Skip to main content

From concept to mass production using DS Mechanical add-on modules

title

I have been on an internship at RS Components for 2 months now and as a result I have become very familiar with DesignSpark Mechanical. Through studying mechanical engineering I have learnt how to use different CAD programs such as Solidworks and Autodesk Inventor where I have used all their features including engineering drawings. Due to this experience I was lucky enough to try-out the new exchange and drawing add-on modules for DesignSpark Mechanical.

The exchange module is a great addition that lets you import, edit and export STEP and IGES files which then can be used for other applications such as analysis software. I used ANSYS Workbench for my dissertation last year to analyse the portable bridge I designed. ANSYS requires an IGES file format therefore using this add-on allows you to export designs straight from DesignSpark Mechanical into ANSYS.

The drawing module is essential for an inventing engineer to bring their prototype to reality by an external manufacturer. These engineering drawings provide all the essential information required for a product to be mass produced using techniques such as injection moulding for plastics and die casting for metals.

title

I’ve worked on a project over the last few weeks using DesignSpark Mechanical to create an enclosure for a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B. I designed a different enclosure to the many I have seen online and made sure there was access to all the Pi’s components. I also created a mount for a small ebm-papst fan that would cool the Pi if it got too hot. The finished product was an open enclosure that comes in three parts; a base that holds the sides upright, one side that holds the pi and the other side where the fan mounts. The three simple parts do not require fastening due to the base holding them in place allowing access to the Pi’s components quickly and effort free. After a few 3D prints and amendments the enclosure was functional providing good support for the Pi and fan while occupying a small amount of space. Once I was happy with the design it was time to use the DesignSpark Mechanical drawing add-on to illustrate the views with dimensions and annotations to a high standard so it could be sent off for mass production.

title

I opened the components individually so I could create an engineering drawing for each part. When you create a new drawing sheet from a component it automatically generates three different views that are required for the design to be replicated using the drawings. An isometric view is useful because it shows the part as a three-dimensional model giving the creator a better idea of what the component is and where bits are situated. Measurement annotations can easily be added to the different views using the dimensions button. The dimensions will be the main information that the creator follows when building therefore every measurement must be present and easily seen for an adequate build.

title

There are a number of different views in the new add-on module to show hidden details that are impossible to see. Cross section and Broken-Out Section are types of views that cut away sections of the drawings so the creator can see inside a component to understand how it’s fixed together. For when there are a lot of small but vital details close together a detail view can be added over that area to enlarge it to a scale of your choosing that will benefit the maker greatly. Geometric tolerances are a key requirement for technical drawings because they specify important details for the creator that must be obeyed in order for the product to function correctly. Some geometric tolerances require datum’s which label the sides of the component so the tolerances can reference the correct part. Another important annotation is the surface finish that instructs the maker about the final texture of the component and whether or not to remove material.

title

Once all the adequate views and annotations are on the sheet and the relevant information is added to the bottom table then it can be sent off to the creator or producer for manufacturing. Then its job done and the waiting starts for the finished products to arrive. The new drawing add-on for DesignSpark Mechanical is great and has a few decent features which makes it better than the rest. One in particular is that you can change the angle you view the sheet with the middle mouse button, just like in the designing tab, and this shows the models in 3D coming in and out of the sheet. It’s really cool to see and you can make sure the sectioned views are correct as it can be hard to see on a flat view. Another good feature is that the drawing sheet updates with the model so any required amendments will automatically be shown. DesignSpark Mechanical makes it possible to bring a concept to reality with the aid of a 3D printer and now with the new add-on modules it’s possible to send engineering drawings with STEP and IGES files for mass production.

To print this enclosure for your own Raspberry Pi please go to Thingiverse.

Heres a tutorial on how to use the new drawing add-on module for DesignSpark Mechanical.

LukeWebsterScott has not written a bio yet…
DesignSpark Electrical Logolinkedin