In the early stages of a new design project, you need to decide whether to use traditional 2D drafting or 3D modelling to capture your design. It is a common misconception that 3D modelling is more expensive, and is therefore overlooked in many cases.
There will always be cases where a quick 2D sketch will be quicker and therefore cheaper to produce, but these instances will be offset considerably by the benefits gained from using 3D modelling for all of your engineering.
In this article, I will highlight some of the main benefits of using 3D modelling and how they can ultimately affect your bottom line.
Multiple Formats
Most of the 3D packages available today allow you to save details in both drawing and model formats. This means that if you have an existing drawing system that is based around Autodesk AutoCAD drawings for example, you can design using Autodesk Inventor, and create AutoCAD versions for the system. There are free viewers from all of the larger 3D modelling companies also, so your employees can still have access to any new designs, without having the expense of buying and maintaining software licenses that they do not need.
Quicker drawing creation and edits
Creating a 2D drawing from a 3D model is extremely easy. Once you have the part finished, you just choose a view you would like to show, and the software creates it. This is in comparison to traditional 2D drawing, where each individual view needs to be drawn separately.
Updating or modifying a design is also much quicker using a 3D package. If you need to change the profile of a beam for example, you just update the part profile, then it will automatically update all instances of this beam in the overall design. There is no need to go through and delete and replace lines one by one in all of your drawings.
Easier design checking
The further along a project goes, the more expensive making changes become. That is why so much emphasis should be put on front end loading so you can minimise the risk of needing design changes. One of the most important benefits of using a 3D design package is that any clashes can be identified quickly and resolved. This is much more difficult if only drawing in 2 dimensions. It is also possible to check clearances for installation. For example, you may need to install a chute in a building, but there are a number of passageways you need to pass through before reaching the final installation position. With a 3D model, you can actually pass through all of these areas and check clearances before anything is even built. This technique not only allows the designer to be confident that the new chute will be able to be installed as designed, but it also allows the installers to see how the parts fit together and how they need to install the different items. A large cost saving can be generated at this stage as once you find an issue such as this on site, you have a full crew of people standing around getting paid whilst a solution is being sought.
Better visualisation of designs
This one is pretty self explanatory - it is much easier to see a new design when it is a 3D model and you can rotate and view from every angle, when compared to 2D isometrics. Whilst any good engineer can get a good feel of a design from 2D drawings, it is very handy when trying to get some capital approved when you can show a non - technical manager what you are planning on doing and they can understand it straight away. This advantage in itself can sometimes be the difference of a project getting the go ahead or not!
This is just a few examples, but certainly these are some things you need to be thinking of when deciding whether or not to go for 3D modelling on your next project.
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