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
If you’re an engineer, you know you’re pretty important to the product development process. But, as well, there are lots of other people who need to be involved in the project. First of all, there are other engineers in your team.
Product data management (PDM) is important for companies, as it enables them to control access and share information effectively. There has been research done, which concludes a strong correlation between business performance and a company’s ability to manage their product data [source: www.tech-clarity.com]. By using a PDM system, organisation are better able to support growth and overall performance.
Any product development process will involve numerous drawings and models. These come from different stages of the product development. But they all need to be stored and managed in a way that makes it easy for anyone to find the version they are after. Having an effective product data management (PDM) tool means companies can have a full understanding of all the drawings and models relating to an individual product both during and after development.
Production scrap can be a serious problem for manufacturers. It can trigger extra costs, as materials can be one of the most expensive aspects of manufacturing. Plus, it can even result in more time being spent on your latest project. So, controlling and even reducing any production scrap can have a positive impact on the overall cost and time management of your product development.
CAD tools need to be flexible, particularly in the later stages of product development cycles. Yet, traditional parametric models can make it difficult to accommodate late-stage design changes and restrict design agility. Recent CAD developments are now addressing these limitations, enabling designers to explore more design possibilities with increase agility.
Over the next ten years there are going to be some tough challenges for manufacturing companies to address. To remain competitive they will have to understand the trends most likely to influence manufacturing, so they can prepare as best as possible for these changes.
“Even complex designs – such as intricate turbo gears – become child’s play with the tools from Pro/ENGINEER.”
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