L-3 Communications Delivers 3D Manufacturing Information to the Shop Floor
L-3 Communications Systems—West delivers the communications systems for high-performance intelligence collection, imagery processing for airborne platforms and satellite communications for government agencies. A user of the Solid Edge 3D CAD product for several years in the design departments, in 2005 the division started an initiative use its 3D data design assets in areas other than design. As part of its effort, the company adopted the use of Lattice Technology Solutions to be able to turn the 3D design data into 3D manufacturing data.
The project team that was formed by then VP of Operations, Larry Dietzler, consisted of two mechanical engineers, tasked with researching the tools available to deliver 3D to manufacturing in a way that would meet corporate needs and standards, paying close attention to cutting costs while increasing quality of the products.
The team researched a variety of different products, and, after a series of presentations and tests, adopted XVL and the software solutions from Lattice Technology – a 3D format that offers very high compression of 3D data, with applications that deliver innovative ways to quickly make that data relevant to downstream processes.