Comparative Study of CAD Software, Web3D Technologies and Existing Solutions to Support Distance-Learning Students of Engineering Profile
Interactive simulations, virtual environments and 3D interfaces significantly contribute to the process of learning through collab-oration and interaction with distant participants, and through simulation of real environments and real life situations. Depend-ing on the needs and case studies, different technologies, soft-ware packages and their combinations are used. In this paper, we present a comparative study based on the use of different CAD software in conjunction with Web3D technologies for teaching students at the Department of Engineering Management. With respect to the specificity of the profile of students undergoing training, the selection of CAD packages is reduced to the five most commonly used in this field: SolidWorks, Inventor, CATIA, Pro/ENGINEER and AutoCAD. During research, we found that Inventor and AutoCAD do not export VRML/X3D file types; hence, this paper provides only the basic functions of Inventor without integration of Web3D technologies. Combining with AutoCAD is described due to the existence of a number of plug-ins, as well as exporters and working groups working on Auto-CAD-X3D development. The main criteria for evaluating and ranking CAD packages used here are learning curve, export and import from CAD to X3D and vice versa, file types and sizes, types of nodes and material properties. We also review the tech-nology used to display 3D content on the Internet, and the rea-sons why we decided to use Web3D technologies in combination with these CAD packages. This paper presents specific conclu-sions, the advantages and disadvantages of software and technol-ogy, as well as predictions regarding further development of existing platforms and environments.
Keywords: CAD (AutoCAD, CATIA, Pro/ENGINEER, Inventor, SolidWorks) + X3D virtual engineering environments, CAD + X3D virtual classroom, CAD + X3D + virtual design/assembly
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Zona Kostic
Graduated in 2006 (computer graphics field), Master of science in 2008. Participation in projects in the field of computer graphics and animation. Teaching assistant at Singidunum Uni-versity, Belgrade, Serbia. Research interests: computer graphics and animation, virtual environments, Web-based game develope-ment, Web-based education.
Dusko Radakovic
Graduated in 1990 at the Faculty of Mechani-cal Engineering, Belgrade University, Dept. of Aerospace Engi-neering. Masters Degree attained at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade University and at the Belford University. Doctoral degree acquired at the Belford University. Relevant work experience in Teleoptik AD, Serbia, and at Methode Electronics Malta Ltd., Malta, as CAD expert and senior product design engi-neer. Since 2002 working as an expert associate at the College of Professional Studies - Belgrade Polytechnics. Research interests: virtual prototyping, computer graphics, web-based education, artificial intelligence, micro factories, micro machines.
Dragan Cvetkovic
Graduated in 1988 at the Faculty of Mechani-cal Engineering, Belgrade University, Dept. of Aerospace Engi-neering. Magister of Science acquired at the same department in 1992. In 1997 attained doctoral degree. Participated in numerous projects within the Institute of Aviation, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade University. Since 2007 teaching at Sin-gidunum University, Belgrade, as assistant professor. As of Au-gust 1st, 2011, acting as Dean of the Faculty for Management, Studies of Engineering Management.
Srdjan Trajkovic
Graduated at the Faculty of Mechanical Engi-neering, Belgrade University, in 1989, Dept. for Production Engi-neering. Acquired Masters Degree in 2009 at the Faculty for In-formatics and Computer Science, Singidunum University, Bel-grade. Since 1993 working as an expert associate at the College for Professional Studies – Belgrade Polytechnics.
Aleksandar Jevremovic
Graduated in 2005, Magister of science in 2007, PhD in 2011 (network security field). Assistant professor at Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia. Research interests: computer networks, artificial intelligence, network security, com-puter aided learning.
Zona Kostic
Graduated in 2006 (computer graphics field), Master of science in 2008. Participation in projects in the field of computer graphics and animation. Teaching assistant at Singidunum Uni-versity, Belgrade, Serbia. Research interests: computer graphics and animation, virtual environments, Web-based game develope-ment, Web-based education.
Dusko Radakovic
Graduated in 1990 at the Faculty of Mechani-cal Engineering, Belgrade University, Dept. of Aerospace Engi-neering. Masters Degree attained at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade University and at the Belford University. Doctoral degree acquired at the Belford University. Relevant work experience in Teleoptik AD, Serbia, and at Methode Electronics Malta Ltd., Malta, as CAD expert and senior product design engi-neer. Since 2002 working as an expert associate at the College of Professional Studies - Belgrade Polytechnics. Research interests: virtual prototyping, computer graphics, web-based education, artificial intelligence, micro factories, micro machines.
Dragan Cvetkovic
Graduated in 1988 at the Faculty of Mechani-cal Engineering, Belgrade University, Dept. of Aerospace Engi-neering. Magister of Science acquired at the same department in 1992. In 1997 attained doctoral degree. Participated in numerous projects within the Institute of Aviation, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade University. Since 2007 teaching at Sin-gidunum University, Belgrade, as assistant professor. As of Au-gust 1st, 2011, acting as Dean of the Faculty for Management, Studies of Engineering Management.
Srdjan Trajkovic
Graduated at the Faculty of Mechanical Engi-neering, Belgrade University, in 1989, Dept. for Production Engi-neering. Acquired Masters Degree in 2009 at the Faculty for In-formatics and Computer Science, Singidunum University, Bel-grade. Since 1993 working as an expert associate at the College for Professional Studies – Belgrade Polytechnics.
Aleksandar Jevremovic
Graduated in 2005, Magister of science in 2007, PhD in 2011 (network security field). Assistant professor at Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia. Research interests: computer networks, artificial intelligence, network security, com-puter aided learning.
