CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

22 October 2013

Implementation Investments

Techshot Leverages Autodesk Inventor on NASA Project with Help From Advanced Solutions

Techshot, utilizes Autodesk Inventor to design and develop the Bone Densitometer for the International Space Station. Upon becoming a customer of Advanced Solutions, an Autodesk Platinum Partner and Authorized Training Center (ATC), Techshot transitioned from Mechanical Desktop to Inventor in 1997.

Techshot has primarily focused on product development for the Medical Device, Consumer Products, Aerospace and Defense industries. The Bone Densitometer is a joint project with the NASA International Space Station National Laboratory office, and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. The Bone Densitometer is part of the ongoing biomedical experimentation at the space station lab. The device will be sent to the International Space Station to test the effects of zero gravity on mouse bone loss.

To determine how long a human can be in space before experiencing bone loss, NASA needed a medical device developed for use in space to effectively collect data. Mechanical Engineering Technician Michael Dobrick reconfigured a commercial "off the shelf" dual energy X-ray absorptiometry system, the gold standard for scanning bone density in mice on Earth, and prepared it for use on the space station. Once the mice have been scanned relative to the length of time on the space station, the data is related back to humans to make a determination of time related to bone loss.

By using Inventor to create 3D digital prototypes, Techshot was able to create fast, accurate models to ensure that the parts constructed were the precise fit, function and form relative to their use in space. It is critical that every cubic inch is utilized and every pound of mass accounted for when designing space flight hardware. Techshot relies on Inventor and the digital model to perfect the design before launching the product into orbit. Michael and the engineers at Techshot know that, "you can't call a repairman in space." The Bone Densitometer is expected to launch in spring 2014.

Vice President of Corporate Advancement, Rich Boling, had this to say about the company's experience with Advanced Solutions, "Having a partner like Advanced Solutions helps us have the confidence to come into work and know that if we have any questions about how a product works or even if we need training on a new version that comes out, we know we can count on Advanced Solutions to help us out."

The entire video success story of this innovative technology and the use of Autodesk Inventor can be viewed on the Advanced Solutions YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/GETASI1.

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