In mathematics, a conic section is a curve obtained as the intersection of a cone with a plane. Traditionally, the three types of conic section are the ellipse and circle (the circle is a special case of the ellipse), the parabola, and the hyperbola. The circle is of sufficient interest in its own right that it is sometimes called the fourth type of conic section.

The project is to design a model of a parabola as a conic section. Additionally the instructor can specify the parameters of the section and ask the students to show the necessary calculations. As a further design challenge each part of the cone can be designed interlocking so that they can be assembled to a complete cone.

This was designed in FreeCAD using only basic primitives.

Illustration from wiki commons.

This is an introduction to CAD teaching rotation, position and boolean operations on primitives. The project can also be used to help visualize mathematics.

The project could be used in parallel with teaching the mathematics of conics.

A basic understanding of primitives, rotation, position, and boolean operations. Also a basic understanding of the mathematics involved.

It is a simple design that should be easy to make in any design program of the instructors choice

Make a suitable cone and cube, rotate and place the cube or cone as needed and subtract the cube from the cone.