3D Modeling Accelerates Time to Market

Moose:

I couldn't agree more!

Been using 3D CAD for over 10 years now, and would never give it up. It used to be that the first physical prototype of a new design was a throwaway, whose only purpose was to find all the mistakes! Even if the 3D takes longer initially, it typically eliminates that whole time consuming and expensive part of the product development cycle. And now the 3D packages are at a point (especially using libraries, and/or vendor supplied 3D files of their products) where you can often produce the prints themselves significantly quicker so its win win.

Legacy stuff is a whole other issue, and typically is only worth converting to 3D as necessary and worthwhile. In most companies legacy drawings can be the proverbial can of worms the further back you go. The main objective is to create all new products and parts in 3D.

Regards,

Greg

I dream of having 99 days to develop a product, we make customs & often have less than 90 days from conception to delivery but 3D certainly helps.

In the same vein, the cheap rapid prototyping system recently unveiled (sorry, don't have a link handy) could make non-virtual physical assemblies cheap enough to play with for presentations and training.

What I really need right now, however, is advice on a relatively inexpensive CAD-enabled mill/lathe machine that can handle smallish sized parts (no more than 38cm long, 30cm wide) in aluminum and bronze.

I have no experience with any of the smaller systems, and while I don't want junk, I don't need to spend a zillion dollars either.

Any recommendations?

3D is also now hugely useful in preparing patent applications. I am a patent agent, and I have any client who has their product in 3D (SW, ProE, AI) give me the file. MAJOR help in understanding the invention, and all of the patent drawings can be pulled straight out of the model. Saves time and $$$. Plus my competition - mostly patent attorneys - don't seem to be able to do this. (LOL)

Further details - see article at http://www.ipfrontline.com/depts/article.asp?id=12228&deptid=2