It’s difficult to refute—successful custom medical cart manufacturers require strong, efficient teammates on every project platform: project managers, engineers and manufacturing. In a previous blog, we discussed the qualities of an excellent project manager. These next two blogs will highlight how custom medical cart engineers deliver on capabilities and solutions.
Engineers cover a vast variety of competencies depending on their intents and areas of expertise. Today we'll discuss core medical cart engineering competencies and how these engineers use SolidWorks to test hypotheses and calculations through simulated situations.
The list of custom medical cart engineering capabilities and competencies differ from business to business. However, we’ve compiled a basic list that extends, but certainly isn’t limited to, common engineering competencies that may be in-house or outsourced:
- Sheet metal design
- SolidWorks
- Injection molding
- Thermoform
- Castings
- Vacuum forming
- Machine parts
- Extrusions
- Aluminum extrusions
- Foam molding
- Complicated assembly
- Tube bending design
- Wire forming
- Fabrication plating and coatings
- Weld fixtures
- Cycle testing
A unique quality of the engineers at HUI is that they all have some manufacturing fabrication experience. Having an in-depth knowledge of exactly how to form and assemble each product offers insight into designing and solution processes.
SolidWorks Simulations
SolidWorks is a pretty standard solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) program that runs on Microsoft Windows. In addition to creating models and assemblies, engineers rely on SolidWorks simulations to test theories prior to making decisions or making a functional prototype.
Tipping
If an engineer needs to know what relevant tipping concerns may affect a medical cart, he or she can simulate tipping situations for that device to solve potential issues.
Final Elements and Analysis (FEA)
The Finite Element and Analysis (FEA) SolidWorks simulation takes a product or a specific part of a product and breaks down its edges into point clouds which determine where high points of stress reside.
Motion Studies
Motion studies are used to test hypotheses regarding product motion and to verify design intents. Take for example a medical cart that has a shelf that moves up and down on a scissors lift where gas springs control movement speed. An engineer will test the predetermined calculated force for the gas springs via SolidWorks.
At HUI, we use SolidWorks to its full capacity to test theories and make analyses through our expert engineers, one of whom is a certified SolidWorks professional.
Do you have a custom medical cart design or redesign concern? Contact us today. We’re here to help.
