Software Review: Software Fosters Elegant Design of Specialized ...

Tag : air tools & instrument

Before deciding to purchase the software, we were able to play withit and found it and the tutorials impressive. Additionally, thesupport and training from our VAR, Vertex Enterprises ( vertexllc.com ), helped us get results quickly. Best yet, the price is right. Thesoftware provides broader capabilities than similar programs —and at nearly half the price.
The shop uses most of the modules, working with sketches, wireframe, solids, surfaces, and many of the mold and die commands. VXis easy to use and does what it claims efficiently. Nearlyeverything we design is created in the context of an assembly. So adesign might involve going, say, 12 levels deep in an assembly, yetnavigating through them is a breeze.
Examples of recent jobs include designing an assembly for aninstrument maker. CAD solid models were not available for all thecomponents, but because VX lets users combine 2D wire frame and 3Dparts, it was a simple matter to design the machine, whichmagazine-feeds a part, clamps the part in place, drills,counterbores, and taps several holes, before ejecting the part.
Another job involved designing a tabletop bending fixture thataccepts two different diameters and six different lengths ofplastic tubing and bends them into a “U” shape. Thetricky part was that the tube expands when heated, so the cam inthe middle of the center mandrel had to ride up and down on camfollowers. VX’s assembly tools were critical to the solution.
The software is also adept at importing files. The shop frequentlybegins jobs by importing files from customers. When it comes tomachine design, we usually import other files of parts, such asdrill heads, air cylinders, and so forth, from the Internet.
An unexpected benefit: The software facilitates communication withcustomers, which makes life a lot easier. For example, one customerwanted a machine with a cart on it to dump gravel. The machinewould move into a dump station at ground level and then move thecart up a certain distance, then dump the load at a 120°angle. At first it seemed the design would require 3° ofactuation. But after a while, it became evident that an easierapproach was to move the cart’s wheels on two different setsof tracks, actuated by just one set of hydraulic cylinders.
At first, the customer said the machine “sounded like a RubeGoldberg contraption.” Fortunately, the software let me loada demo version on the customer’s computer as a viewer. I thenconstrained 3D assemblies, gave others limited degrees of movement,and animated the dump station. After seeing it in virtualoperation, the customer concluded the solution was actually quiteelegant. This simulation capability also lets users verify thatdesigns will work as they expect, ensure dimensions are correct,and be certain components will clear each other in actualoperation.
The software even lets customers play “what if” withdesigns by, for example, altering a dimension or a degree ofmovement to see the impact on operations. Letting customers getinvolved in this manner adds another dimension to digitalprototyping that facilitates communication and satisfies customers.