Clemson Engineering Technologies Laboratory

The Challenge

The Clemson Engineering Technologies Laboratory (CETL) is a contract research laboratory within the College of Engineering and Science of Clemson University. Activities within the CETL range from design, construction, and evaluation of chemical and mechanical processing equipment used by the U.S. Department of Energy to product development and prototyping of concepts for industrial and entrepreneurial clients. This diversity of applications requires the capability to use existing CAD files, to create drawings for fabrication, and to create solid models for prototyping and/or visualization.

The Solution

Several modeling packages were evaluated initially, including AutoCAD, 3DStudio MAX, and some lower end modeling software. CETL selected SolidWorks because it provided the greatest flexibility for modeling, drawing creation, and solid model exporting for prototyping and visualization. Work done at the CETL is extremely diverse in nature and requires the wide range of capabilities SolidWorks provides, including parametric modeling, integrated FEA, and mold-flow analysis. Enabled the CETL to enter new areas of contract research such as cast metal prototype by using SolidWorks to design patterns that were then printed on a 3D printer.