Importance of Fully Leveraged 3D CAD for Manufacturing Industry

Jul 13, 2017 -- Staying at the top of fabrication industry is just as hard as getting there. The extreme requirement for engineered components manufacturers is to have error-free & comprehensive designs. These requirements arise with an aim to ensure minimum downtimes in production lines and maintain a healthy supply chain. By leveraging modeling and sketching tools of CAD software like SolidWorks; design engineers are empowered to generate accurate and comprehensive 3D CAD models.

3D CAD design approach brings several benefits to engineered product manufacturers in various aspects. Manufacturers are embracing 3D CAD models for the ease in manufacturing to avail benefits such as reduced change orders, reworks and increased efficiency. CAD has helped them maintain supply chain and to communicate design intent to distributors with the assembly animation videos.

Understanding the purpose of 3D CAD models

Though, product manufacturers see 2D fabrication drawings as the bible for manufacturing; when it comes to design communication the task becomes cumbersome. On the other hand, with 3D models, a single geometrical model file will eliminate the reasons to misinterpret any line or any entity in the model. It also speeds up product development process by quickly enabling changes, and decreases product’s time to market.

Annotated PMI in 3D CAD models

3D CAD modeling software allows design engineers to develop solid modeling and quickly associates them with 2D drawings; without compelling users to abandon their long and ongoing relationship with 2D drawings. Influential SOLIDWORKS software assists design engineers to couple feature-based solid part and assembly modeling with 2D drawings creation and annotation. Along with accurate parts and assembly modeling, CAD further empowers design engineers to add Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) details such as surface finish, assembly notes, tolerances, etc. with help of advanced annotation tools.

Usually, while designing, modeling is done in a variety of different software and when it comes to importing all the parts into models for generating assemblies, software compatibility becomes an unforeseen challenge. Such compatibility issues arise due to the fact that all software works differently at the grass-root level. Neutral CAD file formats like IGES or STEP can essentially solve software interoperability challenges and allows the design engineer to build a final comprehensive 3D CAD assembly with annotated PMI for the ease in manufacturing. CAD successfully complements current manufacturing techniques & requirements, but what remains to evaluate is what its future is?

3D printing, a futuristic fabrication technique is emerging from 3D CAD modeling

Engineered product manufacturing industry is slowly turning to techniques like additive manufacturing and 3D printing for fabricating components with multiple complexities. Conventional machining processes are gradually being replaced by 3D printing for higher surface finish and dimensional accuracy; especially when their precision manufacturing is required. However, since the technology is new, there are several gaps between the existing designing software technology and 3D printing. CAD closes this gap between 3D CAD and 3D printing. CAD parametric modeling controls the lattice structures in designs with fully detailed parts and accurate mass properties.

3D printing is convincing the next generation product design engineers and fabricators to rely upon for precise fabrication for even the most complex parts. Although 3D printing is gaining momentum, it is 3D CAD modeling where entire design and fabrication workforce is inclined towards. CAD modeling essentially saves fabrication from making mistakes, especially with costly materials. Such captivating collaboration of CAD models with fabrication has enabled fabricators and manufacturers to take 3D CAD modeling further than mere designing.

Conclusion

Although there has been a continued legacy of 2D fabrication drawings or shop floor drawings in the manufacturing industry, manufacturers now are shifting to 3D CAD modeling; provided they have viewed the picture of what a fully leveraged CAD data looks like.