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Rapid Prototyping Industry Leader Finds 3DShare is THE Answer

Kim Peterson

When General Pattern Company, an industry leader in rapid prototyping (RP) and rapid tooling (RT) , won a major contract from a well known Korean auto maker, they discovered a "small" problem with the supplied data; the CAD files provided for the project were formatted in CATIA.

General Pattern operates seats of Pro/ENGINEER from PTC and I-DEAS from SDRC, but the customer was only able o provide CATIA files. From experience, they knew that translating CATIA files into either of the other two CAD/CAM/CAE systems was not an easy or straightforward process. In order to meet the compressed timeframe General Pattern reviewed the following option: invest in new CAD seats of CATIA, invest in standalone translation software, use and outside translation house, or use 3Dshare.com.

General Pattern does not have native CATIA seats and was reluctant to invest. "Investing in the software required, and the delays of an inevitable learning curve was proving just too costly in tmie and dollars, " said Denny Reiland, president of General Patton. "With limited internal options, we decided to explore externally."

The company investigated the possibility of standalone CAD file translation software, and an independent file translation bureau. "Both options would delay the project. It would be days and in some cases weeks before we could have had translated files — any delay was detrimental to the project, " said Reiland.

As luck would have it, General Pattern was approached by team members from Spatial Inc., during the early days of the project. Spatial’s PlanetCAD division was inviting select RP suppliers to participate in a new web-based project for the RP industry called Bits2Parts.com. During the discussions that ensued, General Patten learned about Spatial’s other web-based service, 3Dshare.com. This web site provides fast secure and reliable translation a repair of 3D CAD files through a fully automated, online service. As a web-based ‘application service’ 3Dshare.com is very easy to use, doesn’t require a software download to operate and charges no membership fee—payment is based on a per-use charge correlated with size of 3D CAD file uploaded for processing.. The service is secured with a money-back guarantee and charged are calculated to be about one tenth of the cost of manual file repair. Members on the site quickly upload various formats of CAD models, select the output formats required and wait a short time for the translation. The member is emailed when the translation is complete and can instantly download the file and pay for the translation or repair job. For General Pattern, 3Dshare.com was the solution they’d been looking for.

"Zero up front investment and rapid turnaround. We knew 3Dshare.com was the answer to our needs," said Reiland. "We discovered 3Dshare.com on Wednesday and we were working with translated files on Friday. It provided the perfect solution."

Engineers at General Pattern uploaded 80 CATIA 3D CAD files into 3Dshare.comand received an email 48 hours later informing them that the files had been translated into IGES format and were ready for download. All but two of the files (which were solely 2D drafts) were quickly downloaded and read directly into the company’s Magics from Materialise. This software allows pre-prototyping checking and verification of the CAD designs. Data is then transferred to 3D Systems’ Lightyear software for use in the SLA (stereo lithographic apparatus—a rapid prototyping process) machine.

SLA models created at General Pattern Company

"When you consider all the costs involved in implementing new and complex CAD/CAM/CAE systems. The savings (using 3Dshare.com) could be estimated as high as $125k," said Reiland. "Even more importantly to General Pattern Company, is the time saved. By using 3Dshare.com we completed the project on time and our customer was able to complete CP build weeks ahead of schedule".

General Pattern is an internationally based provided of rapid prototyping and manufacturing services. Headquartered in Minnesota, General Pattern has facilities in Michigan, the UK and Germany. With 200 employees and 16 SLA machines worldwide, the company is a full-service supplier offering SLA models, urethane castings, CAD services, rapid tooling and prototyping, injection molding, structural foam modeling and more. Founded in 1922, General Pattern has developed a leading edge in the rapid adoption of new technology to meet the needs of its customers. The company’s customers are continually driving to explore and improve every aspect of General Pattern’s core competencies, time compression being one of them.

3D Systems' SLA 5000 machine

With a reputation for adopting new technologies to benefit customers, General Pattern maintains a growing interest in emerging Internet services for business. The company’s experience with 3Dshare.com was beneficial in meeting a critical need, without costly investments in software and time. General Pattern is looking forward to further services the Internet may bring, with a special interest in Bits2Parts.com—a service due to be launched mid-2000 enabling the management, origination and submission of requests for quotation between RP suppliers and manufacturers requiring RP services.

"3Dshare.com exceeded our expectations and was an excellent experience in our first strategic use of the Internet as a business tool. The Internet services such as 3Dshare.com and Bits2Parts.com are arriving exactly at the right time for us," Reiland said. "The Internet is changing the way everyone does business and we wish to be involved in ongoing Internet endevors. However, we will be vigilant in ensuring that a business-to-business e-commerce site enhances our business and enhances our quality and performance".

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