The design and development department of the South African Air Force (SAAF) is standardising on a 3D mechanical design solution, Mechanical Desktop, Autodesk's parametric solid-modelling design solution for mechanical designers and engineers. The SAAF installation of more than 30 seats of Mechanical Desktop boosts the speed and accuracy of the design of aircraft components for SAAF's repair, maintenance and modification schemes.

SAAF operates a fleet of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft - from Astra trainer aircraft to Oryx helicopters - for humanitarian relief operations such as the rescue mission into flood-ravaged Mozambique in January this year. Its design and development department is responsible for designing and building the components required for aircraft repair, maintenance and modification schemes. The schemes play a core role in the overall efficiency of the SAAF operation, optimising the lifespan of aircraft, while at the same time ensuring SAAF meets stringent aviation safety regulations.

SAAF group leader, Colonel Johan Classen says SAAF's move to Mechanical Desktop means it is moving away from the inefficiencies of working on disparate 2D systems.

"3D certainly boosts efficiencies when it comes to designing intricate components. And solid modelling allows us to verify the interrelation, and potential clashes, between adjacent components. I think we will see a big improvement in efficiencies - with regard to both time and accuracy."

Technology resource company, Cadd-Man, is carrying out the Mechanical Desktop implementation plan for SAAF.

"Cadd-Man has developed an intensive training course for our designers," says Classen. "The first designers graduated in October and we anticipate that it will be only a month or so before we can measure an improvement in their output."

The Mechanical Desktop system has been implemented in conjunction with the third party application, AutoPol, the sophisticated 3D sheet metal design package, which offers automatic facilities for flat plate development.

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