AutoCAD excels in Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling for large and complex system and structural designs.
Regarding chemical plant design, TAD has extensive knowledge with the AutoCAD Plant 3D package, and can model the mechanical portion of your design inside of Plant 3D.
The resulting model can be used to generate piping isometric (ISO) and orthographic (Ortho) drawings to give construction & routing details for installation, along with a complete bill of materials (BOM).
In addition, the piping model can be used to feed a stress analysis to ensure compliance with standards or codes, such as ASME B31.3 for chemical plant piping.
SOLIDWORKS shines in CAD modeling for individual components & assemblies of components to be put together in a manufacturing setting.
TAD can generate a 3D model of your design, which can then be used to generate machining drawings with GD&T applied for individual components, or assembly drawings with instructions for technicians to consistently put together your product.
Additionally, we have expertise utilizing the SOLIDWORKS Simulation package, and can apply a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on your design to improve its strength and lifespan.
TAD has experience using the SOLIDWORKS Simulation package to perform a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of your design.
The FEA can be used to identify points of unusually high stress, strain, or fatigue from cyclic loading. Once the possible points of interest are identified, the design can be iterated upon, and a path forward can be determined.
If the inputs to the analysis are unknown, TAD can configure a data acquisition setup utilizing strain gages that can determine the real world forces affecting your design, which can then be fed into the FEA.
Modeling a component is the first step to creating a real world design, but actually creating the part introduces real world tolerances and deviations away from "perfect".
Applying geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is the art of determining just how much deviation from perfect you can allow, while still ensuring the component will work every time.
The more precise a dimension needs to be - the more expensive it will be.
However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, certain tolerances that are too lose eventually allow for a component that will not work. Identifying just how much "slop" you can allow, and effectively communicating that on a machining drawing is the art of effectively applying GD&T, which TAD has extensive knowledge with.
