Autodesk Software Used to Manufacture Helicopter Rotary Systems

By DE Editors

Autodesk, Inc. has named Pankl Aerospace Systems as the July 2011 Autodesk Inventor of the Month, in recognition of the company’s use of Autodesk software to manufacture helicopter rotary systems.

Pankl creates 3D renderings of rotary system parts using Autodesk Inventor LT 3D mechanical CAD software, and then virtually runs the digital components through its multistep manufacturing processes—from boring a hole into a drive shaft to applying heat treatments to an engine shaft. This digital process helps verify that the parts adhere to performance standards at every stage of manufacturing, thereby confirming the integrity of the finished part.

“With Autodesk Inventor LT, we’re documenting and visualizing every step of the manufacturing process with more confidence and efficiency than ever before,” says Jonathan Charbonnet, manufacturing engineer at Pankl. “Autodesk Inventor LT enables us to review designs for our customers and proactively identify all the things that may cause problems during manufacturing.”

The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) working with Pankl typically provide 3D models of the required parts. Pankl then imports the design model into Inventor LT—regardless of the CAD package used to create it—renders the part in 3D, and then digitally tests the manufacturing processes prior to progressing to the manufacturing phase. Inventor LT also enables Pankl to document processes by creating accurate 2D drawings, which can be applied to work instructions to better communicate design intent to the shop floor.

Autodesk Gold Partner KETIV Technologies helped Pankl embrace digital prototyping and model-based definitions.

For more information, visit KETIV Technologiesand Autodesk.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.