Stealing the Thunder

SolidWorks Custom Chopper the Hit of the Show, a report from SolidWorks World 2005

by Roopinder Tara, Editor, TenLinks, March 6, 2005

The star of the 2005 SolidWorks annual user conference was not software. It was hardware. But not computer hardware. It considerably louder and flashier: a radically designed chopper custom made for SolidWorks by Orange County Choppers.

(click for larger picture)
The SolidWorks chopper, custom designed by Orange County Chopper. The bike generates up to 135 horsepower. Conception to build finish was about 3 months.

CEO John McEleney rode it onto center stage at SolidWorks World 2005, an entrance clearly appreciated by those in attendance. On hand were the Teutuls, stars of the Discovery Channel’s top rated show, “American Chopper.”

Red is Bad, Blue is Good

What’s the connection to SolidWorks, you might wonder? It turns out that the software is now in use at OCC. According to a SolidWorks official, SolidWorks design and analysis software was used on several key components. “OCC was trained on using SolidWorks and how to operate a CNC vertical machining center,” says Chris Salmers, Solution Partner Development Manager at SolidWorks. “OCC machined the custom billet 6061T6 rigid swingarm and machined the rims as well for the bike. This bike is very unique in the fact that the back part of the bike frame was basically ‘cut off’, and a new mounting system was engineered to accept the radical rigid aluminum swingarm design. Other parts where SolidWorks was utilized to design components were: primary drive cover, headlight mount, special swingarm mounting bolts and handlebars.”

The use of software greatly expedited the design process at OCC, according to Salmers. “When custom rims were being outsourced, OCC could wait up to 7 - 8 weeks for delivery. Now OCC can design a rim in the morning and cut it in the afternoon! Talk about removing the bottle neck!”

COSMOS, SolidWorks analysis software, was used in validating the wheel design. Asked onstage about what he learned about finite element analysis during the design of the bike, the senior Tuetul replied, “Red is bad and blue is good.”

One look at the radical-looking wheels would have the more conservative among us demanding to see the stress plots. But not to worry: the chopper—created sans minor details like a speedometer, turn signals, license plate holder, etc.—is not likely to see street use. Instead, it will be a feature at tradeshows (it drew throngs while on display at this one) and will also be on display at SolidWorks corporate headquarters.

John McEleney, SolidWorks CEO, is counting on the marketing value of the company's newly acquired chopper

How Much?

If you have to ask, you can’t afford it. I did, anyway but an exact cost of the chopper was not forthcoming. However, a knowledgeable source placed the cost between $50,000 and $100,000. I couldn’t resist asking John McEleney if SolidWorks was making too much money. CEO McEleney, once head of SolidWorks marketing, was quick to explain the bike’s value. “The buzz created by this is worth way more to us than what we paid,” said McEleney.

The Teutuls exited the stage to a standing ovation and applause nearly as loud as the machine they had created. By comparison, a preview of SolidWorks 2006, shown a few days later, got a good but decidedly less enthusiastic response.

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