LEDAS Ltd :: consulting & training

Familiarize students with the mathematical background of modern CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM systems
Present typical methods and algorithms used for solving different problems arising in the CAD/CAM/CAE field
Teach students to use proper methods for CAD/CAM/CAE development
Prepare them for practical work on the development of computational modules for CAD/CAM/CAE

Those students who finish the course and pass the exam can then apply for internships and full-time work with software development companies specializing in the CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM field.

The course is intended for senior students who specialize in applied mathematics, computer science or information technology. Only basic knowledge is required from the students: linear algebra, analytical geometry, graph theory and programming. However, for a better understanding of the course it is recommended that they are familiar with numerical methods for solving systems of algebraic and differential equations and operational research algorithms.

The course is organized as fifteen lectures; each of them is devoted to a particular topic. The first one features an overview of modern CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM systems. The next four lectures present different aspects of geometric design: solid modeling, affine transformations, curves and surfaces and then data transfer. The sixth and seventh lectures describe variational feature-based parametric design and its mathematical background. Knowledge-based engineering tools and the corresponding mathematical methods are given in eighth and ninth lectures. The next three lectures (10-12) describe the mathematical background of computer-aided engineering: kinematics analysis, dynamic motion simulation, finite element analysis. CAM systems apparatus (NC programming, group technology and manufacturing feature recognition) is presented in thirteenth and fourteenth lectures. The final, fifteenth lecture is devoted to product data management during its life-cycle. At the end of each lecture the student can find questions for self-study and recommendations for additional reading.

During the autumn semester of 2005 the course Introduction to the mathematical background of CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM was presented at the Faculty of Information Technology of the Novosibirsk State University. In the spring semester of 2006 it was given to students of the Mechanics and Mathematics Department of NSU. A textbook on the course was issued.

Practical Programming for CAD

Course objectives:

Presentation of modern tools for CAD component development
Train students to participate in industrial development of science-intensive CAD components
Acquiring experience of programming in one of the CAD component programming environments

It is essential for students to know the basics of C++ programming with object-oriented methodology usage and be familiar with Windows programming. Attendance of the course Introduction to the Mathematical Background of CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM is useful, but is not obligatory.

Students will become acquainted with modern methods of representation, storage and visualization of geometrical information; tools for geometrical model representation and typical operations; architecture of CAD component development environments; methods for implementation of specific CAD mathematical solutions; and will also obtain experience of development and debugging of some algorithms used for typical CAD task solutions.

The course consists of two parts. During the first of these, which takes three or four lectures, students learn the basic principles of CAD mechanical modeling and the ways to import and visualize geometrical models. The second part consists of ten to twelve practical lessons students get deeper into the programming environment and perform practical tasks such as:

Application of typical solid-body operations and visualization of results
Animation of continuous solid-body transformations for three-dimensional body, comparison of Euler and exponential transformations
Construction, modification and visualization of splines and surfaces
Triangulation of planar contours or three-dimensional surfaces with visualization of results
Implementation of a simple geometrical solver, which involves points as primitives and distances as constraints; the solver transforms geometrical constraints into algebraic system whose solution is then translated back into geometrical language
Kinematic analysis of a given mechanism
Implementation of the collision resolution method for triangular meshes
Implementation of a simple physical simulation engine
Motion planning and visualization for the planar case with rectangular-shaped bodies

The course involves practical dealings with modern systems from leading international companies. The textbook is being prepared as well as a support-manual with detailed methodical instructions and a large number of tasks and exercises.

Science-intensive Industrial Software Engineering

The current course represents an introduction to Application Life-Cycle Management (ALM). In the framework of this course we consider the basic functionality of modern ALM tools and methods of science-intensive applications for life-cycle support. During the course, students are also practically prepared for collaboration on industrial science-intensive software projects.

On completion of the course, candidates will be suitably qualified for effective work on complex software projects and will gain the ability to organize ALM for small projects.

The course is illustrated with examples of C++ language, so students need to be familiar with it.

The course consists of fifteen classes, that combine lectures, individual and group work. The structure of the course is as follows:

Introduction to ALM
Project aims analysis
Project planning

Planning automation
Estimation of cost

Design

API design
Modular architecture

Programming

Modern programming methodologies
Structure of the test base
Coding standards
Debugging. Different aspects of code quality
Project time-cycles: daily cycle, weekly cycle, project stage

Maintenance

Documenting
Bugs and request tracking systems

The course will be based on the realization of an integrated training project with distribution of project roles between candidates and with elements of business strategy.

The tutorial and manual for this course are being prepared.

Introduction to the Information Environment

of Modern Manufacturing Enterprise

The course's main aim is to ground the knowledge of IT specialists who will install, use, develop and maintain the components of management information systems of manufacturing enterprises, and also manage the IT departments of these companies.

The course can be a good introduction to more detailed courses on different topics and components of the information environment of modern enterprises.

The manual for this course is being prepared.

Since the course has a close relationship with the International Forum isicad-2006, which is organized by LEDAS Ltd., the most accurate data on state-of-the-art approaches, technologies and software are included in it.

The course consists of fifteen lectures:

Introduction to the product life-cycle (the notions of management information system, agile manufacturing, product life-cycle, four basic information systems for discrete manufacturing)
Key functions of PLM software
Mechanical design
Special design (sheet metal parts, circuit boards, electrical harnessing, tubing)
Styling
Analysis
Digital manufacturing
Product data management
Introduction to ERP (functions and components of ERP, capacity requirement planning, master production schedule, inventory status records, bill of materials, planning data, material requirements planning, business planning, sales and operations planning, production planning, manufacturing resource planning)
Finance management
Human resource management
Production control
Customer relationship management
Supply-chain management
Integration of data flow between CRM, SCM, ERP and PLM

Courses that are planned to be prepared by the end of 2006

Quality assurance for computational software components
Using script languages (Korn Shell) to create a robust test system
Solution search and optimization in discrete and continuous problems
Modern algorithms with examples of practical applications
Mathematical modeling for programmers
Using MAPLE as a prototype, implement and converge on numerical software
Enterprise application integration
Using Java EE for the integration of enterprise data flow between management information systems
Mechanical design in modern CAD systems
Comparative facilities of CATIA, SolidWorks, ADEM etc.
Professional training in CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM systems
CATIA/CAA, SMARTEAM, SolidWorks

Overall specification of the LEDAS educational and training program

Most software development companies are well aware that recent graduates qualified in IT systems, computer engineering, or applied mathematics do not yet have the required skills to apply their university-acquired knowledge in practice, do not have experience of working in development teams, do not have knowledge about specific programming technologies and project management. This steep learning-curve makes it difficult for CAD/CAM/CAE development companies to recruit new employees without allocating significant additional resources for staff training and education.

At the same time the continuous growth of the Russian CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM/ERP market and overall IT business sector demands that software development companies constantly hire new and highly skilled programmers. As noted by world renowned analysts, the science-intensive outsourcing occurring in Russia has already attracted the attention of large and leading companies. This interest is projected to grow for some time and will only increase the demand for more qualified developers in the future.

The LEDAS Company has much experience in software design and development in the CAD/PLM/ERP domain, firstly, in the elaboration of complex algorithms, broad usage of mathematics, and higher requirements of performance, flexibility, portability, integration, reliability etc. The competence of LEDAS employees enables them not only to provide advanced software development but also to propagate their knowledge and skills that are much in demand by universities and the commercial markets.

The educational and training program of LEDAS announced in the autumn of 2005 is oriented to the domain of CAD/PLM/ERP and is centered on applied education. The program will provide: organization of theoretical and practical courses for bachelors and masters degree students, training on the application and development of CAD/PLM/ERP, commercial courses, organization of workshops, LEDAS Internships, course material publication and other support.

The educational initiative of LEDAS has already attracted the attention of not only universities but also of companies that wish to further educate their employees or improve their skills. Besides, the LEDAS program is appreciated by some market players that consider usage of their solutions for illustration of educational courses to be beneficial for the growth of their business.

The LEDAS managers believe that the educational project is a fundamental factor in organizing a LEDAS based Competence Center, which will host activities on development, research, consulting, education/training, and distribution in the CAD/PLM/ERP domain.