INBIS Group unites global design team with SolidWorks Software

Citation

(2005), "INBIS Group unites global design team with SolidWorks Software", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 77 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2005.12777aaf.002

INBIS Group unites global design team with SolidWorks Software

INBIS Group unites global design team with SolidWorks Software

Keywords: INBIS Group, Aerospace industry, Software

For more than three decades, INBIS Group has worked on large-scale projects for the aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries. These projects involve a high degree of mechanical design and analysis, span national boundaries, and involve multiple partners. A recent substantial project was designing a gas turbine technology demonstration rig for a new generation aircraft.

The demonstration rig plays a vital role in gas turbine development. This one-third scale model rig verifies computer predictions concerning aerodynamic performance, and in some cases, proves the mechanical integrity of the blading.

Designing the demonstration rig was no small feat. Designers, specialists, suppliers, and manufacturers from around the world collaborated on the design of the 3,000-part assembly. One of the challenges that INBIS Group faced during the process was how to clearly communicate design concepts without traveling extensively for face-to- face meetings. Using SolidWorks three- dimensional computer-aided design (3D CAD) software, INBIS was able to communicate complex designs to partners and suppliers in ways it never could before, speeding up the entire design process. The company chose SolidWorks for this project because the software provided the communications tools it needed to coordinate everyone's design efforts.

“We work in a specialized industry where we need to draw on expertise from around the world”, said Bob Hemmings, INBIS Group's Chief Engineer. “SolidWorks' eDrawings, 3D Instant Web site, and 3D Meeting have made it easy for us to share 3D models with everyone who had input on the design, and allowed us to have meaningful discussions without having to travel to each site”.

Project team members used eDrawings to generate representations of 3D product designs that everyone could view, mark up, and measure, without having to purchase their own markup tools. They also used 3D Instant Web site to share 3D models across the extended product design team. Designers could instantly create password-protected web sites that enabled visitors to view, rotate, zoom, and pan 3D models and provide comments. Team members viewed and collaborated in real time on models and drawings over the Internet with 3D Meeting.

These collaboration tools enabled INBIS Group to use a parallel design process that sped up the design cycle and produced more accurate parts. In fact, the company's US manufacturing partner was surprised at how components designed by different people – who had never met face-to- face – matched the first time, making it easy to assemble the demonstration rig. “SolidWorks lets our specialists around the world work simultaneously instead of sequentially, helping us design more quickly. This parallel design process significantly sped up the overall design time”, Bob said.

SolidWorks' short learning curve also helped INBIS to speed the design process. As a consultancy, the company uses different CAD technologies depending on what the client uses, which can present a training challenge. It has traditionally taken senior engineers, whose time demands are particularly critical, several weeks to learn the technology – time INBIS Group cannot spare. SolidWorks software is intuitive and easy to use, enabling these engineers to almost immediately begin creating 3D models, according to Bob. They can then use COSMOSWorks to perform “what-if” analyses, allowing engineers to refine their designs in real time before passing them on to specialists.

“Instead of sketching their designs on paper and having someone transfer the design into the 3D CAD software, our senior engineers can start producing their own concept designs in SolidWorks without the middleman”, Bob said. “This direct access to the CAD technology means more accurate designs in the long term, which is a key benefit when you are dealing with thousands of components.”