CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
7 November 2005
Implementation Investments
Deep Sea Diving World Record Set Using Breathing Regulator Designed With SolidWorks Software
Swedish diving equipment manufacturer Poseidon Diving Systems used SolidWorks® 3D mechanical design software to develop the breathing regulator that helped set the world record for the deepest individual dive at more than 300 meters (1,000 feet), SolidWorks announced.
On June 10 in the Red Sea, South African diver Nuno Gomes used the Poseidon Xstream breathing regulator to become the first person to reach 318.25 meters deep (1,044 feet), a record validated by Guinness World Records®. Designed entirely with SolidWorks software, the Xstream sets new benchmarks for low inhale and exhale resistance; durability against immense pressure; and protection against cold temperatures so it does not freeze at extreme depths. Poseidon standardized on SolidWorks software for all new product design, including the Xstream, to eliminate the high costs of outsourcing its design work to third-party contractors.
"You can't be very competitive in this or any other industry without 3D CAD," said Poseidon Product Development Manager Yaniv Bertele. "Of the systems we evaluated, SolidWorks was the easiest to use and had the broadest compatibility with third-party software in an affordable package. Its user interface is so intuitive that a high school student can easily figure it out, but it has the functionality to enable the design of a regulator that someone can depend upon 300 meters below the ocean's surface."
Bertele estimates that Poseidon saved between $50,000 and $100,000 and six months in product development using SolidWorks instead of relying on outside consultants to design the Xstream.
SolidWorks allowed Bertele and other Poseidon engineers to test new design regulator concepts quickly and efficiently to arrive at the best solutions to such challenges as the exponential increase in gas flow the diver requires to withstand the enormous pressure during descent. "SolidWorks creates a bridge between design and engineering so that we can quickly render a concept and do the appropriate engineering to see if it will work," said Bertele. "Being able to do this in one application saves a lot of time and effort."
Poseidon also uses COSMOSFloWorksT fluid dynamics analysis software to analyze how products like the Xstream regulate the flow of gases at different depths. COSMOSXpressT helped determine how they will stand up to varying pressures as high as 4,500 pounds per square inch. MoldflowXpress ensures that the many plastic molds the company designs for its products are accurate. The eDrawingsT e-mail-enabled design communication tool allows Poseidon to share design information with suppliers and customers. Bertele uses PhotoWorksT photorealistic rendering tool to create lifelike images for marketing, sales, and customer design review.
"There can be no mistakes 1,000 feet under water," said SolidWorks Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Rainer Gawlick. "Nuno Gomes has earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records because innovative dive equipment company Poseidon designed a regulator that made it possible. We are proud SolidWorks played such an important role."
Poseidon relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller SolidEngineer AB for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.
Poseidon is a privately owned Swedish company formed in 1958 to build state-of-the-art diving equipment. Today, it enjoys a reputation for being a market leader in revolutionary and innovative design. In June 2002, Poseidon produced the Xstream regulator, the first and only regulator in the world to be certified to 200 meters. For the latest information and news, visit the company's Web site ( http://www.poseidon.se ).
SolidEngineer AB delivers integrated CAD and PDM solutions featuring SolidWorks and SMARTEAM®. SolidEngineer is a key SolidWorks reseller in the Nordic region, with offices in six cities, including Stockholm, Karlstad, Göteborg, Sundsvall, Jönköping, and Helsingborg. For more information about SolidEngineer, please call +46 8-54473020 or visit the company's Web site ( http://www.solide.se ).
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