This is my final project for my CAD class, the assignment was to design an animated mechanical system and its components on SolidWorks. It needed to have a minimum of 10 unique parts and be a system that is mechanical in nature. I decided on a ferris wheel and modeled it in parts, the presentation shows the drawings and dimensions of each part as well as the assemblies and subassemblies used to put together the entire system. I also used SolidWorks to perform finite element analysis that mimics wind pressure against the side with the most surface area and created an animation of the system moving as it would operate in real life.

This class was my first real introduction to computer aided design and I learned very quickly the usefulness and creativity that comes with the process. I enjoyed this class and learned a lot throughout the semester, I have used it for other various projects since, but this was the most comprehensive demonstration of my skills. In engineering CAD is used quite frequently, and while there are different programs I have experience in both Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks; and I believe that I could learn others quickly with a slight learning curve. This is going to be such a useful skill to have in the future when I am working and designing products, to be able to visually create an idea from my head. It helps communicate ideas and evaluate the practicality of the components.