200 Seats of COSMOSWorks and SolidWorks Help UCLA Engineering Students Learn Mechanical and Aerospace Design

Business Wire, August 4, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 2003

Powerful modeling and analysis functions plus short learning curve

make 3D mechanical design and finite element analysis software

preferred teaching tools

UCLA engineering students are using SolidWorks(R) and COSMOSWorks(TM) software to learn three-dimensional (3D) mechanical design skills by creating products ranging from satellites to stereo turntables, SolidWorks announced today.

UCLA's (the University of California at Los Angeles') Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has consistently ranked among the nation's top 10 engineering schools in the U.S. News and World Report survey of top colleges and universities. The school's mechanical and aerospace engineering department purchased 100 seats of SolidWorks 3D mechanical design software, 50 seats of COSMOSWorks finite element analysis (FEA) software, and 50 seats of COSMOSMotion(TM) motion simulation analysis software to use in research and classroom instruction.

All of the aerospace and mechanical engineering department's undergraduate students use SolidWorks, COSMOSWorks, and COSMOSMotion in the CAD (computer-aided design) laboratory for a mandatory computer graphics course. Working in groups of 20, they first write a proposal for a product, then design it in SolidWorks, and finally, test it with COSMOS products. Projects have included race cars, tractors, and wind turbines. Researchers and graduate students use SolidWorks, COSMOSWorks, and COSMOSMotion to conduct leading-edge research and product development for companies including IBM and Caterpillar.

The department chose SolidWorks and COSMOS because they combine powerful modeling and analysis functions with a learning curve that can be as short as 30 minutes for the average undergraduate student, according to Shahram Sharafat, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the UCLA School of Engineering.

"You can no longer be an effective mechnical engineer without knowing 3D modeling and 3D analysis. In today's job market, graduating engineers must know how to use these tools," said Sharafat, who brought SolidWorks, COSMOSWorks, and COSMOSMotion into the department. "We have to get the students excited about using these tools, and if it takes too long to learn them, they won't get excited. SolidWorks and COSMOS are a good introduction to solid modeling and analysis because they are easy to learn and give immediate feedback."

SolidWorks is the leading provider of 3D design technology to higher education. More than 145,000 students at over 4,300 institutions worldwide receive SolidWorks training every year. Other institutions using SolidWorks include Stanford, Baylor, Texas A&M, Cambridge University and the University of Chicago.

"UCLA's decision to use SolidWorks, COSMOSWorks, and COSMOSMotion proves once again that powerful 3D design and analysis are most relevant in education when they come in an easy-to-use, yet powerful package," said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks Corporation. "Students go to engineering school to learn engineering, not to spend half their time learning how to use software. We help them get immediate and valuable experience with real world applications."

GoEngineer, SolidWorks' and COSMOS' top reseller in 2002, provided UCLA with professional services to support its SolidWorks and COSMOSWorks purchases.

About the UCLA Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Founded in 1941, the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has 31 full-time faculty and enrolls 530 undergraduate and 250 graduate students. The department offers bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace and mechanical engineering, and a master's degree in manufacturing engineering. It also conducts research in a broad range of areas, including aerospace design, structural mechanics, thermal hydraulics, and plasma physics. For more information, visit the engineering school's Web site at www.engineer.ucla.edu.

About GoEngineer

GoEngineer is a leading software solution provider for mechanical engineers and manufacturers in the Western U.S. GoEngineer maintains one of the largest mechanical engineering and design support teams in the West with extensive customer service resources including a quick response managed toll-free customer hotline, local on-site support, and certified and training centers located throughout Utah, Colorado, and Southern California. GoEngineer specializes in SolidWorks-centric solutions including modeling, design, drafting, analysis, simulation, PDM, data management, and Web solutions for all mechanical engineering organizations. For more information, see the company's Web site at www.goengineer.com.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for mechanical design, analysis, and product data management. Founded in 1993, SolidWorks' mission is to unleash the power of 3D for everyone in product development and foster a collaborative user community. In seven years of delivering product, SolidWorks has shipped more than 268,000 total seats of software worldwide. SolidWorks has offices around the globe and sells, distributes, and supports its products through a worldwide reseller network. For the latest news, information, or a live online demonstration, visit the company's Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).