ATLANTA, GA (Solid Edge University 2014) - Hiroshi Takaki, president of EDA, a Solid Edge developer, was on hand to show the Edge Design Configurator, which uses an Excel spreadsheet as a front end to create and manage configurations in Solid Edge.
EDC is a rules-based application but unlike the other better known DriveWorks and Rulestream, the use of a spreadsheet front end -- and playing well with Solid Edge -- set it apart. Most configurators have you jump right into equations and programming, which means having to learn syntax and language. With EDC, the equations are in the spreadsheets. The customer can create the spreadsheets, but EDA, based in Bellingham, Washington, will do that as a service so a company can get up and running quickly. Mr Takaki shows me one project from a large manufacturing company he has created for $15K for one of their product lines. Clearly, the customer was banking on an ROI that, with a parts configurator, can be rapid. Imagine changing a few cells in a spreadsheet and out comes a part. "No need to learn Solid Edge," says Mr Takaki, who says he was able to do the project in one month what would might have taken the company 18 months with no guarantee of success.
Says TenLinks judge, Elise Moss: "Design Configurator for Solid Edge is a great tool. I have had several clients who wanted something like this- a web-based tool, so customers could create a design of their choosing, build the parts list, get the quote, and then order. It looked like a nice clean interface and worth the investment."
EDA will generate a spreadsheet with parameters (example: height, thickness, etc.) plus embedded rules, thereby capturing the "design knowledge" of a part. A custom menu includes actions such as a creating a script that Solid Edge will read to actually create the part.
EDA also works with Solid Edge and AutoCAD.
If you have never used a configurator, try EDA's live configurator at http://www.edainc.net/ . It will design a simple enclosure and email you a parts file so you open in your Solid Edge, SOLIDWORKS or AutoCAD.
Solid Edge University Judges
Roopinder Tara, TenLinks' founder and CEO, has spent over 28 years in the CAD, CAM and CAE business, including roles as CAD manager, senior engineer, manager of a CAD division, editor in chief of CAD magazine, conference chair, professor of engineering and CAD. He has a masters in engineering and is a registered professional engineer. More...
Elise Moss has been teaching Autodesk and SolidWorks software for the past decade. She is an Autodesk Certified Instructor and teaches at an Autodesk Authorized Training Center in San Francisco. She speaks regularly at SolidWorks World and leads the Oakland SolidWorks user group. Elise has a mechanical engineering degree. More...
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