From Design to Manufacture
After first learning how to use Solidworks, I now use a combination of Fusion 360 and Inventor to take advantage of innovative new features such as generative design and cloud support to easily share designs or drawings with suppliers and stakeholders.
These tools allow me to quickly take designs from sketches into CAD for rapid prototyping, or create engineering drawings for sheet metal and CNC parts. I have a personal Fusion 360 license for remote work.
Calculation and Simulation
Often times designs need validation using a computer simulation. Solidworks, Inventor, and Fusion 360 all come with integrated simulation which allow for quick design checks to speed up the overall process. ANSYS is a dedicated simulation program and great for more in-depth analysis.
For general calculation I use Python, as well as MATLAB which is excellent for running large matrix calculations. Linkage is also a useful tool for modelling mechanical movements in 2D.
Managing Projects
Maintaining assemblies, parts, and revisions whilst keeping things accessible and with permission control can be a large task.
In my current position I use Google Drive and Fusion Team Hub to manage multiple projects and keep projects accessible to the right people and the right time.
A Team Effort
Working on projects that require an interdisciplinary effort calls for a robust system to keep the project and the team on track.
Using agile scrum tool such as Jira, Confluence, and Notion along with remote tools such as Slack and Google Hangouts make it possible to push projects forward whether the team is in the same building or dispersed around the globe.
