We’ve come to the end of the carving knife project on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. With this project, we’ve used tools available in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to process a design change of a carving knife from a corded version to a cordless version. Here is a summary of the tools we used, and how we were able to use them.

This article summarizes what we did using:

• Project Planner
• 3D Product Architect
• 3D Sculptor
• 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS
• Structural Mechanics Engineer
• Plastics Injection Engineer
• Shop Floor Programmer
• Video Recap of the Entire Project

Project Planner

Tracy was able to use the Project Planner role to lay out tasks for each engineer to accomplish. Project Planner allows the tasks to be organized based on date and allows for tracking of resource usage and what is at risk of running late. Each engineer then gets the task listed in their platform and can move it to In Work and Completed to let everyone know how the project is progressing.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 1: Project Planner

3D Product Architect

I used this role to lay out the desired project structure of the knife in a web browser. The role allows existing and new parts to be added to an assembly structure, so that when the assembly is opened in the CAD system, the components are ready for creation or assembly. It allows for the interrogation of assemblies without the need for the parent CAD system.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 2: Organizing a Product Structure 
>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 3: Making Changes in a Connected Space

3D Sculptor

Sarah used xShape in 3D Sculptor to create a new design using subdivision modeling techniques right inside her web browser. This allows for many design iterations to be quickly and easily created and then brought into SOLIDWORKS. Subdivision modeling provides a more robust ability to make changes than traditional surfacing techniques.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 4: Subdivision Modeling with xShape

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS

Wayne was able to use the same SOLIDWORKS tools as desktop SOLIDWORKS in a version of SOLIDWORKS licensed and launched from the platform. It is web-connected from the start. It allows users to quickly open and manipulate designs done in xDesign or xShape and build the manufacturing features around them. Since it is connected to the platform from the beginning, all designs are automatically saved to the platform where every user has access to them.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 5: Working with xShape Data in SOLIDWORKS
>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 6: Design Changes in xShape
>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 7: Handling xShape Changes

Structural Mechanics Engineer

Suman was able to use the Structural Mechanics Engineer role to perform a drop test simulation on the new handle design. These tools, built on the powerful ABAQUS solvers, allow for the accurate solving of highly nonlinear situations found in these impact-type problems. The role also opens up the ability for cloud computing. Studies can be solved on cloud servers in a much faster timeframe than if the same problem were run locally.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 8: 3D Printing from 3DEXPERIENCE
>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 9: Drop Test Simulation

Plastics Injection Engineer

I used this role to perform a mold fill analysis on our handle design. With a few quick steps, guided by an assistant panel, you can set the material, mold parameters and gate location to determine if a part will fill easily in a mold. You can also analyze sink marks and vent locations and make any needed changes before cutting tooling.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 10: Plastic Injection Engineer
>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 11: Mold Design

Shop Floor Programmer

Paul used the Shop Floor Programmer role to write a 3 Axis toolpath on our complex handle insert. The role has 3 axis surface programming along with full machine simulation to allow for quick manufacture of your designs.

This design shows how tightly integrated SOLIDWORKS is with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. We were able to easily accomplish a design change using only tools available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. We took the cordless knife from concept to manufacture and were able to follow the entire process along the way. If you enjoyed this design, please join us for our next series where we will complete and document a design entirely within tools available in a web browser.

>> The Cutting Edge of Design – Part 12: Shop Floor Programmer for CAM

Video Wrap-Up

Watch the video below as we revisit the steps in the process of making this electric carving knife handle!

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