SolidWorks has announced that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has chosen SolidWorks software for use in the school's mechanical engineering tools course. Sal Lama, SolidWorks' Technical Manager for the education markets, will help teach a section of the course and will provide initial training for several of the College of Engineering's teaching assistants.

The mechanical engineering tools course is required for all students in the mechanical engineering programme and provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to various methods of working with parts, shapes and geometry. Students learn 3D solid modelling, hands-on manufacturing processes, isometric sketching, dimensioning and tolerancing techniques using SolidWorks software.

"This class is very intensive and there is not a lot of time to spend teaching the students how to use CAD software," said Emanuel Sachs, Professor of Engineering at MIT. "We chose SolidWorks because it is intuitive and the learning curve is very short. SolidWorks is a great match for our students because it demonstrates the benefits of 3D solid modelling and gives them exposure to an engineering tool that is being used by industry professionals around the world.

"From the beginning of the SolidWorks education programme we have had an inspiring and dynamic relationship with the mechanical engineering department at MIT," said Rosanne Kramer, Manager of SolidWorks Worldwide Education Markets. "This new course is yet another example of how SolidWorks is modernising the design process for tomorrow's industry innovators."

MIT has been using SolidWorks since 1996 in multiple departments throughout the university, including robotics, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and productivity, industrial design, the Sea Grant laboratory and in the renowned Media Lab.

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