Solidworks improves productivity at Sonnax
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Dassault Systemes product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 16, 2008
Sonnax has deployed Solidworks 3D CAD software to re-engineer worn out parts so that they are as good as, if not better than, the original.
Using SolidWorks, Sonnax engineers have become more productive and more creative in their design approaches than with 2D software.
Since 1978, Vermont-based Sonnax has been designing, manufacturing and distributing replacement components for automatic transmissions, torque converters, drive shafts and related products worldwide for the passenger vehicle, racing and heavy-duty vehicle markets.
Precision and durability are critical as its parts are used in rebuilt transmissions that often carry 100,000-mile warranties.
'We get worn out parts that we reverse engineer to find out where the part failed,' said Steve McAllister, a technical group manager in engineering at Sonnax.
'Solidworks lets us identify the original failure point and design it right out of the product.' Sonnax engineers need to study every design aspect of a city bus drive shaft, for example, to make sure that the replacement part will last.
Because the bus travels hundreds of miles every week, durability is critical.
Sonnax engineers work closely with part suppliers since many aftermarket parts are custom designed to a specific vehicle.
'There's a lot of back and forth in the design stage to meet customer demand,' said McAllister.
'Solidworks has substantially cut the time for modifying the designs based on supplier feedback from when we had to change multiple AutoCAD drawings.' Aside from sharp 3D models that give both Sonnax engineers and suppliers a comprehensive view of part designs, Sonnax uses the Solidworks eDrawings design communication tool to share 3D models and 2D drawings of its components with suppliers and customers.
The company also uses the Photoworks rendering tool to create life-like images of its parts for the technical documentation that accompanies the parts - a process that previously was delayed up to three weeks while engineers had to wait for the prototype to photograph it.
Sonnax is deploying Solidworks Simulation and Solidworks Flow Simulation to analyse component durability and fluid flow during everyday use to ensure optimal performance.
Sonnax engineers will soon have even more visibility into potential failure points while analysing how parts will perform in normal and high-performance operating conditions.
Sonnax relies on authorised Solidworks reseller CADD Edge for ongoing software training, implementation and support.
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