Repairing industrial equipment presents some special challenges. Most equipment sent out for repair has already been repaired many times. This implies that the components have been through many iterations of copying or modification to the point that it is difficult to know what the OEM dimensions were. Also, equipment is often received already disassembled, making it virtually impossible to identify problem areas and potential risks that could jeopardize assembly and even operation.

By incorporating Alibre Design into its planning process, Brimhall Industrial can leverage the power of 3D modeling and assemblies to reverse-engineer equipment and determine what the original dimensions were, how to improve them, and also prevent assembly or operating problems. “Alibre Design allows us to assemble an entire pump and check clearances and interferences before it even makes it to the shop floor,” said Michael Brimhall, Vice President of Operations.

Using Alibre Design also helps ensure quality. Working drawings are automatically generated from the 3D models, ensuring that the dimensions in the drawings always match the dimensions in the model. This also makes revision control much simpler. Alibre Design will indicate whether a revision to a component affects other components in an assembly and will automatically update the working drawings with the revisions. “This tool separates Brimhall Industrial from its competitors because we are no longer simply repairing pumps; we are reverse-engineering them and creating higher quality processes at the same time,” Michael tells us. The combination of Brimhall Industrial and Alibre Design will set a new standard for value-added industrial repairs.