Automation

Crushing Bottlenecks: How CAD Automation Transformed Crusader Caravans’ Production Line

A custom SolidWorks automation system that turned hours of manual configuration, drawing, and export work into a process engineers complete in minutes — without sacrificing accuracy at scale.

PLATFORM
SolidWorks Application and Web Application
Solution
3D Model Processor
Industry
Caravan Manufacturing (Australia)
Key Tech
SolidWorks APIs, C#, .NET Framework, Custom Macros, React, Python, MongoDB
Time-to-Complete: Drawing & BOM Generation
VERIFIED RESULT
Manual process
5h 25m
Web Designer
With Bangladesh Software Solution CAD Automation
13 min
0 %
Reduction in turnaround time

A task that took 325 minutes of manual engineering work now completes in 13 minutes with zero manual intervention.

The Challenge

Manual design couldn't keep pace with demand

Crusader Caravans, an Australian leader in rugged, luxury caravans for families and adventure seekers, faced a growing problem. As demand for custom-built caravans surged, their manual design process couldn’t keep up.

Engineers spent hours on repetitive tasks: configuring parts, generating drawings, managing assemblies, and exporting files. Errors crept in. Lead times stretched. Scaling seemed impossible.

They needed a solution that could handle infinite customization without sacrificing speed or accuracy.

Our Solution

A CAD automation engine built on SolidWorks

We developed a custom CAD automation system that transformed their SolidWorks workflow into a streamlined and error-resistant production engine.

By leveraging SolidWorks macros, database-driven configuration data, and API integrations, we automated the entire process from intelligent part selection to final export. The result enables Crusader to deliver highly personalized caravans at scale with greater speed, accuracy, and consistency.

What is CAD Automation?

Think of it as giving your design software a brain. CAD automation connects tools like SolidWorks with custom macros using configurations to handle repetitive work automatically. Engineers stop drowning in mundane tasks and start focusing on what matters: innovation and quality

The Automation Toolkit

Nine Automated Workflows, One Connected System

Every piece was built to remove a specific manual bottleneck from Crusader’s SolidWorks production line.

Configuration Management

Reads customer specs from the database and automatically adjusts components — suppressing unnecessary parts and activating the right features. No manual tweaking.

Smart Material Assignment

Integrated with COTS API, the system automatically assigns the correct materials to every component. Consistency across hundreds of parts? Guaranteed.

A-Frame & Toolbox Configuration

A custom add-in dynamically adjusts A-frame lengths, activates toolboxes, and configures settings to exact customer specs, all with zero manual intervention.

Automated Drawings & BOMs

Bills of Materials generate automatically. Balloons are placed and part numbers pulled directly from the model — hours of work completed in minutes.

Pack and Go Automation

Renaming files, managing assemblies — the system handles it all, eliminating tedious manual steps and the errors that come with them.

Assembly Replacement

Automatically selects and replaces library assemblies — like swapping a refrigerator model — ensuring consistency across every build.

Cut-Extrude Creation

Custom macros create complex Cut-Extrude features with precision, modeling intricate components in seconds instead of manual modeling sessions.

Batch Exporting

One click. Parasolid files, PDFs, and drawing documents were all exported in bulk. Hours of repetitive exporting? Gone.

Intelligent Part Selection

Parts are automatically selected by thickness and exported as Parasolid files for manufacturing. The right parts, every time, without manual filtering.

The Automation Toolkit

Watch the Automation in Action

Two sample workflows from the system, showing the exact time savings achieved on real production tasks.

01 · DRAWINGS & BOM

From assembly to finished drawing set in ~5 minutes

  1. Open the target top-level assembly (.SLDASM) file to run the automation against.
  2. An Excel workbook in the same folder supplies the data needed to generate drawings for each sub-assembly.
  3. An Excel workbook in the same folder supplies the data needed to generate drawings for each sub-assembly.
~5 min vs. hours
Refrigerator component swap
02 · ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT

Swapping a component across the model — automatically

  1. A furniture options configuration file defines the current and target component configuration.
  2. The system accesses the standard component library to locate the required replacement.
  3. Based on the selected configuration, the automation replaces the existing component with the target one from the library.
The Obstacles We Overcame

Two Hard Constraints, Solved

CONSTRAINT

Extreme Customization Demands

Crusader’s customers expect near-unlimited personalization. We built a flexible system that handles complex configurations while letting engineers make quick adjustments when needed.

CONSTRAINT

Infrastructure Constraints

Limited memory and processing power? No problem. We optimized every macro and process to run efficiently within Crusader’s existing systems.

The Results

A Measurable Competitive Advantage

Automation didn’t just save time — it changed what Crusader’s production line is capable of.

Dramatically Faster Turnaround

Custom configurations that took hours now complete in minutes. Engineers spend time engineering, not clicking through menus.

Near-Zero Error Rates

Automated validation means every configuration is correct the first time. No more costly mistakes are made on the production floor.

Unlimited Customization at Scale

Complex custom orders flow through the system effortlessly. Customers get exactly what they want without slowing down production.

Effortless Scaling

Higher volumes, more complex designs — the system handles it all without breaking a sweat or requiring additional staff.

325 min

Before automation

13 min

After automation

96%

reduction in turnaround time

The Obstacles We Overcame

What Powers the Automation

CAD & Automation

SolidWorks
SolidWorks API
Custom Macros
C# / .NET Framework

Data & Configuration

MongoDB
Configuration Files
COTS API Integration

Application Layer

React
Python
Why This Project Matters

This isn't just automation — it's a competitive advantage

Custom CAD automation tailored to Crusader's unique workflows
Intelligent configuration management that handles complexity automatically
Enterprise-grade security with role-based access control
Optimized performance that runs smoothly on existing infrastructure
The bottom line? Crusader Caravans now delivers high-quality, fully customized products faster than ever — while their competitors are still doing things the old way.

This isn't just automation — it's a competitive advantage

Tell us about your CAD, engineering, or production bottleneck. We’ll show you what automation could look like for your team.