BOSSARD INC. Solidworks Fastener Library
My role as a mechanical engineer at Bossard North America, Inc. required me to design and model fasteners for use in automotive and industrial projects. A typical large project could see as many as 500-600 unique fasteners created, each requiring their own 3D and 2D files. Many of these fasteners would also have to be processed in large batches, requiring significant time and energy to do so. Dissatisfied with the existing processes, I took it upon myself to overhaul the entire engineering process in hopes that it would save myself and my fellow engineers a lot of time.
The final product is a library of 3D fasteners and 2D letterheads that allow even the most inexperienced CAD user to effortlessly create fasteners for the customer. All parts distill the applicable DIN, ISO, or ASME standard into a single file that encompasses every size, length, and feature variation. Not only can the user now create a standard part but also a host of possible custom fasteners with ease. The adherence to standard in a default part also eliminates user error that is introduced by multiple engineers each making the same part from scratch. Since the engineer never has to edit the feature tree, they can make a 3D part in 5 seconds instead of 15 minutes.
My update also completely overhauled the company letterhead that had been used for the past 5 years, The update was both visual and functional: many quality of life features were added along with more efficient space usage. The final result is in my opinion a more professional drawing that increases Bossard's reputation as a fastener authority.
On the backend I baked in a lot of macro and equation functionality, automating processes that were previously done manually. I also built Adobe macros to better process the 2D pdfs generated by Solidworks. My contributions resulted in a more attractive, efficient, and secure part and document system.
The final product is a library of 3D fasteners and 2D letterheads that allow even the most inexperienced CAD user to effortlessly create fasteners for the customer. All parts distill the applicable DIN, ISO, or ASME standard into a single file that encompasses every size, length, and feature variation. Not only can the user now create a standard part but also a host of possible custom fasteners with ease. The adherence to standard in a default part also eliminates user error that is introduced by multiple engineers each making the same part from scratch. Since the engineer never has to edit the feature tree, they can make a 3D part in 5 seconds instead of 15 minutes.
My update also completely overhauled the company letterhead that had been used for the past 5 years, The update was both visual and functional: many quality of life features were added along with more efficient space usage. The final result is in my opinion a more professional drawing that increases Bossard's reputation as a fastener authority.
On the backend I baked in a lot of macro and equation functionality, automating processes that were previously done manually. I also built Adobe macros to better process the 2D pdfs generated by Solidworks. My contributions resulted in a more attractive, efficient, and secure part and document system.
