Solid Modeling Implementation: Preparation Tips

Don LaCourse, 3DCADTips.com
December 17, 2004
reprinted by permission from

So you're going to be implementing a new solid modeling application and you’re a little unsure of what exactly is involved, what to expect and most importantly, what to do to get your company ready. Here are some tips to consider that just might make the task a bit more palatable. You can get more tips in this series at www.3DCADTips.com.

• Get your company ready
  Plan to pay up front. The best way to ensure an efficient move to 3D modeling is to invest heavily in the acquisition and implementation planning stages. Be prepared to continuously market and justify front-end project expenses. You will need to assess your design needs and current computing resources, evaluate available 3D modeling software packages, and schedule implementation.

• Selecting 3D CAD software
  Before you purchase any 3D CAD software, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What type of parts do you make (injection molded, machined, cast, etc.)?
   Does your company plan to use the 3D model design for downstream processes? If so, which processes?

2. Does the software under consideration support all required engineering design and analysis functions?

3. What level of accuracy does your company require? Determine the level of accuracy (third order or above) in the wire frame, surface, and solid geometry needed to produce your designs. Find out if the software under consideration supports this level of accuracy.

4. How will you maintain your existing designs (legacy data)?

5. Will your existing staff be sufficient to support the new software and hardware?

6. What is the cost per seat?

7. How long before your current personnel become productive with 3D modeling software?

8. Will the software purchase require your company to purchase new hardware?

9. What hardware is needed? Be careful! The cost per 3D modeling workstation can be very misleading. Most software is packaged in some modular fashion. When you compare software costs, be sure to compare apples to apples.

10. One of the most telling ways to compare software is through benchmarks. Asking several software vendors to run a benchmark can better determine which product has features most applicable to your type of work.
    
    Exercise caution when you define which 3D modeling products to benchmark. Some vendors may attempt to limit benchmarks to their most robust software. The benchmark should simulate a real-life implementation of the software you intent to purchase.

• Enlist experts
  To effectively evaluate implementation needs; you should enlist an expert or group of experts to perform a needs and productivity analysis. The analysis team should have:

1. Experience with implementing current computer systems

2. Experience and knowledge of currently available software and hardware

3. Objectivity - office politics sometimes clouds the vision of internal evaluators

• Early users
  Early users should believe in the 3D modeling system and have patience while you weed out implementation bugs. They should be creative risk-takers who are receptive to learning new systems. Their enthusiasm will spread to other employees and help break down resistance.

About the Author

Don LaCourse is Editor and Founder of 3DCADTips.com, Principal Partner of eDocHelp, and Contributing Editor for Cadalyst Magazine. Don has over 25 years of experience in design, documentation and writing about CAD/CAM/CAE issues.

3DCADTips.com is a free, independent and objective information resource for 3D CAD users, administrators, and managers developed exclusively by eDocHelp and in partnership with Cadalyst Magazine, TenLinks.com and many other 3D CAD sites.

Its goal is simple but challenging - to continuously provide a wide range of valuable tips on 3D CAD, CAM and CAE and to bring all application tips on the web under one roof where they can be contents, indexed, searched and browsed by you.

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