Time savings 3D Cad Designs VS Hand drawings 30

[designmr]

Does anyone know what percentage in time a design is reduced in hours based on design being done using a 3D Cad system (Solidworks)? Instead of hand drawings.

Need some numbers to help justify purchasing software for company.

Thanks, in advanced.

 

[ArtL]

Designmr: I know the design time is improved by a big percentage, but do not know what the verified by timeing is. I feel also the accuracy of your design improves by Designing in 3D, Plus being parametric, any adjustments that need to be made are Really easy.When I bought Solid Works I also signed up for the instruction (begining)Classes.I found out that the way you design with AutoCad, for example, is quite different, due to the parametric abitities of Solid Works.You will find that getting used to a "new" way of doing anything does have some lead time to get up to your capabilitys with the new system. I found out that just "un learning" AutoCad and adapting to the new system was best for reducing your lead time to maximum efficency. Wish you luck and good salesmanship of SolidWorks.

 

[JMirisola]

How does one go about quantifying that? The amount of time saved will depend on the complexity of the design, the skill of the drafter (hand or software), the level of detail needed.
I would say that if you're still doing things by hand, you're losing money compared to using software. Your best bet is to go to the SolidWorks website and look at all the various success stories.

Jeff Mirisola
Director of Engineering
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[TheTick]

Be sure to factor in time lost due to sabotage by Luddites.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/roi/

See 4th paragraph at

http://www.solidworks.com/sw/why-solidworks/solidworks-productivity.htm

http://www.solidworks.com/sw/images/content/Other/ROI_Report_SolidWorks_2006.pdf

The biggest "trick" in implementing a CAD system is getting the users enthused with the idea, or even just accepting of the need.

 

[designmr]

thanks for the replies people. I've used 3D software for years, after starting off on the board I know personally how much time I can save. But when you have to show the upper management that have never did this kind of work, they usually want graphs and something in writing. I am Googling to see, but that is time consuming, thanks again.

 

[DiegoLGraves]

Check with your reseller. They'll have charts and graphs and stats and other high quality bs.

 

[ctopher]

I looked at the thread date, at first I thought it was from the 90s.
lol

Have your management look at what your customers are using. If they are still on the board, then maybe you're OK.
I don't know of too many companies that are still doing hand drawings.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[MadMango]

Several past posting on this...
thread559-182676
thread559-23721
thread559-15674
thread559-67503
thread559-68203
thread559-89783
thread559-195682

Ben sure to take into consideration the potential cost of new hardware as well.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[designmr]

Again great replies people. You are right you would think all companies (epecially large ones) should have some kind of knowledge already about cost, but no, not this one.

Appreciate the replies as always.

 

[TheTick]

How much time will you save by not having to go back to 1975 every time you need to make a part?

 

[Updraft]

And. . . what is the cost of the 1.21 GW to power the flux capacitor to help you get there?

- - -Updraft

 

[designmr]

I did board drawings when I first started, I remember how long it took just to move a view to make room for another view, or adding one note between a long list of notes. Alot of erasing and re-drawing, then if you did it in ink, UGH. Some take it for granted, I surely do not...

 

[fcsuper]

It's also not about how long it takes to make hand drawings. The maintenance is much higher. Instead of printing and email from practically anyway, your staff will always be cursed with having to find the real file and *MAIL* copies to vendors and customers. I would think the labor of doing that for just one time with one project more than covers the cost of the original purchase cost and yearly subscription.

Matt Lorono, CSWP
Product Definition Specialist, DS SolidWorks Corp
Personal sites:
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

 

[drawoh]

Does anyone know what percentage in time a design is reduced in hours based on design being done using a 3D Cad system (Solidworks)? Instead of hand drawings.

Most of my design time is spent starting at the drafting board or computer screen. 3D CAD will not save much of this. This is a dangerous discussion that will end by making you look like an idiot.

The advantage of 3D CAD is quality. You have way more effective communications with co-workers about what you are doing. You have better communications with your sales departments, your customers, and your fabricators.

In the end, if your 3D CAD is implemented intelligently, you will get to easily re-use existing designs, and then you will have time.

Where do you go to find people who can work on a drafting board?

JHG

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

drawoh,

People close to retiring would be a good source for drafting board types, but I doubt many would even contemplate going back. I had a great time while on the board, but after being spoiled by 3D modelling, I could not do it again. I just wouldn't have the patience.

 

[rollupswx]

I don't have any statistics for you other than nearly every college or university program that I am aware of made this switch (for good) towards the end of the last century after experimenting with dual enviroments for 15 years or so.

At the time many argued that you couldn't teach the basics on CAD that the drawing board was required. Pure nonsense. In any case the customers determined the final outcome. Any reputable program switched to CAD.

Now the fight is to make the final push to 3D-to-2D as the default design practice. (as opposed to using 2D CAD as an electronic drafting board) With the advances in simulation and analysis along with CNC CAD/CAM, in addition to the obvious vizualization benefits - many are using 3D as an engineering analysis and documentation tool. Digital prototyping.

 

[ctopher]

I also found this:

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?13604-CAD-system

The biggest advantage of CAD is time saving.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[Updraft]

Speaking of not going back to the board, I wouldn't go back to 2D CAD! I worked for a consulting firm in 1998 and had a customer that wanted the "work done in ACAD." I shot him a price for that and then shot him a much lower one where only the deliverable was DWG files. He asked what the difference was and I explained to him the benefit of doing the work in SWX vs. 2D and that I could still save the drawings in a format he could use. He was thrilled and even looked into buying SWX for his firm.

The ability to rapidly develop a design in parametric 3D systems blows the doors off trying to design using anything less. From an assembly you can edit a part to get the design to do what you want. If you really know what you are doing then generating a good drawing is incredibly fast, plus you never have to worry about the accuracy of the object lines. Making sections, alternate views, showing/not showing hidden lines in a drawing, etc. is so easy.

The current job I have I got partly because of eDrawings! I was able to show how easy it is to communicate with others with this simple and free 3D tool. They hired me as the director of engineering when they were originally just looking for a mid-level design engineer. My first assignment was to buy four seats of SWX. Three months later the tightwad owner said we had already exceeded his expectations with what we were able to do with it. THAT is quite a testimonial!

- - -Updraft

- - -Updraft

 

[drawoh]

People close to retiring would be a good source for drafting board types, but I doubt many would even contemplate going back. I had a great time while on the board, but after being spoiled by 3D modelling, I could not do it again. I just wouldn't have the patience.

I would find it fun. The only downside I could see would be explaining to people why management wants to maintain the old pencil on paper drawings. Finding a blueprint machine could be fun. Ammonia is now classified as hazardous.

JHG