Solmirus Reaches for the Stars
Solmirus is a company unlike any other. Based in Colorado Springs, Solmirus is a collection of scientists, engineers and designers who build scientific instruments primarily for space science and related education. And while their customers may study subjects that are out of this world, the market for space science instruments is a bit more down to earth.
Towering over the field of space science is a single solitary instrument—the telescope. Though telescopes have the power to peer deep into the heavens, simple phenomena such as clouds and other weather patterns can act to impede observation. To make matters worse, telescopes are few and far between. Accordingly, researchers covet time on big telescopes.
To help their colleagues make the most of limited observation time, Solmirus invented the ASIVA, an all-sky infrared visible analyzer.
But developing a machine that has all of that functionality means overcoming some challenges. Given the tight tolerances and multi-instrument combinations needed for precise analysis, Solmirus’ engineers needed a design tool that could give them accurate results and complex mechanical functionality. After evaluating a number of design products on the market, they settled on Autodesk Inventor, part of Autodesk’s Product Design Suite.
“Inventor has mechanical functionality that wasn’t evident in other CAD software,” said Ken Cashion, mechanical and industrial systems designer at Solmirus.
Furthermore, Cashion recommends the Desktop Subscription option because of the budgeting advantages of lower upfront cost and commitment. “For Solmirus, subscription represents the difference between feast and famine. We don’t know if we’re going to sell another ASIVA after we sold the last one. For us to go all in on a solid modeling package is too much of a risk. For us, being able to meter out that expense frees up our resources for other experiments,” he added.
The company currently has a proposal in the works to add an observatory to the top of Colorado’s Pikes Peak, and to build a mobile telescope lab that fits into the back of a retro RV. Because of access to robust CAD tools that the Desktop Subscription makes more affordable, Solmirus is able to continue to deliver working, prototypes and compelling imagery to their prospective clients.
Simulation Is Key for da Vinci Solutions
Compared to the strains of developing thermal imagers for space, Dwayne Rawluk of da Vinci Solutions deals with a set of challenges that may be more familiar to many design teams. Da Vinci is in the business of building equipment that manufactures heavy machinery.
What kind of machinery you ask? How about some of the toughest blades you can fit on front of ‘dozers and front end loaders?
As you can imagine, building something that strong and durable requires a good deal of heavy equipment. In fact, for Rawluk, the process of building each blade requires several multi-ton machines that move one-ton pieces of 1800°F steel from a furnace to a straightening table, and then into a quenching tank before they’re finally placed on a main line transfer table.
As Rawluk put it, “At da Vinci, we don’t build the furnace, and we don’t build the transfer rollers, but we build everything else that helps make our blades.”
According to Rawluk, designing the transfer arms, the straightener and quenching tanks was all pretty straightforward. The real challenge in his work has been making sure that none of his components fail when massive amounts of scorching hot steel come to bear on his designs. To do this, Rawluk and his team have to use reliable, accurate simulation software that will apply loads and heat in a realistic manner. Fortunately, da Vinci’s Desktop Subscription to the Product Design Suite provides all of the tools the company needs, since it includes the integrated simulation capabilities of Inventor Professional.
“We are a small firm which requires the latest software but can’t always afford it. Desktop Subscription is ideal for us because of its lower upfront cost and worry-free access to powerful, up to date software. Compare the options and you’ll see that Desktop Subscription outweighs purchasing a traditional seat,” said Rawluk.
For da Vinci Solutions, being able to use robust simulation software is literally a make-or-break situation. Given the tools at his disposal, Rawluk and his small team are able to deliver results on an industrial scale.
Desktop Subscription for Small Business
Buying product design tools on a subscription-pricing model can create more flexibility for small and large businesses alike. Subscription pricing offers a way to match software costs to projects and to fluctuations in the size of teams while also offering access to the most up to date tools. This approach has given firms like da Vinci and Solmirus a path to develop better products.
Product Design Suite, featuring Autodesk Inventor, is available in Desktop Subscription plans starting at less than $200/month.
Autodesk has paid a fee to ENGINEERING.com to promote their product design solutions. They have had no editorial input to this post. All opinions are mine. – Kyle Maxey