Spin doctors

First Sweden used SolidWorks to design the Koenigsegg super-car, and now a leading European drag racing team is using a customised clutch unit, designed with IronCAD.

Leanders Brothers Racing, from Alfta, Sweden, is using the unit - one of many pieces that its chief engineer, Jörgen Leanders, created using the system. There are no bolted facings on the clutch, claimed to improve heat dissipation during races and make maintenance easier.

Pit crews have a limited time to inspect and replace parts between races, so serviceability is important. Even clutch arms can be removed or changed without having to disassemble the unit. Additional technological advances include using four floater plates in the three-disc clutch, which as well as adding additional heat dissipation, also ensure all contact surfaces are equal.

'Our clutch is a result of experimentation with different designs, something we couldn't have done without IronCAD. I started with no CAD experience at all,' said Leanders. 'The software's ease of use allowed me to catch on quickly. It helped me capture the best design through trial and error. I was never locked into a single design, and if I wanted to make a change it was possible, no matter how far along in the design I was.'

This demonstrates the flexibility of the system. The user can take advantage of the parametric capabilities to build constraint-driven variations of the clutch design and make changes at any stage that do not abide by the constraints using the direct face modelling abilities.

SolidWorks, on the other hand, has just introduced SolidWorks 2008, which allows users to focus on 'design' rather than how to use their CAD software. It has a timesaving user interface and photorealistic 3D graphics. It is an extension of its SolidWorks Intelligent Feature Technology (SWIFT), which speeds up the design process and includes advanced design analysis capabilities. The system also provides feedback about quality and manufacturability at the outset.