uwloo

ME 555Computer-Aided Design

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Mechanical Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Need for geometric modelling, historic developments; wire frame models; hidden line removed models; polyhedral models; surface models and solid models. Constructive solid geometry; boundary representation and decomposition modelling. Hybrid models. Data structures and their role in modelling. Curves and surfaces in modelling (Bezier, B-splines and NURBS). The role of geometric models in engineering. Parametric and feature-based design. The course has a heavy lab component which provides exposure to solid modelling on CAD software packages.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • ME321 - Dynamics of Machines and Mechanical Vibrations (0.50)
      • MTE321 - Design and Dynamics of Machines (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • ME322 - Mechanical Design 1 (0.50)
      • MTE322 - Electromechanical Machine Design (0.50)
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Enrolled in H-Mechanical Engineering, or H-Mechatronics Engineering

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00147850 / 50W 14:30–17:20
LEC 701191821 / 9999Online or by arrangement
LAB 10147860 / 50M 17:30–20:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

40% liked it81% easy31% useful

From 5 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Want to understand useless math going on in CAD? this is the course for you. Why would you spend 1 lecture on GD&T and nothing on surfacing? If you made it to 4B mech eng, you should already know basic CAD, which makes this course useless.

    Jun 2020 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

7 posts and comments in 7 threads mention ME 555, January 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

ME555 2 points, 0 comments

u/Background-Ice-1997: “i am about to take ME555 next term, anybody got ant tips I have never been good at CAD so I wanna now where I could fine anything similar to the coursework that could help”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2019

Courses that teach AutoCAD 4 points, 7 comments

“Does anybody know if there are any courses that teach CAD? I know I can learn on Lynda and stuff, but I want to learn the concepts as well, and I feel like I learn better in class. Thanks a lot!”

u/thewaterlooobserver: “… That being said there's a ME555 that teaches CAD theory and has a project component . …”

View on RedditRemove this

3A Mech Eng degenerates 51 points, 20 comments

“To the 3A Mech Eng degenerates in the lever lab Get the fk out of the lab now that the TA has asked you to leave the room twice already. The lab is reserved for a 4B mech eng course. …”

u/IDGAFOS13: “What course is it?”

u/loneMnM: “Course booking was for ME 555, these guys were studying ME 321 I believe”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2018

need some advise on 4th year mech courses 6 points, 10 comments

“hey, if there's any 4th year or graduated mechs around on reddit, I wanted to get your opinion on the following courses, in particular if you found it useful/interesting and what the workload was …”

u/WarpdriveEngineer: “… Not on your list: ME 555. Will teach you no practical CAD skills, but should be easy if you have CAD experience. I completed all the assignments weeks or months ahead of schedule. …”

View on RedditRemove this

Fall 2015

ME555 CAD Course Lab Component 1 point, 0 comments

u/cad-course123: “A question for any graduates that has taken ME 555: Is the lab every week? Is it just working time for projects or is there instruction during it? I would like to take a course that conflicts with the lab, curious if it is possible or not. Also, is the course any good?”

View on RedditRemove this

Spring 2015

Any mech eng doing/done the tron option? 1 point, 6 comments

“I just wanna know if there are any mech eng that are doing/done the tron option. I wanna know what courses you took to complete the option (ECE or MTE courses?) and if doing the option itself was …”

u/annihilatron: “https://uwaterloo.ca/mechanical-mechatronics-engineering/future-undergraduate-students/mechanical-engineering/specializations-and-options bottom of the page; link to …”

u/annihilatron: “… - ME 555 is a bird course about CAD and some additional mathematics related to CAD. - ME 548 is a bird course involving getting MASTERCAM to mill parts on a CNC. Some math involved in calculating tool speeds and feeds, some materials science, etc, but basically easy. …”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2015

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar