More time for creative product development - Intelligent Find methods make it possible

For engineers working in a chaotic data set, it may be tempting at first to simply create a brand new part instead of searching for an existing component; this however leads to extensive extra work in the long run. Why don’t many engineers search first? The answer: Often no adequate search facilities are available, which makes searching very time consuming.

The consequence of insufficient searching or unnecessary new designs are i.a.

• 2D production drawings are not available and have to be created anew
• CAM programing has to be created for later production
• Master data files and work plans have to be created anew in ERP & PLM which is very time consuming and expensive

Already existing and reusable components can mean enormous time savings for engineers and downstream departments. Thanks to the vacated time, engineers can concentrate even more on the creative designing of new and innovative products.

A CADENAS survey shows the many varied types of search methods appreciated by engineers and buyers.

CADENAS’ Strategic Parts Management PARTsolutions offers a multitude of intelligent search methods, which help to find the necessary part in a non-classified parts master. And in contrast to the traditional classification of parts strains users don’t have to learn another new class system, or adapt their search behavior to the system. The search functions can also be applied to both standard and supplier parts including company specific parts.

Among the various intelligent search methods include the following:

• Full-text Search - Click here for the video
• 3D Geometric Similarity Search - Click here for the video
• 2D Sketch Search - Click here for the video
• Topology Search - Click here for the video
• Unmachined Part Search - Click here for the video
• Color Search - Click here for the video

PARTsolutions provides engineers and purchasers with not just a simple search function, but rather a comprehensive solution. With this solution, through the clever combination of the individual search methods, completely new engineering applications can be uncovered.
The following example illustrates how a new mold tool can be cheaply constructed thanks to the combination of intelligent search methods. Geometrically similar plastic components are searched first. From this, the used molding tool can be derivated. With a small modification of the existing tool, a suitable tool can be generated for the new component in very little time.

For further examples of how companies have successfully implemented their individual solutions by skillful combination of search methods by CADENAS, see the PARTsolutions brochure.

For information about Strategic Parts Management PARTsolutions and intelligent search methods, see:
www.cadenas.de/geometric-similarity-search