Mechanical design

Abstract

Mechanical CAD programs are available for virtually every task faced by a designer of mechanical systems and components. Geometric modeling helps engineers put together conceptual designs as well as detail their refinements. Drafting software assists in generating traditional 2D drawings. Finite-element analysis provides a computer-based method for evaluating product and process performance, as do mechanical simulation and testing systems. Today, however, it's not enough to just automate these individual tasks. Most companies are implementing concurrent engineering or other strategies to streamline product development. Software, or more precisely, integrated software, is becoming vital to concurrent engineering. The article addresses the following aspects: drafting; three dimensional CAD; knowledge based engineering; finite element analysis; rendering and animation; mechanical simulation; mechanical testing.