ESAB speeds modeling time by 40% with 3D controllers from 3Dconnexion

Groundbreaking 3D Skills Program introduces non-users to SolidWorks

ESAB produces consumables and equipment for virtually every welding and cutting process and application. Almost 100 years of continuous research, development, and manufacture have made ESAB the world leader in welding and cutting and also an international supplier of products, know-how, and services to companies in a number of industries including the transport and off-road vehicle industry, the offshore, shipbuilding, power, process, and construction industries, and more.

ESAB has a strong position – supported by extensive distribution networks – in all of its major markets. The ESAB group is organized in five regions: Europe, North America, South America, Asia/Pacific, and India. Production units for machines and consumables are located in efficient plants all over the world.

Recently, ESAB mechanical engineer Joseph Saliba spoke with SolidWorks Express about the company's decision to use 3Dconnexion products.

Which 3Dconnexion products are you using now?
"I am now using a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse. Actually, all 23 mechanical designers at ESAB AB are using a SpaceMouse."

Using a 3D motion controller, you can intuitively zoom, pan, and rotate your 3D model as naturally as if you were holding it in your hand. How does this help you create a better product?
"I can discover if the model fits at an early stage. I can do things faster."

In what ways does using the SpaceMouse help you design products that match more closely your design intent?
"It is faster to build a model when you can at the same time rotate, pan, and zoom with one hand – using the SpaceMouse – and make other choices by using the other mouse. It is easy to discover if the new construction is good enough. I feel as if I am holding the new product in my hand."

How has this product increased your productivity?
"Well, everyone works much faster using both hands instead of using only one. Right? It is more ergonomic to use the right and left hands than using only one hand. If I want to mate two parts, I can reduce the time for this operation by 35 to 40 percent when I use the SpaceMouse."

How has using this product made it easier to see relationships between complex assembly components and to examine form, fit, and function?
"With the SpaceMouse, I can zoom or move one part and detect if I have a collision between two parts."

How has it helped with early detection of design errors?
"I check the design every time I insert a new part. When all mating is done, I rotate, zoom, and pan the assembly to make sure that all is OK."

Can you provide an example of how much faster you can get products to market?
"We can decrease the construction time by 30 to 40 percent. It depends, of course, on the size of the machine. The latest machine, which is one of our biggest, weighs 34 tons. The SKB machine is intended to weld on the nuclear waste tubes by using the friction stir welding method. The construction time for this machine was four months and we were only three mechanical designers."

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