Solid modelling software creates a virtual 3D representation of components for machine design and analysis. The ability to dynamically re-orient the model, in shaded 3-D, is emphasized and helps the designer maintain a mental   3-D image.

A solid model generally consists of a group of features, added one at a time, until the model is complete.

Engineering drawings (orthographic drawings) can be created semi-automatically using the solid models.

The learning curve for these software packages is steep, but a machine designer who can master these software packages is highly productive and highly sought.

The snapshots of 3D models shown in the work of Robin Kelso, Derek Burns, Rebecca Graham and Jamie Gray are solid models.  Whereas the 3D work of  Andrew Conway, David Hardacre and Ross Hunter use 3D wire models.

The pupils 3D solid models can support virtual reality walkthroughs in buildings.  This enables architects/designers the facility to display prototype designs to customers to give them the nearest form of reality before construction is authorised.

Unfortunately this cannot be shown on this web site for compatibility reasons.  However, the example shown to the right  gives a taste of 3D model construction.

CAD Surfaces

Freeform surfacing, is used in CAD and other computer graphics software to describe the skin of a 3D geometric element. Freeform surfaces do not have rigid radial dimensions, unlike regular surfaces such as planes, cylinders and conic surfaces. They are used to describe forms such as turbine blades, car bodies and boat hulls. Initially developed for the car and aerospace industries, freeform surfacing is now widely used in all engineering design from consumer goods products to ships.

When defining a form, an important factor is the continuity between surfaces - how smoothly they connect to one another.

One example of where surfacing excels is car body panels. Two curved areas of the panel must be blended ensuring that the surface doesn't change direction suddenly, but smoothly. They need to have a continuous rate of curvature change between the two sections, or else their reflections will appear disconnected.  Shown to the right is an example of surfacing software which can complete this complex task.

CAD software can now produce images which look like 2D

photographs or 3D real life  This allows history to be recreated or even the creation of events which never happened.

Shown to the right is the Utah teapot.  It  is a 3D model which has become a standard reference object (and something of an in-joke) in the computer graphics community

However, some of the best examples of 3D modelling are shown on Thomas Schmid’s 3d History web site.