It’s not unusual for manufacturers to have to work with multiple CAD systems. This could be because suppliers, subcontractors, customers, or even a different department are using a different CAD package. Due to the proliferation of 3D CAD systems and the range of different packages, this can create enormous difficulties for manufacturers when they try to use these models with their own CAD software.
Today we’re going to look at consolidating CAD software. We’re going to take a look at some of the benefits of moving to a single, consistent CAD platform. While there will be cases when this isn’t a feasible option, for instance customer requirements, it a large number of cases it is a solid strategy for your company.
Having to use a CAD tool that doesn’t match your needs isn’t just frustrating; it can lead to serious problems with your product development. Think about it, if you have an unsuitable tool, delays and mistakes become almost inevitable.
For modern companies, working with multiple CAD tools is a reality. In a recent PTC survey, it was revealed that companies are using an average of 2.7 different CAD systems internally. There are several reasons that companies might be using different CAD tools. For example, different departments might have different tools that they like to use. Or, it might be that a key customer is using a different system to you, so you also need adopt their CAD software.
Working in multi-CAD environment can be a real challenge for engineering and designers. Discrepancies between different CAD tools can mean hours spent cleaning up data and ensuring that legacy data is fully integrated.
We’re very excited to announce the details of out PTC Creo Improving 2D & 3D design event. This free one-day event will be held at Brooklands museum, the birthplace of British motorsport.
Product design often happens in a multi-team setting. While there are many advantages of this, including being able to scale more quickly or access particular expertise, there are drawbacks.
The process of designing new products is more complex than ever before. With multiple partners and manufacturers often involved in any project, clear communication and collaboration are vital. Yet, this comes with its own complexity, especially when manufacturers and supply chain partners are using different CAD tools. It’s not surprising that problems occur; more complex processes, additional costs and increased room for error.
Having to work with non-native CAD files can be a frustrating process. The problem is clear; you have CAD data that you need to work with, but it was created in a different CAD tool to the one that you use. Having a tool that enables you to work with non-native CAD data, without having to recreate it can be invaluable, saving you time and money
Does your company still use a standalone 2D CAD tool before working on the design in 3D? Even though 3D solid modeling has become the standard for complex engineering tasks, your company may still have a 2D CAD system in your tool set. It’s fairly common to use 2D for upfront conceptual engineering. The problem that this has traditionally caused is that when you finally want to transition the concept from 2D to 3D, you either need to perform a complicated import of 2D data into a 3D tool or manually recreate the design from scratch in 3D.