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COSMOSWorks helps Harken develop hardware
for faster boats and racing yachts
Company
Harken |
Industry
Marine |
Location
U.S.A. |
Product Used
COSMOSWorks™ |
Type of Analysis
Linear Static,
Thermal
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More Details
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Harken's Black Magic line of blocks
handles the high loads generated by modern racing
and cruising boats
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The Challenge
Harken, Inc., of Pewaukee, Wisconsin,
is among the world's largest marine hardware suppliers to the
sailing industry. Harken makes blocks, travelers, furling systems,
mainsail handling systems, and winches along with a wide range
of complementary hardware and specialty products for sailboat
ranging from dinghies to large sailing yachts. During the 1995
America's Cup trials ten out of eleven challengers including the
final challenger and defender used Harken hardware. The two finalists
also had Harken winch systems.
In 1996 Harken introduced a new line
of aluminum blocks for larger offshore cruising and racing yachts.
The blocks utilized CNC machined cheeks and sheaves. High-strength
plastic rollers bear the rolling loads in the block. A unique
cage, which separates the rollers, reduces rolling friction and
minimizes maintenance of the blocks.
The primary design objective for Harken
engineers was to make the Black Magic line the strongest, lightest
blocks available to sailors.
The Solution
The requirement for a strong, reliable, lightweight block,
and the need to deliver the blocks in the shortest possible lead
time, made Harken engineers choose COSMOSWorks.
The blocks' sculpted shape made early
design analysis difficult, but Harken engineers found that SolidWorks
made it possible to model the blocks quickly, and that COSMOSWorks
helped them analyze several designs accurately in their pursuit
of the optimum block.
The results of these efforts, says
Ken Lange, Harken engineer, is a runner block that exceeded expectations
for weight reduction, strength and, ultimately, sales forecasts.
Summary and Metrics:
- Exceeded expectations for weight reductions, strength and
ultimately sales forecasts
- Were able to eliminate a lot of excess material by reducing
the plate thickness without adversely affecting performance
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"As
we evaluated other software systems, the lack of integration
and higher cost was a big barrier against choosing other
systems."
Ken Lange, Engineer
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