{"id":3137,"date":"2015-06-29T14:51:59","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T13:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/?p=3137"},"modified":"2015-11-03T15:30:38","modified_gmt":"2015-11-03T15:30:38","slug":"drawingless-or-paperless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/2015\/06\/drawingless-or-paperless\/","title":{"rendered":"Drawingless or Paperless?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With the launch of SOLIDWORKS Model-Based Definition (MBD) 2015,\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0heard lots of enthusiastic feedback from multiple job functions\u00a0across the entire production cycle.<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

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For example, a manufacturing engineer pointed out: \u201cI see MBD as a Poka-yoke [a.k.a. mistake proofing] opportunity in the elimination of 2D files by using the native model. I currently have an issue where I need to update over 200 drawings for tooling. Implementation of SOLIDWORKS MBD would have saved considerable time and expense.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A test engineer is even more excited: \u201cJust having the 3D PDF, manufacturing can identify issues. And the ability to add comments is huge. I wish we had this tool 20 years ago\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

So is a supplier: \u201cThe ability of identifying issues with drawing clarification and increasing efficiency on our end is huge. The ability to have a single container that holds all the part information can be a real-world time saver.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

There are also concerns. A major one is that shop floor\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0have computers to view digital models and dimensions. When asked about the challenges towards SOLIDWORKS MBD, several customers listed: \u201cCosts of implementing hardware (workstations for 3D visualization) at the shop floor<\/em>.\u201d Or \u201cIn a dirty metal working environment, it\u2019s challenging to use computer equipment rather than easily reprinted paper copies.\u201d Or \u201cLack of data access on factory floor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Aha! If this is your concern too, you can now relax. Here let\u2019s clarify two concepts: Drawingless<\/strong> talks about presentation style: 3D<\/strong>, not 2D; Paperless<\/strong> specifies communication media: d<\/strong>igital<\/strong>, not paper-based. They are related, but totally different.<\/p>\n

Drawingless<\/strong> is what SOLIDWORKS MBD (Figure 1) is trying to help with: bypass 2D drawings by directly defining, organizing, and publishing dimensions, tolerances, surface finishes and other Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) in 3D. It represents a natural step in the continuous manufacturing upgrade from 2D to 3D. I said \u201cnatural\u201d because most of us have thought about defining 3D PMI, haven\u2019t we? A recent survey indicated that more than 2\/3 of SOLIDWORKS users have considered it because it\u2019s a very logical step forward. The mainstream engineering community has been designing in 3D for over 20 years. But why do we have to always come down to 2D drawings? Why can\u2019t we convey PMI directly in 3D? This is the essence of drawingless<\/strong> and it\u2019s not a stranger to us.<\/p>\n

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Figure 1: SOLIDWORKS MBD: a drawingless manufacturing solution<\/em><\/p>\n

Drawingless\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0mean paperless. Quite contrarily, often times, we do need paper documents instead of computer equipment, as pointed out by the above customers, in a dirty metal working environment, on a greasy\u00a0shop floor, in a narrow gas turbine chamber, or at an extremely cold installation site with hands in thick gloves (like in the snowy and gusty Boston this winter). SOLIDWORKS MBD recognizes this need and supports different paper sizes and orientations as shown in Figure 2.<\/p>\n

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Figure 2: SOLIDWORKS MBD 3D PDF Page Setup<\/em><\/p>\n

So, of course, we can print out our designs for different jobs if needed. Figure 3 shows what I have printed. It illustrates design in 3D (intuitive and integrated) and bypasses 2D drawings.<\/p>\n

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Figure 3: Paper printout from SOLIDWORKS MBD 3D PDF<\/em><\/p>\n

Actually, according to Dr. Prashant Kulkarni, paper drawing on demand is what GE Power and Water did with its MBD implementation, or in their words, \u201cPseudo drawing\u201d to aid transition and accommodate downstream consumers such as engineering and manufacturing, where needed.<\/p>\n

This \u201cPseudo drawing\u201d is not strictly traditional 2D drawings. Here is how it works:<\/p>\n