IEEM 575 Lab. Introduction to Solid Modeling

In this series of labs, we shall focus on getting a good understanding of a commercial solid modeling system (in our case, CATIA, from Dassault Systems, France). We shall not explore all the functions of these systems. We look at the generation of models, in particular, solid models. This will be done in three stages:

1. Introduction to the software, getting familiar with the User Interface.
2. Learning how to do drafting
3. Learning how to make solid models of prismatic parts
4. Learning how to handle free form components
5. Learning how to work with API's (applicatoin program interfaces), using which we can write our own functions to interface with the data structures and objects of the CAD system.

Some other functions provided by common CAD systems include assembly design, PCB design, Structural analysis (using finite element analysis), machining planning, etc. We may not touch these topics explicitly during our labs in this course.

Today, we shall work on the first two topics listed above: Introduction and Drafting.

You will be provided the series of tutorial notes and sample design files (from CATIA) -- just follow the steps and the instructions according to the tutorial.