Windows-based environment to dramatically shorten the learning curve so students can begin designing 3D solid models, such as the complex suspension on a professional race car, much faster than with other technologies. Giving students more hands-on 3D design experience will better prepare them for their professional careers and help them successfully compete in the engineering marketplace. "Our students need to have real transferable skills that directly benefit the companies they work for after graduation," said Chris Evans, a Teaching Fellow of industrial design at Aston University. "And they can't develop and hone those skills if they have to spend much of the year learning how to use the software. Because SolidWorks is so easy to learn and use, it fosters the confidence and self-discovery that makes our students stronger. It lets them fine-tune the skills on projects with a quality output that will give them credibility in their professional careers." Located in Birmingham, the "heart" of England's manufacturing and engineering industry, Aston University is using SolidWorks software across the campus to teach students 3D CAD at every level. There are currently nearly 200 engineering and design students with access to SolidWorks, and Evans expects that number to increase as the university eventually standardizes on SolidWorks. "We chose SolidWorks after doing a simple comparison with other leading CAD software products," said Evans. "SolidWorks software is intuitive to learn. A student wanting to do something can instinctively go to the right button and it will do what the student needs. There's no time wasted as the student hunts for the right functions. SolidWorks lets students get up to speed faster than any other comparable 3D CAD package." Chris Evans and his colleagues are spearheading the Global Design Initiative, which seeks to engage students in collaborative design and engineering by co-designing a Formula Student race car with two other universities. Each university, including Aston, will have pre-set time periods to design a portion of the car. The students will then pass that design onto the next university where the team there will work on the next section. The group of students at the third university will continue the process. The aim is to start a continuous collaborative design process that generates a complete racing car design within five days. Evans hopes collaborating on a 3D solid model of a professional race car will spark students' interest in the exciting opportunities for them to use 3D CAD solid modeling in engineering and design careers. "Today's engineering students will design tomorrow's technological advances," said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks. "Aston University is igniting students' interest in design, engineering, and 3D solid modeling by exposing them to software that is easy to learn and use. The Global Design Initiative will spark the fire, and SolidWorks' intuitive work environment will let them hone the skills they'll bring to the post-graduate workplace." For additional information visit www.solidworks.com