Aerospace toolmaker goes beyond 3D
Published Fri 19 Jun 2009
Leading French aerospace supplier Techman-Head is creating digital models to rapidly expand its line of maintenance tools using Inventor.
Founded in 1986, Techman-Head is one of only four companies in the world licensed as a contractor and producer of tools for the two main aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. Inventor helps Techman-Head go beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping, enabling them to design, simulate and visualise their designs before they are ever built.
“Inventor helps us rapidly design a range of maintenance tools, and the software suite’s power makes it ideal for the development of our tool parts,” said Philippe Chirade, design office manager at Techman-Head. “It also offers a range of native converters that can read and write files from and to other CAD applications, and standard converters such as STEP.”
Now, when producing tools for aircraft, Techman-Head reuses exact digital models provided by the plane maker within Inventor. For example, Techman-Head engineers can easily exchange data between Inventor 2010 and CATIA V5, the CAD system used by Airbus. Its engineers need the flexibility to use the tools that best meet their needs, and routinely take advantage of the ability to read and write CATIA files on products like the engine tripod jack they designed for the Airbus A350.
“With the A380, we really crossed a threshold. Airbus directors decided to develop the plane in five years, half the time previously required for a project of that size,” continued Chirade. “So we chose Inventor to create a single 3D digital prototype for each of our products, and as a result have continually reduced design errors and saved time and money.”
