Editor's Pick: Define, Manage Fasteners in Complex Airframe Assemblies

By Anthony J. Lockwood

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

I had an old Volkswagen Golf – called it Moe -- that I really liked. Perky little thing. Easy to park. The only problem I had with it was loose fasteners. I'd be driving along and a screw or something would drop out, lost forever on the road or in the sand that's a permanent floor covering in cars in an icy state like NH. Naturally, out of the zillion screws I had stashed, none fit Moe. And the dealer was clueless; junk yards bare. So, over time, Moe self-disassembled. Imagine getting on an airplane with such characteristics.

Just out in version 2010, SyncroFIT from VISTAGY targets fastening systems in aircraft and air structures. It enables you to define and manage fasteners, joints, and interfaces between parts within complex airframe assemblies. Now, if you think about it, there are a gazillion fasteners of all types and sizes in even the smallest planes. Manually tracking the type, location, fastening requirements, materials, and cost for each one of them is a monstrous job. Then making that data available with accuracy throughout the design, supply, manufacture, and assemble processes is even more monstrous. Getting a rein on all that is what SyncroFIT does, and it's off-the-shelf, ready to go.

SyncroFIT integrates with your CAD application. That means that you can define your assembly and transfer fastening requirements to your 3D CAD design based on your input requirements and design rules. Version 2010 has been enhanced in other ways too, including establishing a standardized master model approach and a common interface to enforce consistent authoring.

SyncroFIT 2010 also has new functionality extending the management of joint interfaces, fastening requirements, and specialized hardware into the aircraft systems and interiors groups. This will let you develop standardized processes across disciplines. Other enhancements include an overhauled user interface and support for design for serviceability initiatives.

You can read all about what's new in SyncroFIT 2010 in today's Pick of the Week write-up. You'll find some links to on-demand webinars and user stories to browse through.

When I first got into this business of writing about engineering software, non-engineering sorts would ask me what FEA and CFD software were all about. I told them they didn't want to get on an airplane without it. A quick response to a question about SyncroFIT from VISTAGY might get a similar response.

Thanks, pal. -- Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Read today's Pick of the Week write-up.

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