Like most engineering-based organizations, kayak maker Perception Inc. faced the need to move from 2D to 3D design a few years ago. It confronted a unique set of problems, however. Perception Inc. The need for good solid modeling stems from Perception's production method, rotational molding, a process that's ideal for producing large, plastic, hollow products. In rotational molding, a machine rotates a mold on two axes simultaneously. Manufacturers put liquid resin in and then heat the whole thing.
Rotation distributes the plastic uniformly to coat the inside of the mold.
But it came down to a choice between thinkdesign and SolidWorks. They are very useful. They range from the basic to the very complex, and they all meet a particular need. You pick a curve, and thinkdesign develops a network of small lines that are normal to that curve, which helps you see how cleanly a curve accelerates or decelerates. That helps you find the spots where you'll find a kink in a surface.