student in computer aided engineering center

Computer Aided Engineering Center

The Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Center is a comprehensive computer center available to you as a College of Engineering and Applied Sciences student. Comprised of nine computer labs equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the CAE Center offers specific engineering software, special lab and classroom network connections and computer related assistance.

Lab hours

  • Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to midnight
  • Friday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday: Noon to 7 p.m.
  • Sunday: Noon to midnight

Or use remote access computers from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences CAE labs. 

Location

map of computer aided engineering center

You can find the offices and main labs of the Computer-Aided Engineering Center on the second floor of Floyd Hall in the following locations:

  •  Main Open Lab: C-222
  • Service area and administration: C-225 
  • Classroom labs: C-224, C-226, C-227, C-228, C-229
  • Specialty lab C-220 use is reserved for students in specific courses

 

For questions or computer assistance, contact the CAE Center through “WMU-CAE-Center” Microsoft Teams Group, call (269) 276-3283 or visit the service room C-225.

Available Software

As a WMU engineering and applied sciences student, you have access to an extensive library of software right in Floyd Hall.

The software listed below is installed on all Computer Aided Engineering Center lab computers and not available from the center for personal machine installation. You can, however, download certain Microsoft software from Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) with your MSNDAA login information. MSDNAA login information is provided via email to students' @wmich.edu account at the beginning of each semester. 

  • AutoCad
  • AutoCad Civil
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • Catia
  • Cimatron Inventor
  • Creo
  • NX
  • Orcad Pspice
  • ProEngineer
  • Revit
  • Risa 3D
  • SketchUp
  • SolidWorks
  • StructureWorks
  • SurfCAM Velocity
  • Eclipse
  • Doxygen
  • HTML-Kit
  • Netbeans
  • Requisite Pro
  • Tortoise SVN
  • Visual Studio
  • WAMP Server IBM Rational Software Architect
  • Abaqus
  • Adams MSC
  • Algor
  • Ansys
  • Altair Hyperworks
  • Aspen Engineering Suite
  • Bently Civil Engineering Suite
  • Bently Leap Bridge
  • Bently Microstation V8i
  • CalculiX Promodel
  • ConventorWare
  • CNCCon
  • CNC Workshop
  • EVCCTL
  • ICE
  • LINDO
  • LINGO
  • ModelSim
  • Moldflow
  • NI LabVIEW
  • Romax
  • SAPM
  • VISSIM
  • WinQSB
  • Xilinx
  • Access
  • Excel
  • InfoPath Designer
  • InfoPath Filler
  • OneNote
  • PowerPoint
  • Publisher
  • Word
  • Maple
  • Matlab
  • Minitab Tex
  • Win Estimator
  • Gimp
  • iTunes
  • Quicktime
  • Windows Media Player
  • VLC Player
  • 7-zip
  • Acrobat Reader
  • AVG Antivirus
  • CCleaner
  • CutePDF
  • IMGBurn
  • PDF Creator
  • Notepad++
  • PuTTY (SSH)
  • Tight VNC
  • Virtual Clone Drive
  • Virtua Win
  • WinSCP

Computer recommendations

Generally, you will want to purchase of a laptop for most students since this allows you to take a laptop to class for taking notes as well as the library for research projects, or when working with study groups.

Note: Having a single machine that will meet all of your needs for the full four years is difficult to guarantee. During your first four semesters, you will take a variety of courses as both part of your major and as part of WMU’s essential studies requirements. Many of these courses will require only the Microsoft Office Suite. As you move through your major, your courses may require specialized software, such as the installation of operating systems such as Linux. If you change majors, requirements may increase.

 Minimum SpecificationsRecommended Specifications
2023-24Engineering StudentsEngineering Students
CPUIntel i5 or Ultra 5 (12th generation or newer)Intel i7 or Ultra 7 (13th generation or newer)
Memory16GB RAM16GB - 32GB RAM
Disk256GB - 500GB SSD/M.2 500GB - 1TB SSD/M.2 or PCIe
GraphicsAccelerated, Gaming Support
1280 x 1024 resolution
Accelerated, Gaming Support
1920 x 1080 resolution
WirelessWireless adapter capable of 802.11nWireless adapter capable of 802.11ac
OtherHDMI or USB-C port to connect to classroom A/V equipment 
1 TB external drive recommended for backup and additional storage
HDMI or USB-C port to connect to classroom A/V equipment
1 TB external drive recommended for backup and additional storage

Staff

   Director of Information Technology
   (269) 276-3276