Creo Customer: Designing Machines that Make Machines

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: JUN 8, 2012

When it comes to assembly line manufacturing, efficiency is everything. Even a one-second time delay on any portion of an assembly can mean hours in wasted time. But, once you’ve planned the process for the assembly line, where do you even start to design? At their simplest, here are a couple of points that designers consider when designing.

First, they rely on existing technology and integrate it into the design.

Like the robotic arm in this video, other companies already have the corner on this market. They have the science down and produce these robots far cheaper than it would be to design and build one from scratch. So companies, like JR Automation, just purchase the robotics from a company whose sole business is manufacturing robots. The same goes for other hydraulic or pneumatic components. Using what’s available and reliable produces a solid, cost-effective design.

Second, they rely on robust design.

Design the item for how it will be misused rather than used. In other words, the components should not simply withstand the stress and strain they encounter, but must be robust enough to handle forces in excess of the design requirements. Factors of safety for manufacturing equipment often exceed this rule, and could handle twice the amount of force required to get the job done. Companies like a solid product that lasts a long time with nominal repairs.

Check out this episode of the Product Design Show where Allison and Vince explain how JR Automation used Creo to design an assembly line that manufactures coolant reservoirs for car radiators.

Creo Customer: Designing the Ultimate Strollers

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: JUN 20, 2012

The BABYZEN YOYO™ stroller is pure revolution to any parent who’s battled with airport security and a toddler at the same time. Hold, unfold, and bolt… to your gate.

The BABYZEN™ brand is the brainchild of French designer Jean-Michel Chaudeurge together with his son Julien. Jean-Michel created both a luxurious and stylish three-wheel stroller that was also compact and folded up easily. When the ZEN™ stroller hit the scene in 2010, it was an immediate hit, winning the Innovation Award at the Kind & Jugend fair in Cologne in 2010.

Then the team was joined by Gilles Henry, who had created another very innovative concept that was the perfect candidate to become the ZEN’s little brother: the BABYZEN YOYO™.

The YOYO™ folds up so small (20x17x7 inches) that it is the first stroller to qualify as a carry-on. At 12 pounds, you can sling it over your shoulder. And you don’t detach anything. The seat and wheels fold in, and then the stroller unfolds single-handedly.  This means no more stroller Tetris for the trunk and no more waiting for your stroller at the airport.

BABYZEN™ worked with French engineering firm SCALEA Innovation, who used Creo 1.0 to design and bring the YOYO™ stroller to market. In January 2010, the YOYO™ concept was in its infancy. Stephane Broyer, Director of SCALEA Innovation, recounts part of the design process with PTC products:

“For the BABYZEN YOYO™ project, we made an extensive use of the AAX module, from the initial concept to the detailed design of every technical feature and every part. We liked its flexibility for creating and modifying the components. It was a significant time saver and allowed us to start production less than one year after the initial “go” for the design.”

For SCALEA, Creo was an integral part in creating and testing this high-end stroller. This July, the YOYO™ debuts in Europe. The ZEN™ is already sold in North America.

Microsoft Surface: Innovation in Design, Engineering, and Manufacture

By GEOFF HEDGES | Published: JUN 20, 2012

With the unveiling on Monday of Microsoft’s new Surface tablet computer, the company is challenging Apple’s iPad – and its own PC hardware partners.

The 10.6-inch Surface tablet, boasts covers that double as keyboards and trackpads, taking it beyond today’s tablets. Including the soon-to-launched Windows 8 operating systemthere’s some remarkable design and engineering evident in the device, best marrying software and hardware.

The Microsoft Surface even uses a new manufacturing process—VaporMg—that reduces weight while keeping strength. That process results in a built-in kickstand, invisible when using the product in tablet mode. It may seem obvious, but it’s innovative and easy. The same happen for the cover, it becomes a keyboard—with its own design breakthroughs. And again with the combination of multi-touch and pressure sensitive pen technology – there are dozens of breakthroughs not found in any tablet or computer today.

Go to timestamp 28:40 to hear Panos Panay, leader of the team that created the Microsoft Surface, talk about the design, engineering, and manufacturing of this new innovation.

Microsoft is no stranger to the hardware market. Its Xbox and Kinect devices (both designed in Creo) have become hugely popular living-room devices for gaming and much more.

And as you appreciate the styling and design of this tablet, one final point- Creo was used for the mechanical design aspects of this new generation of tablet.

Creo Customer: Demolition for the Safety-Conscious

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: APR 25, 2012

It’s like a chainsaw. But it’s not a chainsaw. It’s an Allsaw? Chainsaws are notoriously the most dangerous hand tool you can purchase without a license. In the U.S. they cause over 40,000 injuries a year.

But there’s a new saw that should save a few body parts: the Petrol Allsaw, invented by Kevin Inkster of Arbortech.

Kevin initially got the idea for a safer saw after his own near miss with a chainsaw while logging. Additionally, he wanted a saw that didn’t become dirt-clogged when going after the “best bits” of a tree for woodworking – the trunk and roots.

His award-winning Allsaw accomplished both his goals for safety and quality.

The Petrol Allsaw is a chain saw and a disc cutter rolled into one, only safer and more versatile than both. The Allsaw’s patented dual blade orbital cutting action combined with a high velocity hammering action means it can cut easily through bricks, wood (especially underground pieces) or cement, but not so easily through human flesh.

Arbortech designed the blades so that there is no exposed cutting edge on the top of the blade, so there is virtually no risk to the user from “kick back” or accidentally falling on the blade. Another design advantage is that the Allsaw doesn’t rely on the sharpness of the blades (although it can easily be sharpened), but instead relies on the torque of the blades.

The handheld saw is even light enough to use for hours.

On this episode of the Product Design Show, Dave and Allison show us how Arbortech engineers took advantage of the entire Creo suite to design the Petrol Allsaw and make it lightweight, easy-to-use, and still powerful enough to cut down a building.

Boundary Systems Brings Creo to Kevin Bolland’s Dirt Track Racing

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: MAY 25, 2012

Kevin Bolland is a 30-year veteran in dirt-racing. He drives the Big Block Dirt Modified #‘777’ car in the Super DIRT Car and BRP Modified Series events in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and Charlotte, NC. And he’s winning – a lot.

Big Block Dirt Modified #‘777’ car in Creo

PTC’s Creo, in conjunction with reselling partnerBoundary Systems, sponsor Kevin Bolland and Bol-Tech Motorsports.

Of all the racecars that Creo has a hand in, dirt track racing is the single most common form of auto racing in the United States (it’s popular in Australia and Canada too). Local and regional racetracks throughout the nation number in the hundreds – maybe even as high as 1500.

Currently, Boundary Systems uses Creo software to create working models of Bolland’s car. Design, analysis, and simulation help optimize the car’s racing performance.

Ian Kimbrell, Founder and President of Boundary Systems, says, “Our team was very excited the first time we saw the car running inside the software and the folks at Bol-Tech have been a great team to work with.”

The 2012 racing year has only been open a couple of months, and the 52-year-old dirt racing champ has carved his twentieth win at Sharon Speedway (near Hartford, Ohio). On May 19, Kevin set the New Track Record at Sharon Speedway with a time of 15.919 seconds. In the same heat race, he broke his own record twice. He also has a victory at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, Pennsylvania) this season. Sounds like a “Go Kevin!” is in order?

In talking about his car’s performance at Sharon Speedway, Kevin said, “The car was awesome up top. I’m thankful to be here. I couldn’t do it without Boundary, Creo, all my sponsors and Bolland Machine for the good horsepower.”

We agree – it’s fun being part of a winning team.  Check out their video below:

Creo Customer: Cleaning up the Big Messes

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: MAY 1, 2012

The Chariot series from Windsor Industries is a set of spry, compact, cleaning machines that are self-powered while the user stands on the backend. Windsor designed this line as a faster, cleaner, more comfortable alternative to the typical stand-behind-and-push vacuums, burnishers, and carpet scrubbers that are on the market. But to be worthwhile, Windsor also needed to make their machines easy to maintain and refill with cleaning solutions.

Fitting multiple uses into a compact, easy-to-use, cleaning machine can pose a challenge.

Not for Windsor Industries. Richard Hendley, from IH Services (a Windsor customer) comments, “With the walk-behind scrubber, we had trouble turning the machine in the hallways, and they’re quite wide. The 20-inch Chariot does everything I had hoped it would do (reduced labor hours, increased frequencies).”

Engineers at Windsor Industries used Creo Parametric to ensure that the design was ergonomically comfortable, quick to maintain, and used off-the-shelf parts for lower costs and quicker maintenance.

In the end, efficiency, quality, and safety are where Windsor Industries and their Chariot line shine. Chariot machines are quiet enough to run during school or work hours, small enough to use in rooms or classrooms, and efficient enough to reduce maintenance times by half.

The proof is in the user’s experience. Jake from Lane Community College attests, “[The Chariot] is efficient, easier on my back, and overall lets me keep [my] area on a higher level of cleanliness.”

In this episode of the Product Design Show, Dave and Allison dive into the inside of these little machines to show how Windsor engineers used Creo Parametric to make this dirty job easy to maintain and efficient to use.

Real World Design Challenge for Future Engineers

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: DEC 9, 2011

There’s nothing quite like real world experience for engaging students.  And engineers, notorious for their passion to work hands-on, know this better than anyone.  That’s the motivation behind the Real World Design Challenge sponsored in part by PTC.  Every year RWDC presents high school students across the US with an actual design challenge being faced by real organizations- then sets them to work.

According to RWDC Director Dr. Ralph K. Coppola, “the Real World Design Challenge is a public-private partnership dedicated to sustainably increasing the STEM workforce – that’s really our goal”.

This year the competing teams must tackle the complex design challenges of the aerospace industry.  In a nutshell, the students must design an efficient, low-carbon-emission and environmentally friendly personal light sport aircraft.

The industry of focus and design project for the contest vary every year but the objective remains the same – encourage and inspire the next generation of problem-solving engineers.  RWDC “keeps it real” in five key areas:

• REAL PROBLEMS – Provides a practical application of classroom curriculum
• REAL TOOLS – Inspires students by showing them what is at their fingertips
• REAL ROLES – Requires teamwork, leadership and problem solving skills
• REAL DESIGNS – Fosters creativity, critical thinking, and innovation
• REAL CONTRIBUTIONS – Students can make a difference

Amongst other solutions provided, participants will design their proposed “green aircrafts” within a complimentary edition of Creo . Using commercial-grade professional tools like Creo is one of the cornerstones of the competition.  These teenagers get to access the same design tools being used at some of the top companies in the world.  To help them along the way PTC also provides connections and access to mentors from its partner organizations across America.

The winning teams from the participating states will receive all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete at the National Challenge Event in April 2012. For additional information contact Dr. Coppola at rcoppola@ptc.com or check out the Real World Design Challenge website www.realworlddesignchallenge.org.

FIRST: PTC Invests in the Future of Engineering

By GEOFF HEDGES | Published: NOV 11, 2011

Our flagship education program at PTC is FIRST(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology),  www.usfirst.org , a program used throughout the US and abroad to inspire kids to engage in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  Every year, more than 150,000 students, kindergarten to 12th grade, work in teams to participate in design challenges using Legos or, for those in high school, building operational robots.  The teams work with mentors, coaches, volunteers … and PTC software.

This year, more than 1,000 FIRST teams (out of a possible 4,500 FIRST Tech Challengeand FIRST Robotics Competition teams ) will use Creo, Mathcad and Windchill to design, build, compete and iterate with their robot design.  Besides supplying the software, we also sponsor teams and regional events, fund scholarships, and provide training materials.

PTC has also partnered with FIRST to bring FIRST overseas.  PTC employees in China, India, Romania, France, Germany, Singapore and the Netherlands have been very supportive of bringing this to their country.

It’s a good fit for us, especially when you look at our Global Education Program.  John Stuart, SVP, says in that program we look for opportunities that provide “shared value.” That is, “where everyone involved in our initiative benefits by participating–employers, schools, and students.”

• Employers. Employers, particularly PTC customers, get value from the program as former FIRST students start their first job already skilled in PTC design and engineering software. That’s especially important now as analysts are predicting severe shortages in technology and science graduate in coming years.
• Schools. The thousands of schools participating in FIRST benefit from better opportunities that come with professional software and training.
• Students. FIRST brings value to students by engaging them in STEM. In fact, kids who participate in FIRST are 50% more likely to attend college and twice as likely to major in science or engineering compared to similar students who did not take part in FIRST.

We benefit too. Officially, we’ve sponsored FIRST activities since 2007, growing from no teams to over 1,000 teams using PTC software in just four years! But for years before that our employees have been enthusiastic mentors and coaches for FIRST teams. Why? Simply because there is a lot of joy in watching young people first experience the rapture that brought us all to this field so many years ago.

As a result of PTC’s overall contribution to FIRST, it was announced in April at the FIRSTWorld Championship, that PTC would be elevated to the top partnership level at FIRST“Strategic”.

Learn more about FIRST here. If you prefer to hear about it from celebrities and world leaders, play the video:

Creo is a NASA Tech Briefs’ Product of the Year Finalist

By LINDSEY CHRISTENSEN | Published: DEC 20, 2011

It’s a very special time of year… to vote for Creo!Remember back in February when NASA Tech Briefs named Creo as its Product of the Month?  In doing so, Creo was automatically entered as a Tech Briefs 2011 Product of the Year Finalist.

According to Linda Bell, Editorial Director at NASA Tech Briefs, Creo was selected because: “Each month, the editors of NASA Tech Briefs choose a Product of the Month — what we feel is a new product with exceptional technical merit and practical value for our 190,000 design engineering readers. In February, we selected PTC’s Creo. Our readers are product design engineers, so a software suite like Creo is very applicable to what they do on a daily basis.”

Now Creo needs your vote! While the monthly winner is selected by the magazine’s editors, the overall winner is the readers’ choice.  Readers are invited to vote between the 12 Product of the Month winners for the one they feel is the most significant contribution to the engineering community in 2011.  According to NASA Tech Briefs the winner should be the best example of a new product offering that has exceptional technical merit and practical value for design engineering.  If that sounds like Creo to you, cast your vote today!

Voting deadline is January 20, 2012.  The products receiving the three highest vote totals will be named NASA Tech Briefs’ Readers’ Choice Products of the Year.  Only one vote per person will be counted, and you can vote for only one product.