VRML as means of expressive 4D illustration in CAM education

Computer graphics (CGr) lies in the fundaments of computer aided engineering (CAE). As a result from the fast development in both CGr and CAE, more and more computer aided systems (CA-systems) have been ported on low-end and personal computers. Despite the continuous drop in the CA-system prices, this type of software is still very expensive compared to typical office applications. This paper discusses the possibility to use VRML for scientific, educational and even industrial purposes. As an illustration, it is shown how VRML can be used as inexpensive means for simulation of one of the most interesting but also most time and resource consuming areas of the computer aided manufacturing (CAM) — machining of complex parts. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.