CAD binge
So most of this week at work I have been on a savage CAD design binge. I am trying to finalize the actuator and test system design for the rotorcraft program so I can get to fabricating and assembling the thing and finally testing it. I usually do a moderate amount of CAD work in general but this has been 8 and 9 hour day of almost solid CAD work. Normally it's also more researchy type design work where this project is much more fabrication minded design work. There's a big difference between creating a model to explore a theoretical design and models that will result in prints that will be used to fabricate and assemble a real piece of hardware. I'm getting a refresher in tolerancing parts and learning a few new things along the way. Like metric shaft keys are generally rectangle rather than square. Standard flat head metric bolts have a 90 deg head were standard imperial size flat head bolts have 82 deg heads. I am also learning lots about steel alloys and heat treating. Several of the parts will be weldments that will then need to be heat treated after they are welded together. I am almost done with the model then it will be getting prints finalized to go out for quotes from a couple local machine shops. Many of the parts are to big for the equipment in our small shop. The worst part is I am doing all this design work and likely will not get to assemble to much of it since I have a Co-op. I really do like getting dirty in the shop and the Co-op is likely going to get the lion's share of the fun assembly work.