FreeCAD and Motion Simulation

You are cordially invited to attend the guest lecture by Aik-Siong Koh:

Date: Tuesday, 19^th November 2024

Time: 16:30 – 18:00

Venue: SDE 4, Level 5, Forum

FreeCAD and Motion Simulation 

FreeCAD is an open-source 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software designed for solving complex 3D problems in architecture, product design, manufacturing and engineering. After twenty-two years of continuous development, FreeCAD is approaching the capabilities of mainstream CADs like Solidworks, AutoCAD, and Fusion360. Its LGPL license allows it to be freely incorporated into commercial environments where it can be customized and integrated with proprietary software. Major capabilities include: 2D Sketching, Parametric Solid Modeling, Assembly, Technical Drawing, with specialized modules (workbenches) for Architecture, Finite Element Method, Computer Aided Manufacturing, Multibody Dynamics, Ray-Tracing. I will show my contribution to Multibody Dynamics.

FreeCAD is written in Python and C++, all open-sourced. Python gives FreeCAD users the ability to write scripts of immense power. And these scripts can be easily bundled to into customized workbenches (open or proprietary). As needed, the Python code can be augmented with C++ code for greater execution speed. Also, C++ allows FreeCAD to interface with any other code library (open or proprietary) in the world.

Aik-Siong Koh, PhD, is an experienced engineer and software developer with a background in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), 3D Graphics, Motion Simulation and Engineering. After experiencing a Multibody Dynamics (MbD) software called ADAMS, he decided to write an equivalent software from scratch using the Pure OOP language called Smalltalk, a precursor of Java and Python. He cofounded Design Technologies International (DTI) to commercialize the Motion Simulator as an addin in AutoCAD. DTI was acquired by the maker of ADAMS. He founded ASKOH.COM LLC to make addins for Alibre Design and SpaceClaim. Recently, he was hired by Ondsel to write a C++ version of the simulator for the open source FreeCAD.

He is currently integrating the MbD simulator with Finite Element Method to allow study of stresses induced by motion. He looks forward to contributing hard-to-write engineering software to FreeCAD. He holds degrees from Cambridge University, Princeton University, and The University of Texas at Austin.