Wednesday 28 March 2018

How Industrial Equipment Manufacturers can create Technical Manuals Faster and Easier?

Introduction

Preparing Technical Documentation is one of the challenging task for Content creators. They tend to create clear, simple and accurate documents which implies for their products.

Usually step by step Documentation will make it easy to understand problems compound in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Organizations where each Industrial Equipment must be maintained by maintenance department.


Content creators tend to focus and crush their brain on document work word by word, pictures, symbols and shapes. However, small error can cause severe actions for users. So, what is the solutions for those heck and tense? Let’s move further!

Free-up Mind and apply SOLIDWORKS COMPOSER

SOLIDWORKS COMPOSER allows you to quickly create 2D and 3D graphical content to clearly explain and present your products or process.

The tools let you work directly from 3D CAD data to create high quality illustrations, photo realistic images and interactive animations and to import design data.



How it is helpful and what for?

1. For “Work Instructions”
  • Create Work Instructions in 3D 
  • Replace 2D drawings with 3D Animations 
  • Reduce production errors 
2. For “Marketing Presentations”
  • 3D Software for marketing 
  • Enable Marketing to create animations and graphics for: 
• Pre-Sales demonstrations
• Interactive animations for trade shows
• Technical brochures
• On-line interactive part catalogs

3. For “Service Instructions”
      Field Service Instructions
  • Replace text with graphics 
  • Replace documents with videos 
• Produce videos at lower costs
• Reduce training costs



Summary
  1. Non-technical users can also easily accommodate and work. 
  2. Even more complex parts can depict clear and effective. 
  3. Associativity: Changes are updated automatically in created contents. 
  4. Productivity is maximized very fast because of user interface tools. 
  5. Demonstrate products more effectively with interactive storyboards. 
  6. Highlight key differentiators with detailed views, glow eff etc and transparent components. 
  7. Enter into Market very fast through precise documents in the design stage itself. 
  8. In simple terms don’t want to wait for the product to be over, work concurrently in design and content creation.



 



How SOLIDWORKS PDM is more helpful for Industrial Equipment Manufacturers?



Critical Assets to Monitor Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Process Issues :

Industrial Equipment Sector presents a unique situation in terms of reliability, primarily due to the nature of production. While a wide range of other industries can run at reduced loads or output after suffering unexpected downtime, nearly all assets in industrial manufacturing can be viewed as critical. All assembly line style of manufacturing equipment is dependent on other equipment up line or down line to be operating during production. Even a small issue can severely cripple or entirely halt production. Therefore, it is highly critical to monitor any asset that has the potential to slow or halt production to reduce or eliminate unplanned downtime.

Why SOLIDWORKS PDM?
Product Data Management (PDM) is the use of software to manage product data and process-related information in a single, central system. This information includes Computer-Aided Design (CAD) data, models, parts information, manufacturing instructions, requirements, notes and documents.

Factors of SOLIDWORKS PDM
  1. Capture, manage and deliver product information
  • PDM systems capture and manage product information, ensuring that information is delivered to users throughout the product lifecycle in the correct context.
  • File ownership, version control (check-in and check-out of files), revision

  1. Functionality & Data Security
  • Security and administrative functionality protects intellectual property rights through role management, project-based security and associated access privileges.

  1. Process Enablement
  • A PDM system can help you establish, manage and execute automated workflow-driven processes that reflect company-specific best practices for change planning (what-if analysis), change incorporation (execution), and change verification and communication.

  1. Configuration Management
  • PDM systems provide the visibility necessary for managing and presenting a complete Bill Of Materials (BOM). It facilitates the alignment and synchronization of all sources of BOM data, as well as all lifecycle phases, including the as-designed, as-planned, as-built and as-maintained states. 

  • All users have access to the latest versions of files, that are stored in a central location. This means manufacturing can have immediate and direct access to a project file, when it is release.
  • All files are stored centrally, thereby reducing the chance of data loss or. This includes having your work overwritten, by a co-worker saving files, to a shared network drive.
  • Multiple versions of files can be kept, thereby allowing a user to revert to a previous version.

BENEFITS OF PDM
  • Find the correct data quickly
  • Improve productivity and reduce cycle times
  • Reduce development errors and costs
  • Improve value chain orchestration
  • Meet business and regulatory requirements
  • Optimize operational resources
  • Facilitate collaboration between global teams
  • Provide visibility for better business decision-making




 



Friday 23 March 2018

SOLIDWORKS Composer – For Effective Communication of your Machinery design


Quickly and easily create Technical Communication Collaterals

With SOLIDWORKS Composer, anyone in your company can quickly create complete technical communication without CAD experience. Since Composer works directly with your 2D and 3D CAD data, users can extract information directly from the source, manipulate, annotate and publish the finished work in a fraction of time. In a few clicks you can produce Technical illustrations & documentation automatically.



Challenges faced in Preparing Technical Communication Collaterals

  • Re-work due to Design Changes and updating the Visual Instructions 
  • Maintaining the hierarchy of documentation and Updating the Projects 
  • Less availability of Illustrative tools to create eye-catching Technical Content. 
  • Repeated Training needed to New Resources in Creating Technical Communication 
  • Content creators are often working with different, cobbled together tools, including 2D CAD drawings, digital photography, and file translators. 
  • Consumes more time & more steps to get to a finished document. 
Benefits of Composer
  • Create detailed visual assembly/dis-assembly instructions that don’t require re-creation from Scratch, even if the Design Changes. 
  • Generate a interactive Bill of Material (BOM) that automatically updates with Updation of your Project 
  • Create beautiful animations & Images for product CD’s, Brochures, Manuals or online instructions. 

  • Illustration Engineers can build Technical documentation in parallel with product design & development, with less training. 
  • Create high-resolution, shaded renderings with a three dimensional appearance for presentations and brochures. 
  • Clear product documentation 
  • Create more life-like visuals and eliminate the need for physical prototypes in creating product marketing materials. 


 

Monday 19 March 2018

SOLIDWORKS SOLUTIONS FOR EFFECTIVE TOOL & DIE DESIGN


Tool and Die making deals with Design of Dies and Tool Sets for Plastic/ Sheet-metal/ Casting/ Forging Components and  manufacture of stamping dies, plastics molds,  jigs and fixtures to be used in Manufacturing Sectors. Mold Tool & Die for Products are the easiest and cost-effective way of mass production of high quality items such as plastic, cast, stamped, formed, and forged Components.




SOLIDWORKS Solutions enable Mold Tool Designers & Die makers to easily incorporate design changes throughout the development process, right up to final manufacturing. SOLIDWORKS fully integrates product design, mold design, and validation in one package, saving time, reducing costs, accelerating the product development process, and increasing productivity. 

SOLIDWORKS offers dedicated solutions to all day to day challenges faced by Tool & die makers at every stages of their Development Process. Let us walk through few of the challenges and Solutions proposed by SOLIDWORKS for Tool & Die Industry.


CHALLENGES
  1. Creation of accurate mold geometry
  2. Innovative product designs to expand business.
  3. Eliminating Manufacturability issues
  4. Uninterrupted Communication for data import.
  5. Validate the Die design before manufacturing.
  6. Ensure design and manufacturing efficiency of Tool and Die Assemblies.
  7. Integration with CAM system for manufacturing.
  8. Ensure Customer delivery in time
  9. Deliver of Reliable molds with unmatched Quality.
  10. Immediate reflection of changes as per Customer Requirement.
SOLUTIONS
  1. SOLIDWORKS Mold – handles Complex mold geometry including surfaces, large assemblies, complex drafts and fillets using Production Qualified Design Tools.
  2. Ability to design all aspects of Mold , Tool and Die using tools like Tooling Split & Configurations.
  3. DFM xpress tool Checks for Manufacturing Feasibility at the design stage itself.
  4. SOLIDWORKS can import multiple CAD formats and recognizes the features in a smarter way.
  5. SOLIDWORKS performs analysis like undercuts, draft and wall thickness as well as perform stress analysis and Plastic Flow in the molds.
  6. Interference Checks, updation of drawings views and BOMs ensure mold reliability, fit and function.
  7. SOLIDWORKS CAM aids in production of top Quality machining Supports for Tooling.
  8. Ease of use and powerful modeling capabilities to Quickly Produce Mold , Tool & die Designs based on the Customer Product.
  9. Inbuilt Checks that ensure mold reliability at every stages of Design & Development.
  10. SOLIDWORKS Solutions helps to modify the design and have all the drawings updated automatically.

CUSTOMER VOICE
I was attracted to SolidWorks because I felt that , using a feature-based parametric platform would be the most productive way to get my job done.”
John Kreutzberger
Owner – JK Mold Design





 



Tuesday 13 March 2018

SOLIDWORKS Solutions for Industrial Equipment Industry


Industrial Equipment Design:
SOLIDWORKS integrated product development solutions cover the full range of modelling, simulation, and communication that machine builders need in order to accelerate time-to-market of new machines while reducing costs and ensuring greater safety and reliability. We cover all aspects of product development, offering tools that help you conceptualize, visualize, test, and document your 3D designs.

Challenges faced by Industrial Equipment Industry:
  • Developing derivative products in a cost effective manner.
  • Too much time spent creating, updating and managing engineering drawings.
  • Accurately machining parts without reworking 3D data
  • Aligning manufacturing and assembly with engineering intent
  • Information such as Bill of Materials and drawings must be synchronized
  • Fluctuations in raw material costs adds increased complexity to the bidding process.
  • BOM is automatically generated from design so purchasing list will be accurate.
  • Visualization and management of large assembly designs.

SOLIDWORKS Solutions Proposed :
  • SOLIDWORKS Design tools help ensure that the most complex of designs can be developed with the least amount of effort.
  • Interference checking reduces assembly problems and the need for prototypes.
  • SolidWorks Simulation tools help engineers to ensure that a device’s behaviour will be within design limits, reliable, and avoid thermal or stress-induced failures.
  • Assembly Modelling enables clients to represent and interact with large scale assemblies in real time.Portable data format which can be used to communicate product drawings, capability and aesthetics for company, customers and partners.
  • Ability to show the customer different configurations that support their assembly processes in real time.
  • BOM is automatically generated from design so purchasing list will be accurate.
  • 3D Content Central and Toolbox help save time by providing easy access to the latest 3D vendor components.


Benefits:
  • Greater ability to deliver quality and productivity to OEMS.
  • Design functional and manufacturing design at the same time.
  • Improved design communication and documentation.
  • Shortened prototyping and analysis time, reduced scrap and rework.
  • Shortened time to make design changes by 90%
  • Analysis conducted parallel with development work.
SOLIDWORKS Customer Testimonial:
“In 2D, we wouldn’t have known what we had until we built it. With SOLIDWORKS, we can show the customer different configurations that support their assembly processes.”
Bill Parmentier, Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer
RTS Wright Industries



 



How Costly is My Design?

Tuesday 6 March 2018

How to create Effective Technical Documentation and Improve ROI using SOLIDWORKS COMPOSER


Objective
Clearly explain and present your product or process using 2D and 3D graphical content that you can quickly create with SOLIDWORKS Composer software.

Traditional Challenges in Consumer Product Industry
  • Content creators are often working with different, cobbled together tools, including 2D CAD drawings, digital photography, and file translators.
  • Bottleneck to business growth and competitiveness
  • Too many manual steps to get to a finished document, and far too much back-and-forth activity.
  • Spend too much of time in Manual changes in product as well as technical communication documents
  • The whole process is therefore inefficient, slow, and disruptive to the Engineering Department and to the organization as a whole.
Intelligent Solutions for common pitfalls

1.Concurrent technical documentation


2.Design, Document, Deliver Easily
  • You can dramatically improve the quality, quantity, effectiveness, and customer appeal of your technical communication materials.
  • Automatically generating current Bills of Materials (BOMs) with the push of a button, for inclusion in proposals or assembly instructions.

3.Business benefits abound
  • Faster time to market. You can create documentation in parallel with product design and development, so products get to market faster.
4.Speed product success
  • Engineers can spend more time designing and more easily create technical documents to communicate their work.
  • Content creators can spend more time creating great content and less time chasing and updating data.
5.Automating manufacturing and assembly instructions

Summary
  • As manufacturing organizations strive to identify ways to,
      • save time
      • cut costs and
      • improve their competitiveness in global markets
  • Your company can realize shorter times-to-market, improved operational efficiencies, and good quality documentation.
  • More cost savings and also realize significant ROI within the first year.
  • Manufacturers can improve profit margins, achieve faster times-to-market, and increase sales related to better customer education


 



How to get CONSUMER PRODUCTS Design Data under Control and improve Team Manage using SOLIDWORKS PDM?

What is PDM

In today's consumer products industry, industrial designers and mechanical engineers must work together to bring new products to market with cutting-edge design, market-leading functionality, and low manufacturing costs. 
Product data management (PDM) is the business function often within product lifecycle management (PLM) that is responsible for the management and publication of product data. 

What are the Goals? 
The goals of product data management include, 
ensuring all stakeholders share a common understanding, that confusion during the execution of the processes is minimized, and that the highest standards of quality controls are maintained. 

What is it Focus on? 
Product data management is focused on capturing and maintaining information on products and/or services through its development and useful life. Typical information managed in the PDM module include. 

Common challenges for Consumer Products Designer 
  • More confusions in making file revisions 
  • To do changes, copying entire data 
  • Spending critical time for searching files or even deleted 
  • No data security so anyone can access and make faulty corrections 
  • Difficult to streamline detail information about data workflow around the global 
  • Users may get frustrate in Data replication and synchronization. 
1.Find the Data you are looking for fast: 
  • Advanced searching tools inside Windows Explorer 
  • Just input the specific information, make it easy 

2.Maintain Version and Revision History: 

  • Versions are automatically created and references updated 
  • Increment revisions automatically based on defined approval process 

3.Electronic Workflow: 

  • Automatically send notifications to designated users and groups when files have modify/Change state 
  • Easy to use graphical workflow tool 

4.Manage Non-Cad Data Easily 
  • Easily produce customized bills of materials (BOMs) for individual departments
  • Manage, view, and print document from more than 250 file types including major CAD formats, Microsoft Office files, images, and animations
  • Automatically create neutral files, such as PDFs, eDrawingsTM or STEP 
5.Automate business processes 
  • Utilize multiple workflows to handle different document types and approval processes
  • Facilitate multiple required approvers with Parallel transitions 
6.Collaborate across boundaries 
  • Search for data in multiple ways, using parameters such as document or file name, contained data, or custom properties like part number, description, and current workflow state (e.g., released or in process)
  • Enable staff and partners to contribute through webenabled portals from various connected devices including smartphones and tablets
Summary
  • Track and manage all changes to product related data 
  • PDM enables easy and quick access for users on different locations and different times 
  • Secure organisation data with powerful Vault creation 
  • Eliminate Redundancy in finding the right files in consistent way 
  • Spend less time organizing and tracking design data 
  • Improve productivity through reuse of product design data 
  • Enhance collaboration 
  • Helps using visual management. 



 



Friday 2 March 2018

How to Make the Machinery Elements Using SOLIDWORKS Products ?


Machinery is a collection of machines that operates work together in a single operation. SOLIDWORKS Products can help to communicate the machinery process before it reach the market. 



SOLIDWORKS is a solid modeling Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. Through the help of SOLIDWORKS CAD you can design your products as per the developmental ideas from easy of use. 

Advantages of SOLIDWORKS
  • Drawing can be prepared efficiently and in a very shorter time.
  • Once we made changes in the 3D design the drawings will be automatically updated.
  • Over a million of standard Toolbox components are available in SOLIDWORKS library which can also be customized according to our requirements.
  • Automatic BOM can be generated and also we can Import to Excel file format.
  • Design can be effectively communicate through eDrawing tool.
  • Your end product market cost can be predicted using SOLIDWORKS Costing tool.
  • Create CAD Animation.
  • The 3D model can also be used for marketing and presentation aids using SOLIDWORKS PhotoView 360.
  • The function and fit of the assembled components can be ensured using tolerance analysis.


SOLIDWORKS Simulation can validate machinery product performance, quality and safety. The machinery supplier have used SOLIDWORKS Simulation to improve the reliability and overall cost of the product. The Capabilities include the following 
  • Evaluate the physical behaviors of a Machinery elements.
  • Predict the performance and behavior of the design.
  • Calculate the safety margin and to identify the weakness of the design accurately.
  • Identify the optimal design with confidence & cost effectively.
  • Predicting what if scenarios for best alternative material selection.
  • The life cycle of the product can be predicted.
  • Frequency response of various working condition of machinery can be predicted.
  • Thermal distribution for heat sensitive components can be analyzed.
  • Effective volume consumption of the product over the weight to thickness ratio can be obtained.
  • Kinematics study of machineries can be performed and also can predict reaction force, motor torque and energy consumption of product.
  • Bolt selection for particular machine components can be validated.
  • Nonlinear behavior and Dynamic performance of a Machinery can be performed.
Summary 
  • Better Machinery designs can be evolved.
  • Shorter preparation time for Machinery drawing.
  • Minimized transcription errors in drawing.
  • Easy use of tools to solve complex machine design.
  • Visualization of the machine performance in detailed view.
  • Validate for various changes on the existing machinery components.
  • Assistance in preparation of documentation.
  • Deliver innovative designs with good product efficiency.