A Unique Need Requires a Flexible Solution

Kodiak provides design and support throughout all stages of a project and solves complex problems within heavy industry. Projects can be small, with a single 3D model, completed in a day, to huge projects that require hundreds of models, easily accumulating two gigabytes of reference information, which take years to complete. Also unique is that their work typically doesn’t allow them a blank canvas for design. Kodiak often needs to work within the envelope of an existing building, collaborating with other specialty equipment suppliers, facility/building suppliers, and installation contractors and then identifying and procuring everything else, designing for the holistic facility plan and their processes.

Bentley’s MicroStation provided Kodiak the foundation and features for a customized experience. With one tab for all of the 3D and 2D modeling tools, and three tabs for cells, Kodiak has the MicroStation environment perfect for their needs. With almost 1800 .CEL files, many with hundreds of cells, team members have easy access to all the information they need, which Kodiak says is what helps them provide what their customers need, efficiently.

Image: Courtesy of Kodiak Group

 

MicroStation’s Feature Rich Environment

Grant Wood, CAD Administrator and Project Engineer for Kodiak Group explains how MicroStation has integrated into and enabled their successful processes and projects:

Concept Modeling

Our concept models start out relatively basic, often as a sales tool. We lay down fundamentals of what the system is going to look like how it will operate and the infrastructure around it like buildings egress. We don’t provide buildings in most cases; we integrate our equipment and others into an already existing building or a new building depending on the job. In the process we make sure specialty equipment from others will fit and function as needed along with our own.

Detail Modeling

Our concept models get sub divided into individual 3D model units that become incredibly detailed and complex. We’ll create an exact model that represents what’s going to be fabricated. This limits the amount of fit up mistakes, eliminating potential problems, and helps guarantee that the customers get what they expect in the end. Customers, installation contractors, and other venders can also use this information to circumvent problems and issues before they arise.

We have item type information for component purchase; bearings, motors, all this can be added to the 3D model now, not just be listed in a printed catalog stuck in a file. We're able to use parametric cells for things like structural elements, where we've added item type information for the data frequently looked up and reviewed. This saves engineers time referencing structural steel manuals. It's all right there in MicroStation, which is a huge time saver. The new parametric tools are further helping to adapt the way that we model, enabling faster moves, and allowing us to transition and change designs on the fly with a little bit less grief. That said there is a learning curve, and it takes some re-education on how to design and model but it’s worth it in the long run. I think AccuDraw is undersold if I'm honest. I think it's the best tool, 3D modeling wise, I've used four or five different 3D modeling packages now, and they don’t compare to AccuDraw.

Detail Drawings

Ultimately, all our work circles back to 2D layouts and detail drawings. We detail every hole for every bolt, the bends, cuts, and other details for fabrication. This helps provide shops with the right information to fabricate our products and meet the customers’ expectations.

Image: Courtesy of Kodiak Group