Lifesaving drones operate remotely to deliver essential medical supplies to rural areas (Zipline, n.d.). Therefore, the design must be reliable and cost-efficient to manufacture. The NX CAD software designed by Siemens optimises the design, testing and manufacturing processes. These unique features distinguish Siemens from its competitor. Some of its design optimisation features include 3D Design Validation, Design Interoperability, Product Modelling and many more (Siemens, n.d.). Such features allow the user to create an advanced virtual product model rather than costly physical prototypes. This feature will shorten the design time, lowering the development cost and improving product quality (Siemens, 2019). Syncrofit is a feature of the NX CAD software that automates tedious design tasks, and bill of materials (BOM) updates to speed up the procurement process (Siemens, 2019). This will, in turn, speed up the design realisation. The webpage also mentions that the software can quickly perform thickness and stress assessments of the design and determine which parts should be made of higher or lower-grade materials, reducing the drone's overall weight (Siemens, 2019). NX CAD's direct competitors are CATIA, Creo and Autodesk Inventor (WIKIPEDIA, 2022). The designing, simulation and manufacturing features stand out as one of the most reliable and efficient in the industry.
Pertaining to the NX CAD software design and simulation features, the NX CAD software design process is simulation driven. A simulation-driven design will enable users to "synthesise and define the physical design, rather than to simply evaluate and validate final design." (Siemens, n.d.). With out-of-the-box CAD-embedded Simulation support, engineers using the NX CAD software can "get immediate feedback on the design and rapidly make adjustments" (Siemens , n.d.). "CAD-embedded flow-simulation lets the engineers analyse fluid flow within the CAD environment." (Siemens , n.d.). In the case of a lifesaving drone, fluid flow simulation can significantly benefit the design process as it can simulate the aerodynamic properties of the current design, allowing design flaws to be spotted before prototyping. The out-of-the-box CAD-embedded also has support for "Structural simulation for designers" (Siemens, n.d). Designers will be able to view the designs’ structural integrity, allowing the designers to quickly determine the area where high stresses may occur. With this feature, designers are able to quickly make changes such as, adding additional materials or increasing the thickness of design, to improve the designs to withstand such stresses (Siemens, n.d). This will allow the designers to further optimised its design to increase the structural strength and also remove all the unnecessary weight. Reducing weight is an important feature for designing a drone, as mention by Zipline, “Each kilogram saved increases the range of the aircraft by five percent.” (Siemens, 2019).
One of the unique features of manufacturing is the additive manufacturing features. Additive manufacturing (AM) is a technology that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer. It is commonly used for 3D printing (GE Additive, n.d.). Unlike its competitors, which would need to install another slicing software, NX CAD is capable of additive manufacturing, from print to post-print validation (Siemens, n.d.). With "HEEDS", a design space exploration solution that uses NX CAD geometry and Simcentre CAE simulation, the program can generate multiple versions of a part for the best design possible (Siemens, n.d.). Other than additive manufacturing features, NX CAD also has Topology Optimisation. Topology optimisation is a process that uses Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) techniques and mathematics to optimise parts for performance improvements. To get the most optimised part geometry, all the user has to do is simply input the allowable design envelops, load conditions, material characteristics and design constraints. With topology optimisation paired with AM, users can manufacture parts that meet the strength requirements while keeping material usage and weight to their minimum, which for the case of designing a drone, is absolutely essential (Siemens, n.d.).
However, the NX CAD software has disadvantages compared to its competitors. The most significant disadvantage of the NX CAD software is its price. The yearly subscription fee for the NX CAD software is $3444, and the advance edition costs a whopping $6900 per year. Compared to its competitors, CATIA only costs $2000 per year, Creo costs $2480 per year, and Autodesk Inventor costs $2300 per year (AII3DP, 2022).
Despite the cost of the software, the advanced features that the NX CAD software provides, compared to its competitors, will enable the user to reduce the cost of developing lifesaving drones. Therefore, it will be more cost-effective in the long run than using the other CAD software out in the market.
References
AII3DP. (2022, August 10). The Best CAD Software for professionals. https://all3dp.com/1/best-cad-software/#nx-advanced-designer
Autodesk. (n.d.). Critical features of Inventor. https://www.autodesk.com.sg/products/inventor/features
GE Additive. (n.d.). What is additvie manufacturing. https://www.ge.com/additive/additive-manufacturing
Siemens. (n.d.). Additive Manufacturing. https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/manufacturing-planning/additive-manufacturing.html
Siemens. (n.d.). AM Generative Engineering. https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/manufacturing-planning/generative-engineering.html
Siemens. (2019). Lifesaving drones designed with CAD software. https://new.siemens.com/global/en/company/stories/industry/lifesaving-drones-designed-with-cad-software.html
Siemens . (n.d.). Out-of-the-box. https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/simulation-test/out-of-the-box-cad-embedded-simulation.html
Siemens. (n.d.). NX for design streamlines and accelerates the product development process. https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/nx/nx-for-design.html
Siemens. (n.d.). Simulation driven design. https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/simulation-test/simulation-driven-design.html
WIKIPEDIA. (2022). Siemens NX. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_NX#Architecture
Zipline. (n.d.). NX is used to design drones that reliably deliver essential medical supplies to remote locations in Rwanda. https://saratech.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Siemens-PLM-Zipline-Case-Study-NX.pdf
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