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CONCORD, Mass., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, (Cal Poly) is using 200 licenses of SolidWorks(r), COSMOSWorks(tm), and COSMOSMotion(tm) to teach 3D mechanical design and analysis to its engineering students, SolidWorks Corporation announced today. Students will use the software to develop their design abilities by creating simple parts and will perfect these skills with advanced projects, such as building a hybrid power system for a Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle. Cal Poly, ranked as one of U.S. News and World Report's top public, undergraduate universities for its mechanical, aerospace, industrial, manufacturing, computer, electrical, and civil engineering programs, has purchased 100 licenses of SolidWorks 3D mechanical design software, 50 licenses of COSMOSWorks finite element analysis software and 50 licenses of COSMOSMotion analysis software. Students in the college's mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering, bio research and agricultural enginering departments will use the software. The department chose SolidWorks because its short learning curve simplifies production of working drawings, which frees students to concentrate on the fundamentals of drafting rather than on learning the software. Because 3D solid modeling is becoming the standard in the professional engineering community, Cal Poly selected SolidWorks, the industry-leading 3D solid modeling software. SolidWorks and COSMOS will be fundamental components of the mechanical engineering department's mandatory drafting course, taken by 200-300 freshmen every year. Upper-level students will use the software on their senior projects, such as creating gas-electric hybrid power train for the Ford Explorer. The Explorer project is funded by the Ford Motor Company, one of several corporations that fund research at Cal Poly. Before adopting SolidWorks, Cal Poly taught drafting with 2D software tools that needed more steps to perform tasks SolidWorks does automatically, said Cal Poly engineering instructor Roger Ludin, who teaches the drafting sequence. "We want our students to learn the fundamentals of drafting without spending a lot of time learning the software. SolidWorks has a short learning curve and automates tasks that have to be done manually in other applications, so students can start working on their skills immediately. For example, tools with ribbed cast pieces were very hard to design in 2D because the students have to do so many cross-sections to represent the shape. SolidWorks automatically cross-sections the 3D design in detail. Students don't have to do the cross sections manually, which leaves more time to study the skills that go into drawing the tool," Ludin said. "Cal Poly recognizes that its reputation as a leading and progressive engineering school is based on its ability to offer students a rich learning experience that includes industry-standard software for 3D solid modeling," said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks Corporation. "SolidWorks and COSMOS products have a broad presence in industry and education, and provide students with tools for real world design and analysis. We are delighted to welcome Cal Poly into the worldwide community of top-notch engineering schools that are teaching with SolidWorks." Cal Poly is working with SolidWorks' reseller CAD Graphics West Inc. for ongoing software implementation, training, and support.