Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

SolidWorks launches SolidWorks 3D Skills Program

Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics, of Portland, Oregon is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and certification of commercial Head-Up Guidance Systems (HGS®) - advanced technology cockpit displays that present all critical flight information on a transparent glass screen in the pilot's forward field of view. Recently, SolidWorks Express spoke with Patricia Flagg, mechanical technician at Rockwell Collins, about the company's use of GeometryWorks software.

Why does your company need GeometryWorks?
"Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics on occasion has to modify existing lining panels for the cockpit of major airlines, to encapsulate our equipment. GeometryWorks has become a supportive tool in completing the complex tasks of surfacing these panels, when no original CAD data is available."

Why is single-window integration with SolidWorks® software a benefit?
"It's always convenient to have extra viewing space, while working in SolidWorks."

What are the benefits of using GeometryWorks?
"GeometryWorks can create surfaces very easily, with a variety of options, which saves time and effort in creating the resultant SolidWorks models."

Could you provide an example of the benefits of using GeometryWorks?
"Recently, I designed a lining panel with only scanned data of the interior of the cockpit and the existing panel. The airframe was digitized and the scanned data that was created was saved as an IGES file. After importing the IGES data into the coordinates of the airplane, I was able to create surfaces from that file. The fact that the scanned data is digitized by hand results in less than perfect splines being imported into SolidWorks from the IGES file. By using the resources of GeometryWorks, I was able to take those splines and break or add points to them. (There are plenty of options to pick when performing these commands.) Then I was able to create smoother splines for smoother lofts and sweeps. A couple of surface commands I used a number of times were the coons four-sided surface, and ruled surface. With the occasional shaped surface going around a window profile, these commands worked out great! In the end, there is so much more of GeometryWorks to experience, to get the maximum benefits of its performance."

Related Links:

• GeometryWorks3D
  • PH Molds