Mechanical and Structural Design

ATK uses the latest computer-aided design tools to develop and build a wide range of space-borne and ground support hardware. Pro/ENGINEER, iDEAS®, Solidworks, and AutoCAD products are employed to yield timely and innovative design solutions early in the product development phase, optimizing the design process.

Mechanical and Structural Design Engineering has experience taking a project from concept to launch. From the early stages of spacecraft, instrument, and product layouts through delivery and payload integration, experience and attention to detail yields superior results. The extensive use of 2D and 3D CAD tools allows quick looks at numerous design concepts so that better solutions are quickly derived. Mass properties, volume, payload accommodations, field-of-view, and ray traces can be captured and analyzed. Structural and thermal aspects of the design are evaluated by transporting the 3D geometry directly to NASTRAN and SINDA/TRASYS thereby gaining valuable engineering feedback early in the design phase.

Fabrication specifications including detailed mechanical drawings, assembly drawings, interface control drawings, source control drawings, and process specifications are created and maintained in a configuration management system to produce designs that are well documented and controlled. Stereolithography or other rapid prototyping methods are used when warranted to aid the design process. Computer-aided manufacturing is employed through the direct transfer of the design models to both internal and external production facilities. This improves the manufacturing process and reduces the drawing requirements.

Follow-through is key to ensuring that all hardware meets or exceeds the requirements and that designs are implemented correctly and efficiently. Design engineers don't just "throw the design over the wall." They work closely with manufacturing engineers, machinists, and quality inspectors to ensure manufacturability. Harnessing the power of our CAD/CAE/CAM tools and using the automated Pro/Intralink software, ATK regularly utilizes the computer-generated models as the configured item. Then the model is transferred directly to the CNC milling machines, and the approval process is continued to maintain configuration control. Access to the in-house Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and inspection facilities ensures that the hardware produced meets the design's dimensional requirements. This virtually eliminates the need for rework during assembly—a significant schedule and cost benefit. Design engineers work closely with manufacturing to coordinate special environmental concerns for cleaning, assembly, and integration of spaceflight items including use of cleanroom facilities, Class 100 laminar flow benches, special lubricant, or coating facilities.

Design Tools

• Pro/ENGINEER®
• AutoCAD®
• Mechanical Desktop
• 3D Studio®
• iDEAS®
• Pro/INTRALINK®
• Solidworks
• PDM/Works
• Inventor
• Design Space
• Pro/MECHANICA

Contact

space@atk.com