TETW Flipbook 1

THREE ElEMENTS TIMbERWoRkS, INC.
building residential works of art in timber with SolidWorks
CASE STUDY
3D streamlines structural timber design
Since implementing SolidWorks software, Three Elements has reduced its development time
by 20 to 30 percent. For example, one project involved a timber-framed turret located at the
top of a stair tower. The turret was comprised of eight individual prefabricated structural
trusses surrounding a central post. The original architectural design called for a pitch of 33.69
degrees, but once construction began it became clear that the pitch needed to be 32 degrees.
“SolidWorkS provided the
deSign capabilitieS that We
needed to groW the buSineSS.”
Eric Seelig
owner
Three Elements Timberworks uses
SolidWorks 3D design software to
automate the design and manufacture
of its custom timber frames.
“In the past, we would have had to redraw the entire turret,” Seelig recalls. “because
SolidWorks is parametric, it was very easy to make this change. All eight trusses were
identical, so we made a simple pitch change to one truss, which propagated to all the others.
It would have taken about five days to redo the design in 2D versus about 20 minutes to
make the change in SolidWorks.”
Design automation drives productivity
Three Elements has leveraged SolidWorks software to build a library of truss designs and
commonly used parts, such as fasteners, lags, and timber screws. Combined with SolidWorks
design configuration capabilities, the parts library is helping the contractor to maximize
design reuse and increase manufacturing productivity, greatly reducing scrap and rework.
on every project, Three Elements designers automatically export a bill of materials (boM)
from SolidWorks into an Excel spreadsheet. The boM export, along with a sketch file that
drives the design, is imported into the firm’s manufacturing system. Three Elements has
further automated the process of manufacturing setup for timbers of different lengths
and thicknesses using design configurations.
Ted Master, head designer and project manager, says, “by automating design and
manufacturing processes, SolidWorks has helped us cut development costs by 50 percent.”
Using timbers for structural support, interior aesthetics, and exterior beauty is a centerpiece
of architecture in America’s Rocky Mountain West. Wood homes are very popular in the
region because they complement the natural mountain setting and the rough-hewn spirit
of the West. People who live in timber-framed homes have a passion for wood architecture
—a passion matched by Three Elements Timberworks, Inc., the region’s leading artisans in
structural wood.
Challenge: Photo caption here.
Accelerate the fabrication of timber
structures to support home construction,
while incorporating the use of metal and
other materials to improve strength and
design aesthetics.
Advancing the use of additional materials
SolidWorks software also helps Three Elements increase innovation in timber frame design,
particularly through the use of steel, metal, and other materials. While the company has long
used metal brackets and components to construct trusses, it is now leveraging steel in new,
creative ways.
This Colorado timber frame contractor combines its expertise in timber joinery and wood
framing construction with the latest design technologies to produce true works of residential
art. The firm’s advanced engineering-based approach to the design and assembly of handcut,
custom timber frames—for interior and exterior residential and commercial projects
throughout the Rocky Mountains—led owner Eric Seelig to investigate the application of
3D technology.
Three Elements once used AutoCAD ® 2D design tools to support its design effort. However,
several factors, including productivity improvement and capability growth, prompted Seelig
to make the transition to 3D. “We were looking for a competitive advantage to set us apart
from other timber framers,” Seelig explains. “Not only were we looking for a more efficient
virtual workshop where we could explore more contemporary timber-based designs, we also
wanted to make greater use of other materials, such as steel and metal castings.
Solution:
Implement SolidWorks 3D design software to
automate design and manufacturing processes,
add flexibility to process design changes, and
increase design innovation.
Results:
• Shortened design cycles by 20 to 3o percent
• Cut development costs by 50 percent
• Reduced scrap and rework
• Increased innovation in timber design
“There was a time when we never would think of putting steel in any of our projects, and if
we had to use metal for accomplishing complicated joinery, such as with huge snow loads,
we’d try to hide it,” Seelig points out. “Now, we’re doing projects completely out of steel,
like a fabricated stair rail—or choosing to expose metal for aesthetic effect, like a steel
panel above a fireplace that we did in a barn outside of Aspen. The designers, architects, and
construction managers that we work with realize that we have increased our capabilities,
and they are taking advantage of them in creating innovative designs.”
With SolidWorks software, Three Elements
Timberworks uses its library of truss
designs and design configurations to
maximize design reuse and increase
manufacturing productivity.
“We believed a 3D design system would allow us to automate design and manufacturing, as
well as expand the range of structural designs that we produce,” he adds. “We are a high-mix,
low-volume manufacturer. The faster that we can deliver on a broad range of timber-based
structures, the more successful we will be.”
After evaluating the Pro/ENGINEER ® and SolidWorks ® 3D CAD systems, Three Elements
chose SolidWorks design software because it is easy to use, accelerates production, and
represents a better value. “SolidWorks provided the design capabilities that we needed to
grow the business,” Seelig says.
Three Elements Timberworks, Inc.
P.O. Box 155
Lafayette, CO 80026 USA
Phone: +1 303 664 1946
www.threeelements.com
VAR: MCAD Technologies, Inc.
boulder, Colorado, USA
Dassault Systèmes
SolidWorks Corp.
300 Baker Avenue
Concord, MA 01742 USA
Phone: 1 800 693 9000
Outside the US: +1 978 371 5011
Email: info@solidworks.com
www.solidworks.com
SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. All other company and product names are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ©2010 Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. MKTHRCSENG0111

PRECISION TIMBER FABRICATION
Hundegger CNC
State-Of-The-Art, Fully Automated Joinery Machine
CUSTOM METAL FABRICATION
Precision CNC Plasma Cutter
Full Service, Structural Steel Specialist

Steel Tension Rod with Anti-Sag Assembly
Extruded Sleeve Nut
Hand-Forged Knots
Hand-Forged D Rings
Hand Hammered Bow Sag Rod

SOLAR AID STATION
Designed by Lumos Solar
in collaboration with
Three Elements Timberworks, Inc.
LAMBOO
(LVB) Laminated Veneer Bamboo
Engineered Bamboo for structural,
architectural, and OEM Applications

.....

PART MAP

Receive signed quote.
Send Sales order & invoice for 10%
deposit.
Payment #1
Receive deposit
Are shop
drawings
by TETW
complete &
approved?
No
Is this a
rush job?
No
Create complete
shop drawings
Yes
Yes
Invoice for 50%
materials
Payment #2
Full & complete
Receive payment
Yes
Drawings get
approved.
No
Submit all P.O.’s
for materials not
ordered .
Create shop
drawings to
determine
timber sizes
Submit drawings
to engineer for
review.
Are these
drawings
full &
complete
or for
timber
sizes only
Receive approved and
signed drawings from all
parties. “No exceptions
taken”
Submit drawings for team
approval:
Architect , General
Contractor, Engineer of
Record (if different from
timber engineer)
Receive engineer
approval
Re-submit to engineer
for approval
Make corrections.
Receive red-lines
from engineer.
Timber sizes only
Invoice for 50%
of Materials
Payment #2
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Submit P.O.’s for
Timbers
Complete shop drawings in
full including connection
details and engineering.
Receive timbers and materials
Invoice for remaining
materials and 50% of labor
& milling
Payment #3
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payment
Load & ship project
Final payment
due prior to
delivery
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balance of
sales order
Manufacture
and assemble
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