Taking 3D learning to another dimension

3D is a vital design tool – but it takes some handling

Designing in 3D is becoming increasingly essential - especially if the product is to be designed in conjunction with, or for, others. But there is still something of a learning curve to be gone through to design with efficiency in solid form, even with some of the easier-to-use packages.

It is certainly a must-have tool for designers at the Portuguese Martifer Group, which designs large structures for airports, stadia and renewable power generation. Jorge Martins, vice president and founder of the group, told a Solidworks gathering in Barcelona recently that both markets and customers demanded its use now.

Domingo Ochoa of GTA, a small Spanish racing team that has designed a 800HP sports supercar, explained how it had started with 2D sketches, but quickly had to translate them into a 3D design, in order to solve problems such as designing the integral glass roof, which, he said, “has to be a perfect fit or it will leak”.

Author
Tom Shelley

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