Tokuda Reduces Design Cycle by 15-20% With think3
19 September 2000
Tokuda Reduces Design Cycle by 15-20 Percent With think3 for 3-D Design of Models, Molds for Leading Japanese Automotive and Aerospace Manufacturers
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Sept. 19, 2000--Mechanical design upstart think3(TM) today announced Tokuda Kougyo (Kakamigahara City, Japan) has reduced its overall design cycle by 15 to 20 percent using think3's single-environment 3-D solid and surface modeling software, thinkdesign(TM). Tokuda has standardized on think3 for designing master models, plaster models, resin molds, various patterns for foundries, jigs and tools for automobiles, aircraft and other industries.
A longtime user of high-end, UNIX-based computer aided design (CAD) software, Tokuda has migrated to PC-based systems, working with think3 and value-added reseller Toyota Caelum, Inc. (TCI) (Nagoya, Japan). The company chose thinkdesign over other mid-range, PC-based CAD systems because of its power and flexibility to handle parametric solid modeling and free surfaces in a single desktop system. This has contributed to a steady increase in productivity and has resulted in higher quality products for Tokuda.
"We had in our minds that we wanted to use a CAD system which had parametric solid modeling capabilities like Pro/Engineer," explains Yasuaki Tokuda, president. "Although we tested many systems, we didn't purchase them because we were not satisfied with their handling of free surfaces. Just as we were giving up on PC-based CAD systems, we ran into thinkdesign (known as Eureka Gold at the time). We found in our tests that the system was able to handle our data. Because thinkdesign could use both surfaces and solids together, we found that we were able to continue to use the procedures we were accustomed to using every day, but with a system that was easier to learn and use, and significantly more cost effective."
Tokuda has also been impressed with thinkdesign's superior data import and export capabilities. "We found that thinkdesign had an optional program which could convert our legacy data created in Caelum," adds Tokuda. "We also were attracted to the fact that we found the IGES converter capability to be a cut above what was available in the market." thinkdesign is the only commercially available software with TDEX translation capabilities. It also includes access to native file formats, such as Catia, and very powerful, flexible tools to transfer and repair parts in neutral formats, such as IGES, STEP and Dxf.