Taking designs from idea to reality with SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Designer

Like many SOLIDWORKS users, J.G. WEISSER was looking for a way to work more closely with customers to evaluate their challenges and validate design concepts earlier in the sales cycle. Theleading global manufacturer of multifunctional precision turning machines and machining systems for major car manufacturers often struggled with the best way to communicate how a machine worked to prospective customers. The complex machines are not easily communicated via pen and paper, especially to customers around the world who speak different languages.

WEISSER joined the SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Designer Lighthouse program to explore using the Internet and more agile concept development tools to accelerate the design and validation of machine concepts prior to winning an order. The company now shares new machine concepts and project information with customers and sales personnel in real-time via secure web access to an online, design community.

The immediate connection to customers reduced the time it takes for customers to make purchasing decisions. “We can take a customer’s shop floor layout into SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Designer software and arrange new machine concepts to fit the customer’s particular factory footprint,” says Executive Director of Engineering Thorsten Rettich. “Visual information allows us to overcome language barriers and incorporate customer input without having to travel, hold a meeting, or schedule a call. SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Design software lets us work both faster and smarter.”

SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Designer also includes integrated finite element analysis, motion studies and other simulation tools that allow WEISSER to better validate its early machine concepts. The company can easily check the natural frequencies of the turning machines to avoid vibration, rumbling, and chattering and gain insights on where to install chucks, grips, and clamps. The concepts are then easily brought into SOLIDWORKS CAD for the final product development – something that can’t be done with pen and paper.

By implementing SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Designer, WEISSER reduced design time by 20 to 30 percent, shortened its sales cycle from weeks to days, improved communications with customers worldwide, and resolved vibration issues early in development.

Watch this video to learn more about how WEISSER uses SOLIDWORKS Conceptual Designer:

Read the white paper to discover how you can add social innovation to your conceptual design:

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Kristen Wilson

Senior Manager Brand Offer Marketing, SolidWorks at Dassault Systemes

As the Senior Director of Communications, 3DEXPERIENCE Works, Kristen drives marketing strategy and oversees the team responsible for developing and executing multi-touch marketing plans across the Buyer's Journey, including 3DEXPERIENCE World.