October 2008
Aftermarket auto transmission components manufacturer Sonnax has standardized on SolidWorks 3D CAD software to re-engineer worn out parts so they are as good or better than the original, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corp. (DS SolidWorks) announced.
Using SolidWorks, Sonnax engineers have become more productive and more creative in their design approaches than with 2D software.
Since 1978, Vermont-based Sonnax has been designing, manufacturing, and distributing replacement components for automatic transmissions, torque converters, drive shafts and related products worldwide for the passenger vehicle, racing and heavy-duty vehicle markets.
Precision and durability are critical as its parts are used in rebuilt transmissions which often carry 100,000 mile warranties.
"We get worn out parts that we reverse engineer to find out where the part failed," said Steve McAllister, a technical group manager in engineering at Sonnax. "SolidWorks lets us identify the original failure point and design it right out of the product."
Sonnax engineers need to study every design aspect of a city bus drive shaft, for example, to make sure that the replacement part will last. Because the bus travels hundreds of miles every week, durability is critical.
Sonnax engineers have to collaborate closely with part suppliers since many aftermarket parts are custom designed to a specific vehicle. "There's a lot of back and forth in the design stage to meet customer demand," said McAllister.
"SolidWorks substantially cut the time for modifying the designs based on supplier feedback from when we had to change multiple AutoCAD drawings. That helps us deliver products faster."
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