These images are of first year work from students learning the CAD program Solidworks. The focus is to concentrate on learning what the program is capable of rather than trying to use it as an immediate design tool.
Students achieve wonderful results in only their first semester with the program.
The program is a parametric solidmodeller which means that the designs are based on parameters set up by the designer and established for flexibility. The program allows for changes to be made based on original sketches established in the design process. This is a huge advantage over past CAD programs where a computer model was built much like a drawing and any changes involved starting over The process of designing any of the products displayed involves understanding the manner in which the program builds geometry. Students begin with very simple parts and slowly learn to build more complex parts and assemblies. By semester's end the students have begun to harness the power of CAD as another tool for productive design work.