Resources
On this page I'm collecting documents, links and other pieces of information I hope you'll find useful if you're interested in turning ideas into new products and bringing them to market. Also check my blog. I've also got a Design recycling page where you can download designs that I'm able to share - as well as buy tools, parts, modules and instruments we've made for ourselves in the course of our project work. There's a separate page with a glossary of terms.
Design & Engineering software tools
Alibre Design 3D CAD
I've been using this for years. It offers full parametric 3D solid modelling - functionally it is pretty close to SolidWorks but at much lower cost. I've got the full "expert" suite and can thoroughly recommend it. What is very interesting for my early-stage clients is the "Personal Edition" - which can open and edit my Alibre Design Expert files for a truly collaborative design experience. Alibre Design PE lists at only USD 199.
Solidworks eDrawings viewer
This is a great free tool to check the results of exporting STL or STEP files from Alibre Design before sending them off for rapid prototyping.
LISA Finite Element Analysis
LISA is a very affordably priced - as in almost free at CND50 - finite element analysis package that unlike some "lite" versions of mainstream commercial programs can handle advanced problems. By their nature FEA packages are never "easy to use" and they do require knowledge of both the mathematics of the problem under investigation and of the routines employed to solve the underlying equations.
EAGLE Schematic and PCB Layout editor
I've started using EAGLE late 2010 - I more and more needed to get relatively simple PCBs made that exceeded the practical capabilities of home-etching (I needed vias), but for which getting my associates involved just seemed overkill.
ViewMate Deluxe Gerber file viewer/editor
Software to view and manipulate gerber files as used for PCB manufacture. The free version can be used to view and check gerber files, but with the Deluxe version I can panel up PCB designs before having PCBs made. As I usually only need a few boards this saves cost.
WinLens Basic Optical Design Software
WinLens Basic is a free optical design package which I've used to create first-order design concepts to get a feel for what's possible with certain combinations of optical elements. It is not a replacement for a serious optical design package such a ZEMAX, but gives me enough of a feel to allow me to discuss design options with my specialist associates.
Models and Prototypes
When designing products we build and use a large variety of physical models. On the glossary page I explain how I see the distinction between:
- Proof-of-Concept model
- Breadboard
- Handling model
- Presentation model
- Lab model
- Product demonstrator
- Engineering prototype
- Reference prototype
Workshop
I've got a reasonably well equiped workshop where I assemble models and prototypes, and make or adapt parts. Amongst other tools I've got a milling machine, lathe and manual injection moulder, as well as a small reflow oven to solder components on PCBs. Click here to read more.
