3D modelling opens up lucrative markets

An Alibre product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jan 18, 2005

Thanks to a move to Alibre Design software and 3D parametric modelling, Magove has opened new business in the lucrative market of automotive plastic-parts gauging.

Since the mid-60s, Magove, now based in Tultitlan, Mexico, has grown from a company manufacturing mechanical replacement parts to the integration of custom designed machinery, robotic cells and quality equipment for the automotive and food and drug industries.

And now during the past three years, thanks to a move to Alibre Design software and 3D parametric modelling, Magove has opened new business in the lucrative market of automotive plastic-parts gauging.

For most of its history, Magove design engineers have relied on 2D applications, using AutoCAD through Release 13.

But as the company began to do more work in automotive, the need for 3D became more prevalent.

In the beginning, Gaspar Acevedo, the Lead Engineer at the company, and other staffers created their own in-house 3D programs to use in conjunction with AutoCAD.

But as the company saw the opportunity to move into gauging for automotive plastic parts such as dash boards and door paneling, it became clear that the company would need a more robust 3D application.

After examining Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, Acevedo elected to give Alibre Design software a try.

Admittedly put off by the low price at first, he soon overcame his initial hesitation when he was able to design several mechanical parts for production within the 30-day free-trial period.

And given that many of Magove's automotive customers used Catia and Unigraphics software, the software's native Step file format made data exchange seamless and painless.

Following up its first seat of Alibre Design software three years ago with two more seats for the other design engineers in the company, Magove now operates exclusively as a 3D shop.

Acevedo notes that the move to 3D has now opened up new business that Magove couldn't have gained as a 2D operation.

"The automotive plastics gauge design and fabrication we now do would be impossible in 2D", says Acevedo, "primarily because you are dealing with free surfaces".

"We don't even get printed drawings sometimes, just 3D CAD data for the glove box, door panel, heating channel etc".

As with plastic parts gauging, when integrating custom designed machinery, the communications benefits gained by moving from 2D to 3D, both internally and with clients, can't be overemphasised, he says.

"You need as much input as you can get from the client early in the design phase".

"Because 2D drawings are so complex to understand, it can take hours of review to comprehend what's happening".

"With Alibre Design in 3D, anyone can understand what's going on in a matter of minutes".

Acevedo notes that this clear communications advantage has an immediate payoff, resulting in shorter design cycles and fewer errors calling for design adjustments.

"With custom work, there are always surprises", he says.

"Every time you design something, it's a different project from the last time".

"You're never the expert, but the client always is, and you need that input from the client up front to ensure manufacturability".

With three years of use now under his belt, Acevedo considers himself an advanced user of Alibre Design.

As an experienced 2D CAD user, he was productive in just a couple of weeks.

But that was coming to Alibre Design with limited 3D experience.

He says: "Someone with a background in 3D tools such as Catia or I-deas would be productive with Alibre Design in a matter of days or even hours".

Ease of use aside, Acevedo also praises the Alibre team's tech support.

"The Alibre Assistant spent about 10 hours or so with me during those first weeks", he says.

"We worked collaboratively on some of the early projects to ensure that I was taking advantage of the Alibre Design software's most important features".

Now Acevedo trains his own staff on how to get the most from Alibre Design, but that same level of tech support he enjoyed is also available to his staff, from online collaborative sessions to phone support directly from Alibre developers.

"That kind of one-on-one support can't be equaled by any other company that I know of", says Acevedo.