By High Performing Design Engineer 3274
Autodesk Inventor is a 3D engineering design and digital prototyping package. It provides a vast array of tools, aiding the design engineer to perform a multitude of tasks. Typical functions include:
· Sheetmetal design
· Solid part modelling
· Surface modelling
· Frame generation
· Cable & harness design
· Stress analysis & dynamic simulation
· Photo realistic rendering and animation
· Tube & pipe design and routing
The software also includes functionality to aid in the design of belts, pulleys, sprockets, bolted connections and shafts. Design calculations can be traced to first principles within the software for validation and proofing.
Manufacturing drawings can be created and annotated with extreme ease, and automatically updated as your 3D parts or assemblies change. BOM lists can link with assemblies through “smart properties” for process streamlining.
As the data created is “real geometry”, it can be used to directly control your manufacturing processes. Cutting, punching, folding, milling, routing, tube bending, plastic processing and almost any automated routine can now directly interface with an Inventor model.
The benefits of this include reduced time to manufacture with minimised error potential, reduced setup and process time, and less manual instruction transmission. Repetition and design update times are removed by the single source of data.
Legacy data can easily be imported, retaining existing design work. If suppliers or contractors need the old formats, exporting is simple and can regenerate as your parts change.
As with any complex software package, there is a premium to pay. This initial expenditure is easily shadowed by the manufacturing benefits, but there are additional costs to consider. Implementation and setup of the system can be a difficult process, and is not suited to beginners or standard users.
Consultancy firms are often used for this, but at costs exceeding several hundred pounds per day. This may take weeks to complete, and is an expensive outlay. To use a third party trainer to bring staff up to a professional level could cost £5k per user. Add to this the need for an initial dip in productivity while the system comes up to speed, and the goal can start to look a little less attainable.
An intelligent solution is to employ an expert user capable of performing setup, configuration and training exercises. He or she will also be able to build the library and templates required for the company, allowing other users to transfer onto the system at a gradual rate. This will minimise or eliminate the drop in productivity.
In addition to all this, an expert user can provide ongoing cost savings. As he/she maintains knowledge of developments within the software, it is possible to plan for improvements and upgrades as they come. This allows utilisation of new features as they are released, bringing improvements to your company at the fastest rate possible.
As a specialist, an expert user can also provide higher level services than the standard user. These functions would allow better interfacing with ERP and data management, and utilisation of otherwise hidden or unknown features.
Acquiring an Autodesk Inventor “expert” can unlock the potential of the world’s premier engineering design tools.
Is your company looking for a high performing senior design engineer or know someone who is?
This 27 year old has designed and developed his group's most successful range of Close Control AHUs offering less energy use and less foot print. And he introduced into the company and is one of the UK’s most proficient users of the Autodesk Inventor Professional System.
Promoted twice within his current company and currently managing up to 10 engineers he has demonstrated good management skills and real innovation combined with sound business acumen.
He is looking for a new challenge either within areas he knows such as humidity control, air conditioning or air handling or a new area within HVAC and is prepared to move from his West Midlands base.
If you would like more information or have an opportunity in this or any area of HVAC please let us know. We reference check the performance of all candidates before putting them forward. Contact me for further information.
