Concept to Reality: 4 Tools to Help Bridge the Gap
Getting a product to market can be an extremely complex process with many twists and turns along the way. At Acorn we have made it our business to understand those complexities so we can guide our clients through while delivering the best possible products along the way. Although we use a variety of different assets, experiences, and methodologies depending on a project's needs we wanted to highlight some of the engineering tools that help us on a regular basis. From an Acorn-developed tolerance calculator to publicly available assets, these 4 tools can help bridge the gap when turning an idea into reality.
01: Acorn Tolerance Calculator
In a perfect world, a finished product will perfectly match what is shown in a 3D CAD model. However, parts deviate in size and will fall within a certain tolerance range after fabrication since no manufacturing method is perfect. Fortunately, Acorn has a tolerance calculator to calculate several tolerance loops of a particular design.
02: FEA Tool
In order to ensure that a design is able to withstand the required external forces and moments, an FEA (Finite element analysis) study is a critical element of the design process. Within most 3D CAD packages, a FEA tool is available which allows an engineer to set up external forces, assign materials and run FEA’s to confirm or deny a design’s structural integrity.
03: FITS Calculator
Often times, a design will require different types of fits (clearance, transition, press) in order to locate critical components within an assembly which might include dowel pins in a hole, rotating shafts in a bearing, etc. Using a reference Fits calculator is a useful tool for spec’ing hole and shaft diameters across an entire assembly.
https://amesweb.info/fits-tolerances/tolerance-calculator.aspx
04: GD&T Basics Guide
To fabricate a design, a vendor generally requires 3D models that are used for the fabrication process. However, if there are certain parts that require tight or specific tolerances, GD&T (geometric dimensioning & tolerancing) is applied to 2D drawings to communicate to a vendor which features of a part or assembly need additional attention and final quality checks.
Fill out the form below to get direct help with making your concepts a reality or learn more about our Acorn tolerance calculator. Take advantage of a free consultaion today by telling us all about how we can help you navigate through the product development process!