Archive for the ‘Outsourcing’ Category

Assembly drawings, or mechanical assembly drawings, are “drawings detailing an engineering perspective view on a mechanism or physical, real-world-built object that is comprised of more than one part.” Assembly drawings are very useful for engineers who are dealing with complex mechanical devices. Creating assembly drawings have become improved with the recent improvements in 2D CAD drafting and detailing software. It is very vital that designs are visualized accurately and precisely so that the manufacturing stage will become successful and safer and the maintenance stage will become easier.

2D drafting and detailing is “an important aspect of any CAD tool.” The speed of creating 2D CAD drawings is a matter of great importance especially for projects that have 2D drawing end-results (aside from the fact that 2D CAD drawings are far easier to handle than paper design models). Detailing is an important part of any project, and it must be handled by professionals. Detailing and drafting services are very important in a potpourri of industries, and it is very important that drawings are easily understood by people who will use them. An improperly made drawing results to an increase in unnecessary overhead expenses.

If you are in a company that needs 2D drawings for your projects, it is better if you outsource your works to a company that is very competent in the expertise that you need. In that way, you can work harder for your specialty because other professionals are there to take care of your other needs. The technologies that they use are frequently being updated to improve the quality of their works. The resources it takes to manage your employees are lessened. This shows that outsourcing is a profitable economical solution. An outsourcing company that has demonstrated years of experience and has produced output of the finest quality in a timely manner is the best option for a client that values reliability, high quality, and time. Such outsourcing company has the capability to produce designs efficiently and without errors. A carefully planned and analyzed design prevents unnecessary costs to the people who will use it. As a conclusion, entrusting your detailing and drafting projects to professionals who have the capabilities to do them competently reduces your cost and improves your productivity despite tough economic conditions.

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References

• “2D Drafting & Detailing.” TurboCAD. IMSI/Design, 2011. Web. 17 Jan. 2011.
• “Architectural Drafting and Detailing (CAD) Services.” Supremus Group. Supremus Group, 2006. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• “Assembly Drawings Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Services Datasheets.” GlobalSpec. GlobalSpec, 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• Drafting Simplified. “Structural Drafting and Detailing Services for Timber, Steel, Concrete and Prefabricated Materials.” ActiveRain. ActiveRain, 8 Sept. 2008. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• Ketan Poojara. “CAD Outsource Services, Structural 2D Drafting & Steel Detailing Services, Structural Engineering Services.” ArticlesBase. ArticlesBase, 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• “Outsource Architectural Drafting & Architectural Detailing (CAD).” Flatworld Solutions. Flatworld Solutions, 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• “Piping Design & Drafting.” Detail Drafting and Design. Detail Drafting and Design, 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• “Post-Tension Concrete Drafting, Post Tensioned Design Detailing in CAD.” PRBD. PRBD, 14 July 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• PrimeDesign Corporation. PrimeDesign Corporation, 2009. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• “Structural Drafting – Structural Engineering Services.” Outsource Structural Drafting. Outsource Structural Drafting, 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
• “When Your Business Is Running 24X7, You Need Optimum Means to Maximize Your Productivity and Profits.” RAD Solutions. RAD Solutions, 2006. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.

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Outsourcing

Outsourcing, of which trust is the most vital part,⁷ is a “very positive way that many business owners have chosen to fight the recession.”⁵ Offshore outsourcing is a “new age business concept that is expanding at an accelerated rate.” It is the “the collaboration of two or more companies situated in different locations.”¹¹ Clients get outsourcing services because they have a need to lower costs, focus on their specialization, or make efficient use of their resources. Clients should consider the expertise of the people in an outsourcing company and the company’s track record.⁴

Many companies focus on a specific type of function, an expertise, such as fabrication, CAD, manufacturing, and others. Even if they have their own specialization, their core functions, they still need some non-core functions to keep them working properly. These non-core functions are sometimes repetitive, and instead of doing them, companies hand them to those who have the expertise to doing them. As a result, they can focus on their core functions and yet obtain high quality services on their non-core functions.⁹ This is simply “doing the right thing”¹³ if they want to improve their businesses.⁷

To be able to provide high quality products and services on core functions and receive high quality products and services on non-core functions is a great advantage, aside from other benefits such as lesser costs, lesser use of resources,^7,9 lesser efforts in human resource management,¹² and lesser time to finish a project.⁶ Cost savings come from lesser costs in manpower, materials, and equipment.⁴

Time had proven outsourcing to be an effective way to save costs and get high quality services. Outsourcing has survived and is continuing to be successful in different countries.¹³ It makes it possible for a company to hire professionals from other countries without the need for both the company and the employees to shift their home base. This is possible because of the existence of the internet.¹¹ They use all of the benefits that they can obtain from information technology and the internet.¹³ Employees rarely need to transfer places or countries to perform their duties. This is a boon for both of them because the company can get high quality services from trained professionals all over the world¹¹ and gain access to latest technologies,² and the employees get the advantage of working with international companies.¹¹ As the saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.”⁷

When looking for outsourcing companies to do a particular function, clients prefer countries that have recognized education systems, technological edge, infrastructure with global standards, and mastery of the English language.⁹ Choosing a company is like choosing a suitor. The company must meet or, better yet, exceed the client’s standards and expectations. Everything must be under control and all tasks must be finished before the deadline. All details must be given utmost importance. And like in a relationship, trust is also very important in outsourcing.⁷ Most, if not all, of the transactions and exchange of information between an outsourcing company and its clients are done with great security and confidentiality.²

The following are four broad categories of outsourcing:¹¹

• Information Technology
• Business Process Outsourcing
• Software Development
• Knowledge Process Outsourcing

CAD Outsourcing

CAD is a “service wherein the computer technology is used to aid in the design and drafting of a product as a whole or part.” It is a “symbol based and drawing based method of communications applicable for various technical fields like architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, and electronics field.”⁸

Clients who are looking for an accurate and cost effective CAD services can find them in CAD outsourcing companies.³ Client’s businesses and projects become better.⁵ They can get a view of a structure before its actual manufacturing. Development of a project becomes easier.⁶ They can lessen some people management issues. As they grow, they can also scale up their teams easily. ¹² They have a wide array of services to choose from. These services include analysis, CAD designing, CAD detailing, CAD rendering, among others. CAD designing is the “process for the preparation of the general structure of any product or services.” CAD rendering is the “process of conversion of a model into an image.”⁸ Architectural and engineering outsourcing companies give importance to the ease of operations and having low costs in developing projects.⁹ The methodologies that they use are proven to be suitable in performing drawing conversions and drawing digitization.¹⁰

CAD outsourcing is changing rapidly. It is now being openly discussed on meetings and conferences, and large companies and firms are now seriously considering it as an option. For startup companies or small group companies, they outsource because they are still in the process of “testing the waters.”¹

For companies that are involved in a long term partnership, geographical location is not a hindrance to make the partnership a fruitful one.⁴ Problems always appear. But when that happens, it is very important to maintain sufficient communication between or among companies that are involved because it is the quality of work that is very much affected.⁷

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¹“Frequently Asked Questions.” Teknovance. 19 May 2009. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.teknovance.com/info_center_faq.htm>.
²“Low Cost CAD Outsourcing Services by CAD Outsourcing Companies India.” PRLog. 6 July 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.prlog.org/10778178-low-cost-cad-outsourcing-services-by-cad-outsourcing-companies-india.html>.
³“CAD Services.” Silicon Valley. 24 May 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.siliconinfo.com/cad-engineering-services/philippines-autocad-design-2d-drafting-3d-modeling.html>.
⁴Obelisk Official Blog. “What Country Would You Recommend to Outsource an IT Project To.” Online posting. 25 Feb 2010. ObeliskIndia. 26 Aug 2010 <http://obeliskindia.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-country-would-you-recommend-to.html>.
⁵“FAQs.” Spider Design Network. 16 June 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://sdn.spiderenterprise.com/faqs.htm>.
⁶Manmohan. “The Main Advantages of Outsourcing CAD.” Online posting. 24 Aug 2010. The Outsource Blog. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.theoutsourceblog.com/2010/08/9-the-main-advantages-of-outsourcing-cad/>.
⁷“Choosing Your Outsourcing Partner.” E-articles. July 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Choosing-Your-Outsourcing-Partner/>.
⁸“CAD Outsourcing Services.” Silicon Valley. 24 May 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.siliconinfo.com/cad-outsourcing-services/cadcam-design-drafting-3d-modeling-services.html>.
⁹admin. “Captives vs Third Party Vendors AEC Industry – Making an Intelligent Choice.” Outsourcing Point. 28 Aug 2007. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.outsourcingpoint.com/75/captives-vs-third-party-vendors-aec-industry-making-an-intelligent-choice/>.
¹⁰“Architectural CAD Services, Quotes, Paper to CAD Outsourcing Service.” PRLog. 6 May 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.prlog.org/10664542-architectural-cad-services-quotes-paper-to-cad-outsourcing-service.html>.
¹¹tkelly. “Why India Is a Leading CAD Outsourcing Destination….” Online posting. 7 July 2009. a1articles. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.a1articles.com/article_970209_15.html>.
¹²“You Have Questions? We Have Some Answers….” Wolfe Creek Designs. 23 Feb 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.wolfecreekdesigns.com/>.
¹³Rao, Sath. “Outsourcing: Shifting Competitiveness of Countries in the Globalization Game.” Frost & Sullivan. 3 Mar 2004. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=10759973>.

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The Philippines is currently one of the “top three CAD Outsourcing countries in Asia alongside China and India.”¹ There are many advantages in having an outsourcing company in the Philippines.⁸ It is filled with highly skilled people who work using developed infrastructures and leading communication technologies to provide high quality CAD drafting and documentation services.¹ CAD professionals in the Philippines are gifted with dedication to their work, politeness, and good verbal and written communication in English, as proven by the country being the third English-speaking nation.^2,7 An increasing number of Filipinos are further improving their communication skills in many more languages to be able to communicate better with people from different countries.³

Filipinos are multi-skilled and hard-working people. The Philippines is composed of different cultures, and thus, Filipinos are exposed to different cultural practices. This trained them to become extremely adaptable to different environments, even to varying multinational work environments.³ The Philippines has also a cultural affinity on how US conduct businesses. This is one the country’s strengths.⁶

More and more companies are realizing the importance of tapping skills of professionals from other countries to work for them because this increases their savings and earnings.^3,8 This is in response to the rising cost of operations. The superior quality of the human resources in the Philippines and the low cost of its labor make it an ideal offshore outsourcing services provider.^2,3 The Philippines is capable of supporting a viable business venture.⁵ It has proven to be competent especially in construction design outsourcing.⁴

During the 1990’s, Asia served as a low cost manufacturing outsourcing center.⁶ In recent years, it has been witnessing an increasing number of foreign direct investments. One of the countries that experience this trend is the Philippines. It took the country some time to improve and become a world class outsourcing nation. Now, it is continually growing and challenging India and China, the two leading outsourcing nations in Asia. Other Asian countries, such as Taiwan and Singapore, are also striving to be excellent and competitive enough to challenge India.^2,6

Outsourcing in the Philippines is improving to provide continuous service; that is, working for long hours and, sometimes, working 24/7. The government plays an important role in the increase of outsourcing services in the country; the government is supporting multidimensional growth and education to produce more skilled professionals. Investors are getting benefits from the skills of Filipinos, and the country is also getting benefits from investors because of jobs that they provide. It is a mutual relationship between the two.²

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¹“CAD Drafting Outsourcing Services.” Orbit CAD. 3 Aug 2010. 25 Aug 2010 <http://www.orbitcad.com/>.
²Renu Chopra. “The Story of Offshore Outsourcing in the Philippines.” Online posting. 19 July 2010. The Outsource Blog. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.theoutsourceblog.com/2010/07/the-story-of-offshore-outsourcing-in-the-philippines/>.
³Pabellon, Jessica. “How the Philippines’ Rising IT Sector Can Service Japan: The Philippines Boast Some of the Finest IT Workers in the World, Argues Jessica Pabellon.” The Free Library. 1 Sep 2003. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.thefreelibrary.com/How+the+Philippines%27+rising+IT+sector+can+service+Japan:+the…-a0108722607>.
⁴“What Country Would You Recommend to Outsource an IT Project To?” Online posting. 25 Feb 2010. ObeliskIndia. 26 Aug 2010 <http://obeliskindia.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-country-would-you-recommend-to.html>.
⁵admin. “Captives vs Third Party Vendors AEC Industry – Making an Intelligent Choice.” Outsourcing Point. 28 Aug 2007. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.outsourcingpoint.com/75/captives-vs-third-party-vendors-aec-industry-making-an-intelligent-choice/>.
⁶Rao, Sath. “Outsourcing: Shifting Competitiveness of Countries in the Globalization Game.” Frost & Sullivan. 3 Mar 2004. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=10759973>.
7“Choosing Your Outsourcing Partner.” E-articles. July 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Choosing-Your-Outsourcing-Partner/>.
⁸admin. “Philippines BPO KPO Registration Incorporation.” Online posting. 30 Mar 2009. BC Philippines Lawyers. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.bcphilippineslawyers.com/philippines-bpo-kpo-registration-incorporation/500/>.

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We have been featured on ASEPCO Quick-Read Newsletter on “Outsourcing CAD: Is It Right for Your Business?” which was written by Jeff Wilber of Pulse DesignTech. ASEPCO is a company for designing and manufacturing the highest quality products in the aseptic processing equipment industry. Read more.

CAD drawing contains all concepts underlying paper drawings, and more. With the use of CAD software, CAD drawings allow users to modify parts of a flexible design or model without repeating it entirely. Thus, CAD conversion from manual to electronic is very beneficial. Digital CAD files, especially those that contain 3D views, provide a lot of information that are helpful in determining errors. They are very useful in architectural designs where users can redraw them when the need to modify the designs arises.

Reference:
Prahlad Parmar. “CAD Conversion Services and Its Benefits.” Online posting. 27 May 2010. ArticlesBase. 20 July 2010 <http://www.articlesbase.com/business-opportunities-articles/cad-conversion-services-and-its-benefits-2480709.html>.

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Reduced product development expenses and lesser design cycles are some advantages of using CAD drawings. Some CAD programs, such as AutoCAD, support conversion from manual drawings to electronic ones. Aside from designing products, some CAD software can also support raster to vector conversion. 2D drafting service, such as 2D drawing corrections, require adherence to CAD layering standards. 3D-based CAD services include 3D rendering services which makes images look like photographs, and animating 3D models. Designs look best with advanced computer technologies such as Pro-E and AutoCAD. CAD/CAM services involve the use of product life cycle management and also include drafting services to convert hand drawings to electronic drawings. They use CAD packages to do the conversion. Mechanical CAD services are very useful for design engineers who deal with assembly drawings for mechanical assemblies, while electrical CAD services are very useful for electrical engineering designers. CAD services provide an end product without the worries caused by limited time period or lot of paper works.

Reference:
Ankita Shah. “Benefits of CAD Services.” Online posting. 3 Jan 2010. Architectural [3D Rendering]. 20 July 2010 <http://www.microbos.com/articles/benefits-of-cad-services.html>.

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Design environments for mechanical CAD are now automated to lessen the time that designers use to do their tasks. Drawings and design concepts are bases for making 3D animation, 3D graphic, 3D background, or 3D logo design. Currently, 3D modeling is widely in use with CAD. CAD design involves 3D mechanical animation models, which are some techniques that are more preferable than others in 3D modeling. 3D design CAD experts use SolidWorks for 3D modeling. Design engineers convert 2D mechanical designs to 3D models and animate, and they follow drawing standards. In product development, 3D modeling services offer working models of products that designers are developing.

Reference:
Dillip Kumar Barik. “Mechanical Cad Design and 3D Modeling Services.” Online posting. 22 Mar 2010. ArticlesBase. 20 July 2010 <http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/mechanical-cad-design-and-3d-modeling-services-2026899.html>.

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For more information about CAD services, please read more.

3D Modeling, Drafting, Product Design, Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks

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2D drawing

- An indirect and incomplete representation of an engineering product or system, subject to interpretation and error¹

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3D

- A real object or true depiction of real image¹

3D computer graphics

- Graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data… that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images³

3D computer graphics software

- Programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery⁹

3D model

- The product of 3D modeling²

- An object that is constructed on three planes²⁷

3D modeling

- The process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object… via specialized software²

- The construction, manipulation, and storage of geometric objects to represent objects… around us or virtual objects¹⁷

3D printing

- A form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by successive layers of material⁶

3D rendering

- The 3D computer graphics process of automatically converting 3D wire frame models into 2D images with 3D photorealistic effects on a computer⁵

3D wireframe

- Extension of 2D drafting¹²

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Assembly modeling

- Technology and methods used by Computer-aided design and Product visualization computer software systems to handle multiple files that represent components within a product¹⁵

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Computer-aided design (CAD)

- The use of computer technology for the design of objects, real or virtual¹²

- A combination of both hardware & software that helps architects, engineers and related professionals in the real estate & manufacturing industry worldwide¹⁸

- An important industrial art extensively used in many applications, including automotive, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, prosthetics, and many more¹²

- A major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics (both hardware and software), and discrete differential geometry¹²

- Especially important technology within the scope of computer-aided technologies, with benefits such as lower product development costs and a greatly shortened design cycle¹²

- One of the many tools used by engineers and designers and is used in many ways depending on the profession of the user and the type of software in question¹²

- One part of the whole Digital Product Development (DPD) activity within the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process¹²

Computer-aided geometric design (CAGD)

- The design of geometric models for object shapes, in particular¹²

Computer animation or CGI animation

- The art of creating moving images with the use of computers¹⁰

- An artful blend of creative vision and technology³¹

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Design intent

- How the creator of the part wants it to respond to changes and updates⁴

DWGgateway

- A free data translation tool that enables any AutoCAD software user to open and edit any DWG file, regardless of the version of AutoCAD it was made in⁴

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eDrawings Professional

- An e-mail-enabled communication tool for reviewing 2D and 3D product design data across the extended product development team⁴

Electronic design automation (EDA or ECAD)

- A category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits²⁶

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Features

- Building blocks of the part⁴

- The shapes and operations that construct the part⁴

FeatureWorks

- Feature recognition software that lets designers make changes to static geometric data, increasing the value of translated files⁴

Flexibility

- The ability to change angles or animate images with quicker rendering of the changes²

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Group

- A starting point for discussions and collaborations²⁸

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Innovation

- A vital ingredient of business success²⁹

Interoperability

- The key issue which integrates various CAD CAM CAE tools¹

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Kinetic design

- Aesthetic design of physical movement³²

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Level sets

- A useful representation for deforming surfaces which undergo many topological changes²

Lighting

- An important aspect of scene setup²

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MACRO (merge and correlate recorded output)

- Anything more than a single command¹⁹

- Rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence should be mapped to an output sequence according to a defined procedure²⁰

Macro program

- Computer programs that capture the user’s actions as if it is recording the user²¹

MoldflowXpress

- A mold design validation tool that was built into a solid modeling environment⁴

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Parameters

- Constraints whose values determine the shape or geometry of the model or assembly⁴

Polygonal modeling

- An approach for modeling objects by representing or approximating their surfaces using polygons⁸

Print3D

- A 3D printing feature that allows users to convert their 3D CAD model to a .STL file and then have it sent to specialty manufacturers for quote⁴

Procedural modeling

- An umbrella term for a number of techniques in computer graphics to create 3D models and textures from sets of rules⁷

Product design

- The efficient and effective generation and development of ideas through a process that leads to new products³⁰

Pro/ENGINEER

- A parametric, integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE solution created by Parametric Technology Corporation¹³

- The first to market with parametric, feature-based, associative solid modeling software¹³

- An integral part of a broader product development system developed by PTC¹³

- A piece of software that falls within the category of CAD/CAM/CAE and site alongside other similar products currently on the market¹³

- A feature based modeling architecture incorporated into a single database philosophy with advanced rule based design capabilities¹³

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Skeletal animation

- A technique in computer animation, particularly in the animation of vertebrates, in which a character is represented in two parts: a surface representation used to draw the character… and a hierarchical set of bones used for animation only¹¹

Solid modeling

- A consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids¹⁴

SolidWorks

- A 3D mechanical CAD… program that runs on Microsoft Windows and was developed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks… a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes⁴

- A competitor to CAD programs such as Pro/ENGINEER, I-DEAS, Unigraphics, and CATIA⁴

- A parasolid-based solid modeler⁴

SolidWorks Flow Simulation

- A tool that tests fluid-flow simulation and thermal analysis so designers can conduct tests on virtual prototypes⁴

SolidWorks MoldBase

- A catalog of standard mold base assemblies and components⁴

SolidWorks Motion

- A virtual prototyping tool that provides motion simulation capabilities to ensure designs function properly⁴

SolidWorks Simulation

- A design validation tool that shows engineers how their designs will behave as physical objects⁴

SolidWorks Simulation Premium

- A design validation tool that caters to designers without engineering background⁴

SolidWorks Sustainability

- A product that measures the environmental impact of designs while they are modeled in SolidWorks⁴

SolidWorks Toolbox

- A library of parts that uses “Smart Part” Technology to automatically select fasteners and assemble them in the desired sequence⁴

SolidWorks Utilities

- Software that lets designers find differences between two versions of the same part, or locate, modify, and suppress features within a model⁴

SolidWorks Viewer

- A free plug-in for viewing SolidWorks parts, assemblies, and drawings⁴

SolidWorks Workgroup PDM

- A PDM tool that allows SolidWorks users operating in teams of 10 members or less to work on designs concurrently⁴

Sub-forum

- A great place to share your experiences and do your Q&A with other users²⁸

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Technical drawing or Drafting

- The academic discipline of creating standardized technical drawings by architects, interior designers, drafters, design engineers, and related professionals¹⁶

- Integral communication of technical or engineering drawings and is the industrial arts sub-discipline that underlies all involved technical endeavors¹⁶

- Means of clearly and concisely communicating all of the information necessary to transform an idea or a concept into reality²²

- Drawing plan, rendered to scale, used to communicate direction and specifics to a group of people creating something²³

- Formal and precise way of communicating information about the shape, size, features and precision of physical objects²⁴

- Universal language of engineering used in the design process for solving problems, quickly and accurately visualizing objects, and conducting analysis²⁴

- A graphical representation of objects and structures²⁴

- Expression of bodies by lines²⁴

- Skill, a vocation²⁵

Tessellation

- The process of transforming representations of objects, such as transforming the middle point coordinate of a sphere and a point on its circumference into a polygon representation of a sphere²

- A significant contributing factor to the resulting aesthetic and visual quality of the finished work²

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References:
¹Sunith. “Transforming a 2D Drawing to 3D CAD Data.” Online posting. 10 June 2009. CAD Professor. 19 July 2010 <http://www.cadprofessor.in/2009/06/transforming-a-2d-drawing-to-3d-cad-data/>.
²“3D modeling.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_modeling>.
³“3D computer graphics.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_computer_graphics>.
⁴“SolidWorks.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolidWorks>.
⁵“3D rendering.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_rendering>.
⁶“3D printing.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_Printing>.
⁷“Procedural modeling.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_modeling>.
⁸“Polygonal modeling.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_modeling>.
⁹“3D computer graphics software.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_modeler>.
¹⁰“Computer animation.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_animation>.
¹¹“Skeletal animation.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeletal_animation>.
¹²“Computer-aided design.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAD>.
¹³“Pro/ENGINEER.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro/ENGINEER>.
¹⁴“Solid modeling.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_modeling>.
¹⁵“Assembly modelling.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_modelling>.
¹⁶“Technical drawing.” Wikipedia. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 19 July 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_drawing>.
¹⁷Dillip Kumar Barik. “Mechanical Cad Design and 3D Modeling Services.” Online posting. 22 Mar 2010. ArticlesBase. 20 July 2010 <http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/mechanical-cad-design-and-3d-modeling-services-2026899.html>.
¹⁸cadserviceireland. “Affordable CAD Services and CAD 3D Modeling Services.” Online posting. 1 Mar 2009. A1Articles. 20 July 2010 <http://www.a1articles.com/article_801232_15.html>.
¹⁹Ralph Grabowski. “TIPS: Macros.” Online posting. 5 Feb 2004. WorldCAD Access. 26 July 2010 <http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/2004/02/tips_macros.html>.
²⁰Srivastava, Rahul. Customization of CAD Modeling Software using Parametric Macros for Design of Machinable Artistic Surface Patterns. Patiala: Thapar University, 2009. 27 July 2010 <http://dspace.thapar.edu:8080/dspace/bitstream/10266/1033/1/RAHUL+SRIVASTAVA+80781021-+2009.pdf>.
²¹Schoonmaker, Stephen J. The CAD Guidebook: A Basic Manual for Understanding and Improving Computer-Aided Design. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2003.
²²Goetsch, David L., et al. Technical Drawing. 5th ed. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning, c2005.
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For more information about CAD services, please read more.

Many small and medium sized businesses have engineering departments where the need for a minimal number of employees is a must.  To profit from a small or medium sized business, you need to control costs; this includes only hiring engineers that you will need on a regular basis.  Thanks to the Internet and ever improving global communication, there is a solution that integrates the finances of a small or medium sized business with the fluctuating needs of the engineering department.  The solution is managed outsource CAD.

Managed outsource CAD is a great asset to a small or medium sized business that has some in-house engineering expertise but periodically needs additional CAD resources.  You are not restricted by the confines of your town or city, and you can access remarkable CAD talent from all over the world.  You can tap into superb skills through outsourcing that you may find elusive when hiring a full-time local engineer.  However, not every business owner or company manager has the time, finances, or know-how to seek out and contact CAD engineers from half-way around the world.  That is where a managed outsource CAD solutions provider comes in to find and hire talented professionals so when your company needs CAD engineers for peak load or special projects, you know right where to look.

Advantages of Outsourcing

Cost-Effective

The most compelling advantage of outsourcing a portion of your company’s CAD engineering needs is that it is a cost-effective solution.  Costs are incurred only when you are using the service.  There are many duties that a company must address when it has employees.  The company has an ongoing responsibility to their workers, which is often costly.  For example, a company has the obligation of providing their employees with a specific amount of work each week.   There may also be obligations to provide your employees with health benefits, overtime, holiday pay, paid sick days, or other incentives.  These full time employment related costs can be a financial drain; especially if related personnel are not 100% loaded with revenue generating work.

Managed outsourcing is popular with companies that have a core of key employees who can use CAD outsourcing to leverage productivity and complete special projects or tasks.

Fewer Worries

The second advantage of CAD outsourcing is that there are fewer worries involved as compared to hiring company employees.  When you establish a relationship with a company that specializes in providing CAD engineers to small and medium sized business, several time-consuming duties are provided by the company for you.  You will not have to recruit or search for employees or conduct time consuming interviews with prospective hires.  A managed outsource CAD provider has already spent a great amount of money finding talented CAD engineers, tested each candidate to determine their skills, checked backgrounds to verify credentials, and chosen the best of the group.

Scheduling is no longer your worry.  Once you email or call the outsource CAD provider and describe your project or needs, they will take over and determine which CAD engineers are right for your project and if they are available to complete your project within the time frame specified.  They may also have the resources to schedule several employees if you have a large project that has to be completed in a short time frame.  Of course, it is always best to start a managed CAD relationship with a small project and allow time to establish good communication and evaluate the quality of work.

Administrative Details

Another issue handled by a managed CAD provider is the paperwork and tax responsibilities that go along with hiring and maintaining employees (time cards, payroll reporting, annual filings).  The managed CAD provider is a single vendor, generally invoicing for services on an agreed upon schedule.  Typically, an invoice will include details of the work performed and you have an opportunity to review it before payment is made.

One of the hardest aspects of hiring someone is if you eventually have to fire them.  Many managers and business owners dread having to tell someone that their services are no longer needed by the company.   However, the financial cost and toll on employee morale resulting when an employee is not producing at the expected level can be devastating.  Good engineers resent having to pull the weight of an underperforming co-worker; or worse, having to correct their mistakes.  Working conditions like these can drive away your top engineering talent.  When you use the services of a managed outsourcing company, you no longer have to worry about these issues.  If the work is not up to the agreed standard, you notify the company and it is their job to fix it.  If the assigned CAD engineer did not finish their work or failed to complete the project requirements satisfactorily, a reputable provider will schedule another engineer to complete the project, often at no additional charge to you.

Choices

One final aspect of using managed outsourced CAD is that the services can be used when you need them, no more and no less.  If you need one engineer for one project or four engineers for another project, the effort to engage them is the same for you. You have only a single call or email to the provider and they go to work assembling the team for your project.

To sum it all up, there are many advantages when it comes to leveraging your in-house engineering talent with managed outsourced CAD engineers.  It can provide small and medium sized companies with the resources traditionally available only to large, multi-national corporations.   It offers the flexibility to match your required resource to your project and budget.