Cadverter cuts time to market for BOC Edwards

Citation

(2001), "Cadverter cuts time to market for BOC Edwards", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773fab.008

Cadverter cuts time to market for BOC Edwards

Cadverter cuts time to market for BOC Edwards

Keywords: Theorem Solutions, Software

What used to take up to four days for Steelcraft Precision Tools and customer BOC Edwards can, it is reported, now be achieved in as many hours, thanks to Theorem Solutions' Solid Edge/CATIA CADverter direct database converter.

Theorem informs us that CADverter has prevented hours of valuable time being wasted during Steelcraft's design and manufacture of final fixture assemblies for BOC Edwards. Prior to CADverter, both companies had to undertake significant remodelling of the components and fixtures because their respective CAD systems could not share data.

The 3D CAD models were e-mailed by BOC Edwards in CATIA format to Steelcraft. Steelcraft then had to remodel the components and castings in Solid Edge format before designing the fixture. A similar level of remodelling of the fixture design in CATIA format had to be carried out by BOC Edwards before the fixture design could be used in virtual manufacturing, and other disciplines.

"CADverter has made life a lot easier for both companies and helped us secure this valuable contract", says Mick Waller of Steelcraft Precision Tools. "It converts the incoming data into Parasolid which is the kernel of Solid Edge. We then use the Solid Edge part to design the new model fixture around BOC Edwards part. The completed design is converted back to CATIA by CaDverter when it is sent to BOC Edwards' Shoreham-on-Sea offices for approval".

Comments Dr Mo Kalta, CADCAM specialist at BOC Edwards: "Prior to Steelcraft acquiring the CADverter, we were modelling the fixtures in CATIA solid but were not using the CATIA models in manufacturing.

"As a result, a wealth of information was under utilised. We wanted to use our CAD data in manufacturing and other disciplines. CaDverter has not only provided the solution to these problems but also it has given us the additional commercial benefit of reducing time to market. This helps BOC Edwards maintain a competitive edge across the highly competitive semi-conductor and general vacuum sectors that make up our global marketplace.

"Initially we had some teething problems. These were overcome with full cooperation of both Theorem Solutions and Steelcraft Precision Tools Limited and we are pleased with the benefits which have been gained so far".

Steelcraft has been manufacturing high precision components for more than 30 years over a wide range of products and industries including aerospace, gas turbine, marine, defence, power generation and research laboratories. The company provides a highly individual, single source solution by effectively combining modern management techniques with the latest in CAD CAM technology.

"Our design team develops customer components and by analysing the geometry we ensure the subsequent planning process, together with computer aided manufacture on our CNC machine tools, is a fully controlled and integrated process", explains Steelcraft's Mick Wailer.

Further details are available from Theorem Solutions. Tel: +44 (0) 1543 444455; Fax: +44 (0) 1543 444454.