energizing product design with SolidWorks and AMD

Developing innovative, high-quality products faster and more cost-effectively is the key to success in today’s increasingly competitive global market. Small- and medium-sized manufacturers typically do not have either the time or resources to invest in the costly product development platforms used by large multinational corporations. Yet these companies still need access to similarly robust 3D product design technologies and computing systems in order to compete successfully.

The combination of SolidWorks 3D CAD software and computer workstations running AMD64 compatible processors brings the performance benefits of fast, cost-effective 3D product design to mainstream manufacturers. Moving from traditional 2D development platforms to 3D product design does not have to be painful or costly. SolidWorks 3D software produces proven benefits resulting in immediate returns, and AMD64 compatible processors provide performance and architectural benefits that help extend the life of your technology investment. With SolidWorks and AMD, you can help energize product design just like the company featured here.

The challenge:

To fulfill its mission of making good wheelchairs for people in developing countries, Whirlwind needed a development platform that supported its unique and unconventional design requirements. The organization works with partners in developing countries whose level of computer, engineering, and manufacturing expertise varies greatly. Whirlwind needed a design system that could quickly adapt wheelchair designs to different manufacturing and production capabilities and limitations, as well as utilize a diverse set of available components. The development system also had to have easy, universally comprehensible communications methods for interacting with partners with dissimilar backgrounds and ranges of manufacturing experience.

The solution:

After evaluating several different design systems—including AutoCAD, 3D Studio MAX,® Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks, Vellum 3D, and Adobe® Illustrator®—Whirlwind selected SolidWorks software and a computer utilizing an AMD Athlon™ 64 3500+ processor. According to designer Christopher Howard, the organization selected SolidWorks software because of its ease of use, design configuration capabilities, versatile drawing templates, and universally available eDrawings design communications software. Whirlwind chose an AMD 64-bit compatible processor because of its performance, value, and 64-bit architecture. “SolidWorks gave us the most flexibility for customizing wheelchair designs,” Howard says. “AMD had the only 64-bit processor available at the time.”

The results:

By implementing a SolidWorks and AMD processor-based solution, Whirlwind is saving time and money and communicating more effectively. Since switching to SolidWorks software, the organization has reduced the time needed to customize wheelchair designs by 50 percent; has accelerated its rate of production in the developing world; has been able to make faster, more reliable design modifications; and has improved the frequency and effectiveness of wheelchair design communication with its international partners.

“The SolidWorks 3D CAD system enables us to save so much time because we are able to use the software’s design configurations capabilities to build design differentials into our wheelchair designs,” Howard explains. “Production processes and parts availability vary widely. For example, in some countries we can use radial bearings, while in other places only bicycle or sleeve bearings are available. SolidWorks gives us the ability to make these types of changes quickly and easily, which is why we can complete a design in weeks instead of months. We also use a customized drawing template we developed and eDrawings, which are free and easily available, to share wheelchair designs with our many manufacturing partners.”

Howard adds that the AMD 64-bit platform was important for supporting Whirlwind’s eventual move to the upcoming Microsoft® Windows Vista™ 64-bit operating system.

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Reduced customization time and design cycles by 50 percent
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Accelerated rate of production in developing countries
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Realized faster, more reliable design changes
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Improved communications with international partners

optimize product development with SolidWorks and AMD

Succeeding in today’s business environment requires small- and medium-sized manufacturers to develop higher quality and more innovative products faster and more cost-effectively than the competition. How manufacturers go about pursuing those goals can often mean the difference between success and failure. Whether you are developing products, manufacturing systems, or individual components, your business will benefit if you can accelerate time to market, compress design cycles, slash development costs, improve product quality, and increase innovation.

Manufacturers of all sizes around the world are using the combination of SolidWorks 3D CAD software and computer workstations running AMD64 compatible processors to do just that. A SolidWorks and AMD processor-based solution provides the capabilities, compatibility, performance, and value today’s manufacturers need to outpace the competition and succeed in the global marketplace. For more information on how SolidWorks and AMD can optimize your product development efforts, visit www.solidworks.com or www.amd.com today.

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