Industry leading Solution helps open doors for small companies

30 June 2006

CDC (CNC Design Consultants), South African supplier of IBM’s range of world-leading PLM solutions, has recently reported a significant increase in the number of CATIA orders from small companies and especially one-man operations. CATIA is the de facto standard CAD/CAM software solution used in the automotive and aerospace industries, and although in the past CATIA was considered a solution that only the larger suppliers and OEMs could afford, today the availability of affordable CATIA V5 solutions means that small suppliers and tool rooms further down the supply chain are able to collaborate – and compete on equal terms - with larger companies.

Above: Quinton Pienaar, managing director of A2Q 3D Scanning Solutions presenting his solutions at an Automotive Roadshow in Malaysia

Quinton Pienaar, managing director of ‘A2Q 3D Scanning Solutions’ and specialist in reverse engineering and rapid prototyping, spent many years working for Lotus in the UK and Malaysia on various vehicle design projects. On his return to South Africa, he perceived a technological gap in the local market. He recognised that many companies in South Africa have unwisely invested in CAD technology that is not capable of certain advanced functionality such as complex surfacing, and the ability to handle large-sized models. Pienaar has been an ardent user of CATIA for many years and is adamant that CATIA’s leading-edge CAD/CAM technology has proven to be the best solution for product design, and in fact is the only software which includes the specific design tools and capabilities needed for large assemblies and complicated surface design.

Pienaar decided to obtain a basic design seat of CATIA V5 – the MD2 configuration, which he realised would allow him to be more competitive. He envisioned using his reverse engineering skills and technologies along with CATIA design functionality to offer a winning combination to the local market. The company has now been operating for one and a half years and although still a new venture, A2Q 3D Scanning Solutions has successfully completed projects for numerous companies including Volkswagen, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, Man Truck and Bus, Metrocas for Toyota, and Techno Plastics.

Above: Reverse Engineer modified dash panel insulator. Left: Scan Data. Right: CATIA Model

A2Q 3D Scanning Solutions specialises in interior and exterior surface design, tool and fixture design, and packaging design, as well as reverse engineering and rapid prototyping. The company has provided product design for car components such as dashboards, engine covers, bumpers, and driver partitions. Recently, Pienaar became an approved supplier to DaimlerChrysler SA, receiving design data directly from them in CATIA format. Pienaar says the first project he completed for DaimlerChrysler was able to fully justify his investment in CATIA V5.

Many products are originally designed on a drawing board and have no electronic data available. When the product needs to be remanufactured, reverse engineering is used to bring existing physical geometry into the digital product-development environment, to make a digital 3D record of the product. Pienaar is able to quickly accomplish this by using his specialised 3D scanning technologies to measure the product, and then swiftly and efficiently redesign it in CATIA.

Above: Reverse Engineering Body side. Left: Curves from scanned data. Right: Surface Creation using CATIA V5

Pienaar explained how automotive suppliers that don’t have CATIA often struggle to open large electronic files and geometric data which are too complex for their CAD systems to handle. In addition, short lead times and unskilled engineers put pressure on suppliers to complete projects within tight deadlines. This has resulted in these companies approaching Pienaar to assist them with design and reverse engineering by using CATIA V5 design functionality.

The ability to work with native CATIA data that is provided directly by customers also contributes to Pienaar’s enhanced efficiency. By using CATIA’s parametric design functionality, new iterations of a part or component can quickly be made as the shape changes and the product evolves.

Above: Reverse Engineer Water Pump Impeller. Left: Scanned impeller. Right: Catia model generated from scan data.

Many small companies have now realised that CATIA not only delivers the functionality needed to offer world-class solutions, but is affordable and provides a high return on investment. Because CATIA is the recognised standard in (amongst many others) the automotive industry, it opens the doors to new business opportunities.

For further information on A2Q 3D Scanning Solutions services Tel: +27 12 9977206 or email: qpienaar@absamail.co.za