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3DCS Variation Analyst

For Dassault Systemes' SOLIDWORKS

Tolerance Analysis software fully integrated into SOLIDWORKS CAD platform

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Advanced Tolerance Stack-Up Simulation

Manufacturers across the globe reduce defects and improve their products with 3DCS software for 3D Tolerance Analysis

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The Leading Tolerance Analysis Solution - What is it?

3DCS Variation Analyst for SOLIDWORKS (3DCS for SOLIDWORKS) is an integrated software solution in SOLIDWORKS that simulates product assembly and part tolerance 3D stack-ups through Monte Carlo Analysis, Equation-Based, and High-Low-Median (Sensitivity) Analysis.
 

Activated as a workbench in SOLIDWORKS, 3DCS for SOLIDWORKS simulates part and process variation with three kinds of simulation to provide an understanding of your product's quality. This can be viewed as a variety of metrics from Cp, estimated percent out of specification, range of variation, and more. These analyses give you an understanding of your risk of product failure as well as the sources of variation to hone in on the source of the problem.

Why Use CAD Integrated Software?

Integrated CAD tools provide a streamlined approach to analysis that improves adoption, training, and process implementation. With the ability to open 3DCS for SOLIDWORKS in the CAD platform, and utilize PMI, and CAD characteristics, implementation of 3DCS as a tolerance analysis tool becomes easy to learn and apply.

With an integrated modeling approach, 3DCS saves the analysis data in the model files, letting users manage their CAD model in leading PLM systems like Teamcenter, Windchill, Enovia, and 3DEXPERIENCE and automatically bring their tolerance analysis along. This answers the challenge of both file management and version control.

Model Assembly Process and Part Tolerances - How does 3DCS work?

3DCS for SOLIDWORKS uses three methods of simulation;

1. Monte Carlo Simulation

2. High-Low-Median (Sensitivity analysis) 

3. GeoFactor (RSS equation) Analysis

By accurately modeling the assembly, you can see how both the assembly process and the part tolerances contribute to the product's overall variation.  Together, this creates a virtual prototype that can be used to make decisions about design changes and tooling while reducing non-conformance that leads to scrap and rework. 

How does 3DCS Work? Watch the FREE video series on 3DCS

Gain Greater Insight Into Your Design

The Cost of Quality in PLMSimulating products in a digital environment gives engineers the ability to account for variation in key areas; reducing rework, non-conformance, and scrap at final assembly early in the design phase when changes are least expensive.

In addition to this, specifications deemed less critical can be relaxed, increasing tolerances and allowing the use of less expensive manufacturing processes. Creating 3-dimensional tolerance stack-ups let engineers know where to focus when measuring and designing, and the ability to create what-if studies allow them to determine solutions that include both process and part tolerances to keep quality high and costs down. 

PART OF THE DCS SCALABLE SOLUTION

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Expand Tolerance Analysis across your organization with the DCS Scalable Solution, leveraging Model-Based Definition to drive quality downstream. 

Upgrade Your 3D Tolerance Analysis with 3DCS Advanced Features and Add-on Modules

Analyze Patterns of Holes and Pins
Analyze Complex Hole / Pin Patterns
No Add-ons Needed!
1D Excel Stacks under report variation
Why Upgrade from Excel?
Learn what Excel is missing
Add Finite Element Analysis to 3DCS
Analyze Flexible Parts and Assemblies
3DCS FEA Compliant Modeler Add-on
Add additional analyzers and optimizers to 3DCS
Add 6 Advanced Analyzers & Optimizers
3DCS AAO Add-on
Add mechanical joints and constraints to 3DCS
Model Mechanical Joints, Constraints, Kinematics
3DCS Mechanical Modeler Add-on
Utilize Visualization for Perceived Quality
View Variation with Photo Realism
3DCS Visualization Export Add-on

Key Product Highlights

3DCS for SOLIDWORKS is an advanced analysis tool giving you the information to make important decisions on quality

Integrated into CATIA V5 & 3DEXPERIENCE
Integrated in SOLIDWORKS
Integrated in CREO
Integrated in NX
Analyze INVENTOR CAD Models

3DCS Key Features

How does 3DCS help you reduce lead times, scrap, and rework?

PMI - Validate and Optimize GD&T 

Utilize Embedded GD&T (PMI)

3DCS for SOLIDWORKS can use PMI (Product Manufacturing Information) and embedded GD&T from your CAD to instantly tolerance your parts. Simulate the build to validate your tolerances, then make adjustments to optimize for cost, quality, and variation control. Once complete, push your tolerances back to CAD and update your models. 

Value:

  • Build analysis models faster (embedded GD&T is not required for a model)
  • Push button import of CAD GD&T
  • Validate and optimize your GD&T in 3DCS as a test lab, then push back when ready
SOLIDWORKS GD&T and Design Changes

Perceived Quality - Determine Design Objectives with Visualization

Reduce the need for expensive prototypes

Create life-like images of your product showing worst case scenarios to determine the visual impact of variation stack-ups. Use these studies to determine maximum and minimum tolerances during design and communicate with engineering. Once engineers have determined the manufacturing tolerances, recreate the studies to see how your actual product will look with worst case tolerance stack-ups. These studies together help you improve the Perceived Quality of your product as well as your build quality. 

Value:

  • Determine the impact of variation on the appearance of your product
  • See what worst case scenarios will look like on final product
  • Improve both build and perceived quality of products
Digital Camera -- Perceived Quality Study

Reduce Risk - Find Contributors and Make Iterative Design Changes

Find the sources of your variation and simulate your changes to determine impact

Find the source of variation, honing in on either particular part tolerances, or processes. Many times the source of variation is in the assembly process and the solution does not require the changing of tolerances. This can give engineers the ability to improve quality without having to make costly tolerance adjustments. In addition, tolerance and process changes can be made in the model and simulated to find optimal conditions to get the greatest increase in quality at the lowest cost. 

Value:

  • Find primary source of variation issues from either tolerances or assembly process
  • Make changes and determine the affect of variation
  • Use iterative changes to create the optimal design for maximum quality and minimum cost
3DCS Model with Monte Carlo Simulation

Communicate - Create Reports and Measurement Plans to Collaborate

Streamline the creation and communication of measurement plans and results

Use reports and measurement plans to communicate results across the organization. Detailed engineering reports communicate with other design teams the inputs and outputs of the model so that the results can be repeated and understood. Management Reports communicate the key outputs to managers to support key decision making. Measurement Plans communicate important areas and particular points to be measured at the plant or CMM room to control variation and watch for out-of-spec and non-conformance conditions. 

Value:

  • Quickly communicate detailed inputs and outputs with customers and other teams
  • Share key outputs with managers to support important decision making
  • Create Measurement Plans tied to CAD for the manufacturing plant to use in order to control and monitor variation effectively in production, answering the question, 'Where should we measure?'
3DCS Report - Simulation Results

Digital Twin - Simulate Fixtures, Tooling, and Processes 

Add tooling to your analysis, along with manufacturing processes, and multi-stage assemblies

Find the source of variation, honing in on either particular part tolerances, or processes. Many times the source of variation is in the assembly process and the solution does not require the changing of tolerances. This can give engineers the ability to improve quality without having to make costly tolerance adjustments. In addition, tolerance and process changes can be made in the model and simulated to find optimal conditions to get the greatest increase in quality at the lowest cost. 

Value:

  • Find primary source of variation issues from either tolerances or assembly process
  • Make changes and determine the affect of variation
  • Use iterative changes to create the optimal design for maximum quality and minimum cost
3DCS for SOLIDWORKS Patient Lift Assist

GeoFactor - Analyze the Relationship Between Components

Find the multiplicative effect on tolerances from assembly geometry

Determine the geometric relationship between tolerances and the overall assembly. How much of an effect will changing particular tolerances have on the product's dimensional quality?

Click to Learn More about GeoFactor Analysis

3DCS GeoFactor Highlight
Advantages during the pre-production phase are root cause analysis - only recently we've actually really started using the software to root cause the problems. We've found that looking at the contributor lists, for example, really help us get to the root cause of the problems and propose solutions.”

Laurence Allmark,

Senior New Product Quality Engineer, McLaren Automotive

Learn More with Webinars and Articles

Learn more about 3DCS and upcoming webinars from the DCS Blog - Engineering Talk

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