Engineering Sense
Singapore-based Applied Science Venture Pte. Ltd.'s (ASV) mission can be summarized in one word: innovation. Its niche is practical and userfriendly products that can be used in everyday life. Some examples include pest control products, air cleaners for homes and vehicles, equipment that helps people save electricity, cup holders and mugs that grip onto surfaces to prevent spilling, water bottles and thermal bags that keep drinks hot or cold for hours.
In order to create patentable technology, which it then rapidly translates into marketable products, company officials strongly believe in collaboration through joint R&D ventures with local and foreign companies. They strive to create positive, long-termbusiness relationships and take pride in seeing concepts evolve and mature.
"We are always aspiring to innovate," explains Gerard Chua, R&D engineer at ASV. "Our goal in product development is to create the most practical and user-friendly products that are applicable in everyday life. Furthermore, we enjoy the challenges of creating patentable technology, which we quickly translate into highly marketable products for our customers in order to provide the highest level of satisfaction for all our consumers."
ENTERING ANOTHER DIMENSION
Since its inception in 2003, ASV used 2D computer-aided design (CAD) tool, but the increasing complexity of its products made this an impractical approach.
Since its inception in 2003, ASV used 2D computer-aided design (CAD) tool, but the increasing complexity of its products made this an impractical approach.
"We needed to move to 3D because our products were growing more complex and it was difficult to visualize them in 2D," explains Chua.
The company now uses Siemens PLM Software Solid Edge software -- a 3D CAD software -- for all its design needs. Chua notes that a key reason for selecting Solid Edge was that it enables 3D and 2D files that are legible for other software to read, eliminating conversion time.
"It is a powerful and excellent platform," he adds. The migration to 3D went smoothly, in large because Solid Edge was easy to learn. "Within the first day I was creating models in Solid Edge and I completed my first design, which was fairly a complex remote control, within two weeks," says Chua.
Chua and other ASV R&D engineers use Solid Edge every day to design plastic and metal parts, which they then assemble on-screen to visualize how things fit together and to check for interferences. This has been the most significant benefit of 3D.
"This is so totally different from 2D," Chua explains. "Our products now have 50 to 60 parts and interference checking is absolutely critical to reducing design errors. Solid Edge makes this possible."
Chua says it takes very little time with Solid Edge to develop a basic concept for an initial design review. Further along in the design process, he takes advantage of Solid Edge Virtual Studio to create highly realistic images of prospective products.
"We have more effective design reviews because we can render images with actual materials such as plastic and ceramic to get a total look at the product," he says.
When a design is finished Chua uses Solid Edge to quickly generate accurate drawings and bills of material from the 3D models.
"Our main use for the software is still in designing," says Chua. "However, we have begun to explore new uses and creativity in order to maximize the potential of the Solid Edge features." For example, ASV engineers use Solid Edge to simulate the installation procedure for certain products.
REWARDING RESULTS
Thanks to the many advantages of working in 3D, ASV has improved and reduced design time, which leads to better productivity and the ability to work within a limited timeframe to get products to market. Additionally, improving the design process enables ASV to reduce errors by working within an environment that makes it easy to change or edit principle drawings.
Thanks to the many advantages of working in 3D, ASV has improved and reduced design time, which leads to better productivity and the ability to work within a limited timeframe to get products to market. Additionally, improving the design process enables ASV to reduce errors by working within an environment that makes it easy to change or edit principle drawings.
Chua also finds that Solid Edge's openness helps by allowing him to import existing parts models, assembly models and drawings (even those created in other CAD programs) and re-use them in his own designs.
With Solid Edge, ASV is achieving its goal of creating innovative products. At the Singapore Gifts and Premiums Fair 2006, three of the company's products made it into the finals of the competition, and one of them, the FunB, took second place. CG