Boost
Buster: The Auto Way
Fluid
Power profiles the features of the latest Autodesk Inventor 9 series
through a case study and explains its plus points
Since manufacturers are constantly on the lookout for improving their
processes and maximising efficiency software is one method constantly
used to find new innovative methods. Asia’s largest manufacturer
of air compressors and automotive service station equipment Elgi Equipments
is one such global market leader whose range of products includes rotary
screw compressors, railway compressors, diesel engines, reciprocating
compressors, automotive equipment and new generation light portable
compressors. The R&D team at Elgi was looking out for a solution
that would provide them with significant time advantage in improving
their current product design cycle and enhance accuracy.
The requirement
Elgi Equipments required a 3D design software, which
would enable them to continue using their design data created through
their existing 2D software and at the same time speeding up the product
development processes in an efficient manner. The Autodesk Inventor
Series met the challenge by offering superior performance and uncompromised
compatibility with legacy data created with AutoCAD and Autodesk Mechanical
Desktop.“The market dynamics are changing. Our customers are beginning
to look for products (compressors) with less noise levels, less oil
and pollution, excellent quality and a compact size. Since we design
for the international market we have to adhere to stringent international
standards,” emphasised Jairam Varadaraj, MD, Elgi Equipment.
The solution
In the last few months Elgi Equipment quadrupled
their number of CAD workstations from 15 to 60. Their design team began
using Autodesk Inventor Series for creating new products and innovating
on the existing ones.
The benefits
1.Drawing creations were 20-30 per cent faster
2.The sheet metal design module resolved most of the design problems
and enabled rapid drawing creation. Autodesk Inventor has a Sheet Metal
environment allowing creation of the flat pattern from a folded model,
even one created properly by AutoCAD or another system. This module
also has the pre defined (and customisable) sheet metal styles for material
unfold methods, bend relief and corner parameters. One can now design
sheet metal parts phase-by-phase, flange-by-flange or by extruding special
contours to design for a flat pattern from a form or from both. The
software automatically associates bend allowances based on material
and thickness while providing bend tables that can be customised for
correct flat pattern creations
3. 3D assembly animation capability enables...
....CONTD
