This is an excellent example of how White Horse CAD can help our clients solve problems and improve their workflow. We used the part model to design a simple 3D-printed fixture that matches and effectively supports the part’s geometry. This frees an operator’s hand to fit the retention pins easily and precisely without risking damage to the part or, more importantly, the operator.

Whilst 3D printing is not an ideal solution to all design problems, in this case, it is the most efficient and cost-effective way to create a simple fixture that aids assembly, keeps the operator safe and reduces the risk of damage to the products being assembled. This is a relatively low-cost solution to a problem that will improve product quality, reduce operator frustration and increase productivity.

If you would like more information on how 3D Printed Process Tooling can help solve your assembly nightmares, please contact us
or Find us on LinkedIn

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We are creating a series of practice files alongside our DFM handbook, which is intended to teach good modelling practice and the fundamental principles for manufacturing parts. The first of these lessons is a relatively simple folded plate. Whilst this looks simple, there are at least five design rules to consider. Four are mentioned in the practice document, but one is not mentioned. But if you read the sheet metal section of the DFM book, you will know what rule is missing.

When designing sheet metal products with folds, the most important thing to remember is that flat patterns are to be considered reference data unless the model uses validated manufacturing data from the company making the parts. There are other rules about hole size and the distance of features from edges and folds. All of these need to be considered when designing sheet metal products,

Sheet metal design is primarily defined by the process limitations and the tooling used by the manufacturing company. The type of tooling they use to fold parts will define the bend allowance you require, the cutting process they use may influence the shape of the part. Laser cutting will give you a lot more design freedom, but sheared or punched parts may have a more uniform finish.

Bend tooling will dictate things such as bend radius, minimum leg length and the minimum distance between bends. This is why it is critical to design sheet metal products with the guidance of the company making the parts.

If you would like more information, please contact us
or Find us on LinkedIn

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Teaching young design engineers to construct robust 3D CAD models should be the foundation of any engineering design course. Students need practice files that aid them in learning the essential elements of creating CAD models that illustrate real-world engineering solutions. The design engineers of the future deserve high-quality training materials.

Practice files should teach students the fundamentals of creating CAD models and provide them with at least a basic understanding of Design For Manufacture (DFM) principles. Instructing design students with CAD with files that promote poor design habits is detrimental to the industry. It creates unrealistic expectations of a well-defined CAD model and conveys the idea that any feature added to a CAD model can be manufactured.

Incorporating a mandatory manufacturing component into every design course would significantly enhance the knowledge of young design engineers. However, not every college and university is lucky enough to have manufacturing facilities on site. We must also remember that not all design engineers attend colleges or universities. Some take online courses, and some learn independently using whatever information they find online. So, whilst the gold standard in educating design engineers should be mandatory manufacturing experience, we also need to ensure that students who learn remotely have access to high-quality training data.

Generally, the training materials students use to learn how to use CAD do not reflect real-world manufacturing practices, and even worse, they teach students bad modelling habits. We must not set the next generation of design engineers up to fail. Instead, we should provide top-quality training data that teaches students how to use CAD effectively and gives them insights into manufacturing best practices from day one.

There is no substitute for time spent in an engineering workshop to help students understand the limitations of manufacturing processes. However, giving students well-structured practice files could go a long way towards teaching basic manufacturing principles. If engineering design courses cannot offer workshop experience, they should invest in creating high-quality practice files that help close the gap in every student’s manufacturing knowledge.

The post CAD Users of the future appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.

The long-awaited White Horse CAD DFM handbook has finally been launched. If you are designing products, you need a copy of this book. It covers content such as:

• Good modelling practice
• Turned parts
• Milled parts
• Sheet metal
• Process information
• Design intent
• Much much more

The post Free DFM Guide for All appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.

Despite February being a shorter month, we’re delighted to share it is among our highest on record for the number of new jobs. We take it as a testament to our work when existing clients return with more projects. We’ve also welcomed new clients who need our expertise – take a look at the case study below.

The continuing business also means we are approaching our 1,000th job! To celebrate the milestone, we will give a chocolate hamper to the client who books the job. Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of the winner.

We’d also like to thank you for the recommendations. The outcome has been positive and we’ve been able to provide extra design resources for teams needing more capacity.  Some examples of recent and current work include:

• Using CAD data to calculate the centre of gravity for a consumer product to ensure user comfort and a balanced fit.
• Creating renders for a new product range of gardening equipment for a client’s website.
• Designing a bespoke ceiling track for a camera/lighting equipment.
• A 3D print of a concept for a manufacturing team.
• Bespoke protective packaging for numerous products. 

Please read on to find out the latest from WHC, including a case study, celebrating staff success and how to receive our updated information pack if you haven’t already.

Engineering success for WHC’s Luke

Rewind to Sept ’22….. we employed a Trainee Engineer to help with our growing business. Luke’s BTEC in Engineering, willingness to learn & work ethic were just some attributes making him our number-one choice.

Skip forward nearly 18 months, and his ability to master technical software, work independently on designs, and ask questions to ensure the highest quality of work continues to impress us. Plus, he’s great company in the office and an asset to the WHC team, as we receive more design jobs each month. We’re happy to share Luke’s well-deserved promotion to Junior Design Engineer as he continues to forge a successful career.

The post WHC News -March 2024 appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.

Regarding what we’re working on, there are designs for medical devices and kitchen utensils. There are also cost-effective packaging solutions so our client can dispatch their orders quickly, which is essential in a demanding market. We’re also providing engineering support to a client in the energy sector to help them get their product to manufacturing without delay.

Render of an Electronic Enclosure

Alongside the 3D design work, we’re doing renders and animations for consumer, medical and energy products. Renders and animations are brilliant visual tools for explaining concepts and products. The animation shows movement by the concept to life. To see for yourself, have a look at our Wobler Engine Animation.

And you can delve beyond the standard CAD drawings into complex assemblies to help understand the inner workings. Various materials, finishes, and lighting scenarios can be applied to the product. This means you can see the options before deciding on the final design, saving you time and money in creating the ‘real’ thing.

Hopefully, this gives a little taster of some of the work we do at White Horse CAD. Please head to our website to learn about 2D & 3D Design Services. Or get in touch as we’re always happy to discuss your requirements and how our expertise can help you achieve these.

The post The September Summary – how can we help you? appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.

3D Prints on a blueprint showing floor layout. Perfect for planners and architects.

With experience in the orthopedic industry, we are familiar with producing 3D-printed replica bones. The models play a vital role in the design and development of medical devices by providing a realistic substitute for real bones. As well as bones, our 3D printing is useful for models in architecture, parts, and cases for mechanical parts and consumer products. Others have used the models in their marketing material for clients.

The benefits of 3D printing include:

Design Validation– 3D models help to evaluate designs and highlight any refinements. Using the models during the design development phase can save money and time by ensuring the design is correct before the costly manufacturing process. Depending on the complexity and size of the model, 3D prints can be created within hours. And we all know time can be of the essence when working on tight deadlines!

Quality –  We have our 3D printers in-house, meaning we can advise on which suits your design best. How the printers create the models in layers helps to provide quality in various materials and finishes.

Prototyping – 3D printing brings a design to life. Physically holding the model or part can help with the kinesthesis and visualise the final product. Using the prototype, you can test fit, form, and function and gain important user feedback.

3D printed bones

Could your project benefit from a 3D print? To learn more about our 3D printing services, please visit the White Horse CAD website or call 01373 801 803.

The post How your project could benefit from 3D printing appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.

The client provided a complex welded assembly containing 36 individual components. Using SolidWorks, WHC has converted this to 11 sheet metal components. The client will use the 3D model of the refined design to clearly demonstrate to their clients how manufacturing is more cost-effective.

Sheet metal design

The design reduces the welding requirement by around 90% and will use approximately 90% less material. The manufacturer can use existing steel that’s in stock, rather than ordering new materials. This combination will also reduce the lead time by up to three months. When time and cost are of the essence, I think you’ll agree the benefits of the new design are highly

significant!

If you are looking for cost-effective designs, please take a look at the White Horse CAD website or ring 01373 801 803. We are always happy to discuss requirements and provide high-quality designs.

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WHC client meeting

It seems time is flying by at the moment. Since restrictions have eased, we’re back out and about more visiting clients. Online meetings are still worthy of course, but visiting clients’ premises does give a real feel for exactly what they do. As some of our clients are manufacturers, we can see firsthand how they operate. Our Managing Director Tim Bird, began his engineering career as a sheet metal worker, before becoming a toolmaker, so he’s no stranger to the practical side of design. His experience and knowledge are evident in our work and advice, as we ensure manufacturing is time and cost-effective for our clients. Our design work includes the product itself plus we can design the testing equipment and packaging as well; the full ticket!

For other clients, we are an extension of their team. It’s great to hear from our clients that their business is growing as is the demand for design. Rather than taking on a full-time engineer, it is more cost-effective to employ White Horse CAD for contract CAD. As we have our own office, the latest software and equipment, working with us eliminates the additional cost associated with recruiting a permanent member of staff. In comparison to lengthy recruitment processes, we’re more readily available which is essential to our clients with pressing deadlines.

Either way, we’re always happy to discuss requirements and meet you. Please visit our website for more about the CAD services we provide. You’ll also find some case studies on there to explain how we’ve met (and even exceeded) the client’s brief. So please do get in touch on 01373 801 803 to talk through your next project.

The post Look no further for product design, testing and packaging appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.

We’re confident we can tick the boxes for your project

We’re happy to report another busy week of design work. We’re doing one of the things we do best; giving expert advice to create effective design solutions.

And what makes us so sure that we’ve got this right?

Well, it’s because we utilise our thirty plus years of hands-on engineering experience with cutting edge technology. It’s a winning combination that means we understand what clients need and the most cost-effective way to achieve this.

As a brief example…. One of our clients has an exciting brand-new idea for a consumer product. They are at the stage of needing the injection mould tool to start production. However, the cost they’ve been quoted is just too high to make this a profitable venture. If they can overcome this, the cost of production is low and straightforward.

So, we are accompanying the client at their request to visit the injection mould tooling company. They are keen for our input to help overcome this barrier. The injection moulding tool is a crucial and often the most expensive part of the manufacturing process. Even the smallest of changes to the mould can be very costly as well as a drain on time. Both of which you obviously want to avoid when you’re heading towards getting ready to market your product.

Start a conversation with us

So it’s essential to get the design right, the first time. Our task is to review and modify the design that can be optimised for injection moulding as well as being fit for purpose. If you’d like to find out more about us, please visit the White Horse CAD website. Or we always welcome a call if you’d prefer on 01373 801 803.

For the time being, we can’t reveal anymore due to our confidential agreements but hope this product will be one for our portfolio of case studies in the future. Please keep an eye out for these and if you’re in need of an effective solution to a design problem, do get in touch. We’re confident we can help.

The post Utilising our hands-on engineering experience and cutting edge technology appeared first on White Horse CAD Limited.