实体建模是三维几何建模的最新方法。评估和选择基于实体建模的机械CAE/CAD/CAM系统需要了解实体建模技术及其应用。本文描述了西屋ESG为其下一代集成机械CAE/CAD/CAM系统进行的选择过程。本文概述了实体建模，并提供了在并行工程环境中测试基于实体建模的系统作为产品开发工具的能力的实例。

SOLID MODELING IS THE LATEST APPROACH TO THREE- DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRIC MODELING. EVALUATING AND SELECTING A SOLID-MODELING-BASED MECHANICAL CAE/CAD/CAM SYSTEM REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF SOLID MODELING TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE SELECTION PROCESS CONDUCTED BY WESTINGHOUSE ESG FOR ITS NEXT GENERATION INTEGRATED MECHANICAL CAE/CAD/CAM SYSTEM. THE PAPER PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF SOLID MODELING AND INCLUDES PRACTICAL EXAMPLES FOR TESTING THE CAPABILITIES OF SOLID-MODELING-BASED SYSTEMS AS A PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TOOL IN A CONCURRENT ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENT.