Hi Everyone,
Just looking for some experienced operations that I can show to our managers and suppliers to demonstrate the use of SW models in manufacturing.
Any feedback is welcome!
Just looking for some experienced operations that I can show to our managers and suppliers to demonstrate the use of SW models in manufacturing.
Any feedback is welcome!
I need to find some companies that are taking a SW sheetmetal part and using it in maufacturing processes (flatten, nest, set-up for waterjet/plasma cutter, etc.). I want to reduce/eliminate the need for an engineering drawing by using the model as the driving 'document'.
This is done daily in the product design/mold design world...what's the leading edge of sheetmetal/plate work?
The tools are out there...is anyone using them?
http://www.anee.in
As a Programmer in a Sheetmetal Shop, I can say its great to get the Model of a part rather than just the print. Supplying the model should cut your cost as the part does not have to be recreated by the Manufacturer.
Its amazing how many companies don't mind sending a PDF document to build the parts off of, but are reluctant to send the 3-D Model that they created when they are asking you to build the parts. Isn't the whole Idea to get exactly what you have Designed. Having the Customers Model only increases the Probability of getting what you want. Getting only a print leaves the job open to interpretation if the print is not 100% accurate or clear. having the Model is the best way to show exactly what you want. I just did a part last week that had three views. Top, front and Side. Since the Front and the Side had cutout features I put them on Front and Back and on Both ends. The parts were returned and the Customer said the end holes are on both ends but the front hole are only on the front. With a model this would have been avoided.
That being said there are still issues that the print covers that the Model most likely will not. Material, Hardware, Paint, etc... just something to think about when sending the model without a print.
http://prototek.com/cap_computer_design.html
That is the only way we have our sheetmetal cabinets made. Our vendors work from the sheetmetal models I design.
Here is a place we use for prototypes: http://www.rapidsheetmetal.com/
Kevin Harms
Mechanical Engineer
Tripp Lite
http://www.tripplite.com/
We can work off drawings if they are manufacturing quality. We get a lot that aren't, in which case a phone call and perhaps a revised drawing is needed to clarify something. We're also involved in prototyping, and the models are required so we know how to make the camel-ear drawing into something that we can actually make and works on the cat that's being made (figuratively speaking, of course ;> ).
Terry
I create prints of sheetmetal with flat patterns for reference only
when a sheetmetal part is very complicated I spec only critial tolerances and notes on the print and note on the print to manufacture using the .sldprt file.
On these it forces the vendor to ask for a .sldprt if purchasing does not provide it up front. They can't make the part without the .sldprt file. We do still need to print to provide the info that the model may not contain.
I wish more people embraced model centric rather than print centric manufacturing. Why would I spend hours detailing a print just to have a vendor spend hours to recreate my design and get it wrong at manufacture.
Machined parts are tougher to do this way because things like reamed vs drilled vs tapped holes etc...