Datasheet

3D moDels vs. 3D vIrtUal PrototyPes
|
29
have individual parts. All these components are constrained in such a way that the fit and func-
tionality of all parts and mechanisms can be visualized, tested, and proven before any parts are
manufactured. Scrap and rework are minimized or eliminated if the design is fully completed
and proven in Inventor before it ever reaches the shop floor.
Why a 3D Virtual Prototype?
Historically actual prototypes have been built to test or validate a design, and help discover
weaknesses, limits of functionality, or areas that require a redesign due to an inability to manu-
facture cost effectively. Although the goal of prototyping is to perfect the design and save time
and money associated with a failed design that reaches the market, the prototyping process
itself can become costly and time consuming as well. In days past, prototyping was often the
only way to know for certain if a design that was conceived and detailed on paper or in 2D CAD
would really work. Even the best engineer or designer could not anticipate everything needed
to create an accurate design the first time around. As mistakes were made, scrap was generated,
and redesign and retooling was required.
Fe w e r ph y s i c a l pr o t o t y p e s
Although you may never be able to go straight from Inventor to your first article design, you can
use Inventor to reduce the number of physical prototypes needed to get there. More and more,
creating physical prototype after physical prototype is becoming a part of “the old way” of doing
things. It worked when you produced a small number of product units and had plenty of time
and resources to lend to the project. It worked when material costs were relatively low. And it
worked because it was the only method of testing and proving a design available.
In contrast, today’s competitive marketplace is unlikely to afford you the luxuries of time
and materials for repeatedly building physical prototypes, and you are expected to get a large
portion of any design right the first time around. Clearly, anything that can be done to reduce
or eliminate physical prototyping will greatly influence the financial health and competitive
strengths of the company you work for. This is where creating a 3D virtual prototype becomes
important.
us i n g al l t h e to o l s
Making the virtual prototype allows the designer to explore the function of a mechanism before
lengthy design and engineering time is expended on a design that just won’t work. Developing
the virtual prototype eliminates the part procurement and creation process, slashing the design
time even further. The virtual prototype can be proven further with the use of stress analysis
and dynamic motion simulation to find and correct weaknesses in the design, rather than just
ensuring that everything is overbuilt and calling it a good design. Interference between compo-
nents is also easily discovered while still in the design process. The use of functional design in
the prototyping process allows engineers to properly determine loads, power, stresses, inertia,
and other properties before a machine is built. Weights, center of gravity, and other physical
characteristics are at your fingertips during any stage of the design.
mo r e th a n Ju s t 3D
So now that you have Inventor you are guaranteed to cut time and money from the design pro-
cess, right? Unfortunately that’s not the case. Over the years, as design tools have evolved, so
882870c01.indd 29 7/8/10 1:12:00 PM