When SketchUp isn't good enough...

[CarolinaNomad]

For anyone interested in non-commercial use of a serious CAD software package:
SolidWorks is available as a free MAKE version including some finite element analysis. If there is interest by the FOG I will post details for US access to the free version.

Hans

I'm intersted

 

[Cheese]

Since this thread is into the design of our tools this is probably the right opportunity to point out the enormous complexity not to mention the complexity and huge cost of the injection molds.

The tooling complexity/cost also explains to me why it has not been duplicated here in the US. More economical to suffer the shipping and logistic expense of exporting from Germany.

To kind of put this discussion into perspective, over 40 years ago, without the use of CAD, it took our tooling group 6 months to design a 16 cavity mold for VHS windows for VHS cassettes. We then subbed the mold build out to Caco Pacific in California at a price of $250K with a delivery date of 5-6 months. This is the equivalent of over $900K (for 1 mold that produced 16 parts per cycle) in todays dollars. Then, mold de-bug and cavity/core tweaking along with final part qualification and acceptance evaluation took another 2 months.

For all of these reasons, Hans [member=59331]TSO Products[/member] has it right when he states it is more economical to just leave the tool (the mold) where it is, produce qualified/certified parts and suffer the shipping costs. If the tool is moved to a different location to run production parts, it has to be requalified/certified and that will be 4-6 weeks minimum and in all likelihood will be much...much longer than that.

In the qualification process, injection molds are assigned to a particular injection molding press and all of the injection molding press/injection mold parameters are recorded so that it is easy to reinstall the mold and start squirting plastic parts as rapidly as possible, however, if the mold cannot be installed in the same press for some reason, then the qualification process is restarted from step 1. This becomes very painful.

I liken molding parts to be the equivalent of baking. When cooking, you can add a little bit of this or a little bit of that, when baking...you follow the recipe exactly and weigh the ingredients.

 

[Brice Burrell]

For anyone interested in non-commercial use of a serious CAD software package:
SolidWorks is available as a free MAKE version including some finite element analysis. If there is interest by the FOG I will post details for US access to the free version.

Hans

I'm intersted. [member=59331]TSO Products[/member]

 

[Rick Christopherson]

For anyone interested in non-commercial use of a serious CAD software package:
SolidWorks is available as a free MAKE version including some finite element analysis. If there is interest by the FOG I will post details for US access to the free version.

Hans

Yes, even I would be interested in it. Even though I refuse to upgrade to the newest version of SolidWorks due to their unscrupulous business practices, I do frequently need to translate models from my customers (including you/TSO) created in newer versions. If this free version would permit me to open and export a newer version back to my older version, then it would come in very handy.

 

[Klemm]

I wrote: For anyone interested in non-commercial use of a serious CAD software package:
SolidWorks is available as a free MAKE/Student version including some finite element analysis. If there is interest by the FOG I will post details for US access to the free version.
here is more regarding access to a free version of SolidWorks:

a US based international membership organization, EAA, the EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION  (aircraft homebuilders and sport aviation participants and enthusiasts) has entered into an arrangement with SolidWorks to provide free access to SolidWorks Student edition for EAA Members
Here is a link listing what the Engineering edition provides:https://www.solidworks.com/sw/docs/Student_Access_Product_Matrix_LB.pdf

To be eligible for free SolidWorks Download you need to be or become a current dues paid member of EAA.org annual dues $ 40.00
Use of the software is strictly limited to non-commercial use. You can't use it to produce work which you sell for profit.

Disccussions between SolidWorks and EAA are currently ongoing to expand the available modules in the Engineering Edition to include FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and more - refer to the Product Matrix link above for more details.

GIven the inteest in this subject by a number of FOG members who have emailed or messaged me, I will update this information as I develop more infomration. This is not vague idea or future proposal, it is a program that is already working with some 1,700 (!) EAA members to-date having downloaded their free SolidWorks software.
EAA continues to be a hotbed for innovation in the aviation space. For those of you not familiar with this 200,000 member international organization, this movement has given birth to the origins of the round-the-world, non-stop and non-refueled VOYAGER designed by Burt Rutan, and innovative aircraft like the CIRRUS line of high performance aircraft as well as the line of some 9,000 flying  homebuilt aircraft of the RV design line. All made possible by the freedom to design, build and fly airplanes which are not burdened by the regulatory constraints of certificated aircraft.

More to follow as I obtain more details.
I'll be glad to provide more specifics if the Moderators think this is the right place for it.

Hans

 

[ryanjg117]

The SYS family is complete  8):

 

[Michael Kellough]

Amazing work Ryan!

 

[SereN]

The SYS family is complete  8):

Ryan, nice work. Do you mind sharing the models in STEP format? (I'm using Autodesk Inventor myself)

 

[ryanjg117]

Just finished the SYS-AZ drawers -- every bit as complicated as the systainers themselves:

And a few close-ups of some of the more interesting components:

Final step is to put them into the sysport cabinet model - coming soon.

 

[Klemm]

I wrote: For anyone interested in non-commercial use of a serious CAD software package:
SolidWorks is available as a free MAKE/Student version including some finite element analysis. If there is interest by the FOG I will post details for US access to the free version.
here is more regarding access to a free version of SolidWorks:

a US based international membership organization, EAA, the EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION  (aircraft homebuilders and sport aviation participants and enthusiasts) has entered into an arrangement with SolidWorks to provide free access to SolidWorks Student edition for EAA Members
Here is a link listing what the Engineering edition provides:https://www.solidworks.com/sw/docs/Student_Access_Product_Matrix_LB.pdf

To be eligible for free SolidWorks Download you need to be or become a current dues paid member of EAA.org annual dues $ 40.00
Use of the software is strictly limited to non-commercial use. You can't use it to produce work which you sell for profit.

Disccussions between SolidWorks and EAA are currently ongoing to expand the available modules in the Engineering Edition to include FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and more - refer to the Product Matrix link above for more details.

GIven the inteest in this subject by a number of FOG members who have emailed or messaged me, I will update this information as I develop more infomration. This is not vague idea or future proposal, it is a program that is already working with some 1,700 (!) EAA members to-date having downloaded their free SolidWorks software.
EAA continues to be a hotbed for innovation in the aviation space. For those of you not familiar with this 200,000 member international organization, this movement has given birth to the origins of the round-the-world, non-stop and non-refueled VOYAGER designed by Burt Rutan, and innovative aircraft like the CIRRUS line of high performance aircraft as well as the line of some 9,000 flying  homebuilt aircraft of the RV design line. All made possible by the freedom to design, build and fly airplanes which are not burdened by the regulatory constraints of certificated aircraft.

More to follow as I obtain more details.
I'll be glad to provide more specifics if the Moderators think this is the right place for it.

Hans

here is a summary of how to gain access to a free SolidWorks seat for non-commercial use by joining EAA for $ 40.00/year. It will take SolidWorks a bit of time to send you your login after signup to allow to verify that you have a current EAA membership in good standing. SW keeps a tight grip ..
Not sure if the links will come through as hyperlinks but you'll see all that when you sign up for EAA membership.EAA Members have access to SolidWorks Student Design Kit - EAA Maker Edition at no charge. Information about what modules are included in the Student Design Kit can be found in this document which is linked in the SOLIDWORKS Download area of our SOLIDWORKS Resource Center.

" To join EAA, as an individual ($40/year) or family ($50/year), go to: EAA.org/Join.

To request download instructions for SOLIDWORKS Student Design Kit - EAA Maker Edition, click on the SOLIDWORKS Download link at: EAA.org/SOLIDWORKS

EAA Members have access to SOLIDWORKS Student Design Kit - EAA Maker Edition at no charge. Information about what modules are included in the Student Design Kit can be found in this document which is linked in the SOLIDWORKS Download area of our SOLIDWORKS Resource Center. "

hope this gets you on your way [smile]
Hans

 

[mleny77]

Can you post iges files for these? I'm a SolidWorks user and would love to have these models for layouts.

 

[ben_r_]

VERY good work man! Throw those up on GrabCAD! Sure youll get some love there and Im sure many would love to use those models in their own custom built systainer storage solutions.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Ryan clearly spent many hours crafting these things.
Why would he want to give that away?
What are you offering to compensate for his time?

 

[Klemm]

free SolidWorks  license access:
I'm curious if anyone has taken advantage of the free SolidWorks Make (non-commercial)license through EAA as I posted earlier in this thread?
How did it work out? - any difficulties ?

Hans
hans@tsoproducts.com

 

[Magpal]

Impressive models! Great work!

How do you perform the measurements in practice? It must be hard to make sure everything is lined up at the correct place?

 

[ryanjg117]

How do you perform the measurements in practice? It must be hard to make sure everything is lined up at the correct place?

I have a digital micrometer for the finer measurements, an angle finder, and some longer rulers. It's not perfect, but good enough to look true. I'm CNC'ing some inserts soon, so I'll know for sure if my measurements were any good.

 

[ben_r_]

So what happened OP? Are you going to make these available for us to use or was this just a teaser showing off your mad skillz? I have been wanting to layout my plans for my own SysPort and I would love to be able to use these models in it to help get the model and dimensions looking good. Did you upload the files anywhere public or would you be willing to email them or send them some other way?