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FEATURE CAD/SOFTWARE
CAD CONVERSION LEADS
TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES
mazon has responded to a growing demand from its industrial customers to supply downloadable CAD files for the millions of parts it supplies – in what some are calling the largest CAD conversion in history. This would allow engineers to then input the CAD data directly into the designs so that they could undergo digital simulations. Converting 2D paper or scanned files into
A
intelligent, electronic 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) or Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) files, often called digital twins, is taking on an added significance as companies increasingly look to go digital. While CAD conversions are just a small piece of the overall digital transformation puzzle, the benefits make the process a point of emphasis: improved operational efficiencies, faster time to market, as well as improving new product development and throughput. Yet, as Amazon recently encountered, the enormity of the process can often be overwhelming. Many organisations have thousands, even millions of parts, assemblies and drawings that must be digitised into CAD compatible files, not just scanned for preservation purposes. Even companies who have been utilising 3D CAD software for decades often have legacy files dating as far back as DOS that can no longer be accessed and must be converted into modern CAD software systems.
THE CHALLENGE Like many companies, Amazon scanned and digitised its original part blueprints and drawings.
aerospace company which suggested it look into one of the six CAD companies in the U.S. certified by the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) for scanning and conversion work. Needing a company that could get ramped up quickly, Jason Mikhailovich, senior manager at Amazon Supply, which services industrial and scientific companies, selected CAD/CAM Services, a Dallas-based CAD engineering firm with 35 years of expertise in 3D scanning, modelling, and conversions. It did not take long before Amazon was
receiving more than 1,000 CAD conversion files per day, in nine different file formats – which was required for the catalogue.
UNDER PRESSURE “We are definitely seeing a huge increase in the number of CAD conversion projects we are taking on,” explains Scott Shuppert, president, CAD/CAM Services. “Due to the sheer volume and complexities, most organisations are reluctant to expand their engineering departments for this type of work, so it usually gets outsourced.” Increased competition within the
manufacturing sector has increased the pressure for companies to reduce costs, improve customer experience and increase profitability. Advanced manufacturing organisations are much more reliant on CAD files that enable manufacturing automation and increased productivity. Like Amazon, there are a number of
companies that are already finding new ways to maximise their CAD conversion investment. For example, there are a growing number of websites that allow customers to upload their entire CAD file catalogues for the convenience of their customers. One such provider, TraceParts, currently offers nearly 110 million parts from over 1,400 supplier-certified product catalogues. This allows manufacturers to get in front of more potential customers without any of the leg work.
52 DESIGN SOLUTIONS FEBRUARY 2023 The daunting task of converting millions of 2D drawings
and legacy CAD files into modern 3D CAD systems can lead to new opportunities and improved processes, as CAD/CAM Services explains While the need to stay competitive and
However, being 2D photos, these were often hard to read and not useful for most modern design and manufacturing processes. Amazon therefore sought advice from a major
grow is the driving force for many of the companies that have already jumped into the CAD conversions process, for others there are more urgent concerns. Millions of drawings are now being stored on Mylar, a type of stretched polyester film invented in the 1950s. It was originally designed as a replacement for paper because of its longer shelf life. “The problem is that because Mylar is often
improperly stored, the material tends to degrade more rapidly, impacting its accuracy and usability,” explains Shuppert. “Converting this information into accurate and useable digital formats has become increasingly important. In fact, we just finished a huge Mylar conversion project for the U.S. Air Force.”
AVOIDING CAD CHAOS Another significant advantage companies are finding include the avoidance of ‘CAD chaos’ or a poorly organised CAD ecosystem. As an extreme example of how critical this can be, there was a well-publicised story of a major aerospace manufacturer that had to halt production of its newest aircraft after it had already reached the assembly room floor. The issue was traced back to different plants utilising different versions of its design software. The end cost was monumental – thousands of jobs lost, the company had reduced its profit forecasts by $6 billion, and multiple facilities were shut down. “For us, this project dealt almost entirely with the Solidworks CAD software. However, we deal with a huge number of suppliers, and so as we move forward it’s nice to know that our CAD provider also supports Catia, Siemens NX, Creo, and AutoCAD. This way we can keep our data clean and compatible,” concluded Mikhailovich. Ultimately, the CAD conversion push is
about revolutionising the way products are designed, tested, manufactured, and perform over their lifecycle.
CAD/CAM Services
www.cadcam.org
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