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MAE 455 Computer-Aided Design and Drafting

Using Vendor e-Catalogs

Identifying Needed Components &

Obtaining Component Model Files

MAE 455 Computer-Aided Design and Drafting 2

Component Searches– Old way vs. New way

• When manufacturing a product, a large percentage of componentsare typically obtained from vendors, rather than being manufactured in-house.

• The designer is typically responsible for identifying the needed components, and determining whether they will function properlyin the product.

• The old pre-Internet way of performing these activities, was to:

1. Identify components in paper catalogs or on Microfiche

2. Draft the components by referencing vendor drawings

• The new Information-age way of performing these activities is to:

1. Perform an Internet search for components.

2. Download model files and insert into assembly model

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MAE 455 Computer-Aided Design and Drafting 3

Performing a Component Search

• Searches can be performed in 3 ways:

– Keyword search – in Google, Yahoo or other search engine, type in words that describe the component, being as specific as possible.

– Hierarchical search – using GlobalSpec (www.globalspec.com),

Thomas Register (www.thomasnet.com), traceparts

(www.tracepartsonline.net), PARTSolutions (www.part-solutions.com) or other hierarchically organized oracle, choose product category starting at highest level and then be more specific as you work your way down. Some sites allow specifying limits on engineering and dimension parameters to narrow the search.

– Shape-based search – use 3DSearchIT, PartSolutions or other shape search software to look through company records to find existing components with shape similar to what you need.

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Downloading Model Files

• CAD model files are available on the web– Vendors provide CAD models of the components they sell (e.g.,

www.mcmaster.com, www.reidsupply.com, www.8020.net).

– Engineering web site companies host vendor model files (e.g.,

www.tracepartsonline.net).

– On-line communities share model files on their web sites (e.g., www.wwufsae.com/Shared_FSAE_CAD_Library, www.3dcontentcentral.com)

• These are available in different formats:– Bitmap Image (e.g., JPG, GIF)

– 2D Drawing (e.g., AutoCAD dwg)

– 3D Surface model (e.g., VRML)

– Boundary-Representation models (“dumb solid;” e.g., IGES, STEP)

– Solid model with construction history (i.e., can modify parameters, but must be given in native CAD software-specific format)