Abstract
The article approaches the specifics of MindCAD 3D Design and Engineering software, in connection to students' needs for learning footwear design and 3D modelling. This application is included in student's curricula from Footwear Design and Technology Department, Faculty of Textile, Leather and Industrial Management, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania. The software is an important instrument that contributes to students' creativity, innovation, speed and efficiency in learning and creating footwear products. MindCAD 3D Design and Engineering is the perfect solution for the footwear designer and/or engineer, providing a balanced mix of creative and technical CAD tools. The system enables direct modelling of a shoe, so that even before it is fabricated, it can be analyzed in terms of aesthetic, functional, economic and technological criteria. When the students start their shoe design classes, the first lesson is the one of footwear structure. At the beginning it is very hard for them to see, understand and learn the patterns names and position on the 3D last. The software supports the teacher in producing realistic shoe models and then to automatically separate the pieces in order to present it to students. Another necessary tool, both in teaching / training and the presentation of projects is the animation. The software allows three-dimensional visualization of the model according to the direction and speed set by the user. So, during a project presentation, the students could display their models, without direct interaction with the computer, allowing them to focus more on the speech and audience. |