Precision by Design: How Simtek’s Mechanical Engineering Team Uses SolidWorks for High-Fidelity Simulated Avionics
- ccowley
- Dec 18
- 2 min read
Behind every high-fidelity panel, display, and instrument that leaves Simtek is a mechanical engineering team obsessed with details.
From overall cockpit layout down to the depth of a countersink or the feel of a switch guard, our engineers use SolidWorks 3D modeling to design simulated avionics that are tailored exactly to the customer’s specifications.
If you need hardware that matches your aircraft and your simulator—not just “something close”—this is where it starts.
Mechanical Engineering at the Core of Every Project
At Simtek, mechanical engineering isn’t a side step in the process—it’s the backbone.
Our mechanical engineering team:
Translates customer drawings, 3d-views, photos, and system requirements into manufacturable designs
Recreates legacy and modern cockpit hardware in precise 3D form
Balances form, fit, and function with real-world manufacturability
Every screw, standoff, bracket, and bezel is modeled to ensure it works as a complete, integrated assembly in your simulator.
SolidWorks 3D Modeling: Designing Down to the Last Detail
We rely on SolidWorks 3D CAD to design our simulated avionics with a level of precision that’s hard to match in 2D alone.
Using SolidWorks, our engineers can:
Build full 3D assemblies of panels, displays, and instruments
Verify clearances, mounting points, and interference before anything is machined
Align cutouts and mounting features with your structures, PCBs, and wiring
Accurately model switches, knobs, bezels, and legends to match the real cockpit
This means your hardware isn’t just “close”—it’s engineered to your exact specifications, from overall footprint down to small mechanical details.
Built Around Your Specs, Not Ours
Every customer and every platform is different. That’s why our mechanical engineering workflow is driven by your requirements:
Aircraft type and cockpit layout
Mounting constraints in your simulator (racks, frames, shells)
Interface requirements (connectors, harness routing, back panels)
Specific ergonomic and visual cues you need replicated
Whether you provide full 3D data, legacy hardware, or just a mix of drawings and reference photos, our team uses SolidWorks to build a precise 3D model that reflects your real-world equipment.
If it’s in your cockpit, we can model it, refine it, and manufacture it.
From 3D Model to Finished Hardware
Because SolidWorks is fully integrated into our process, the 3D model isn’t just a pretty picture—it’s the source of truth:
CNC programs and machine drawings are generated from the SolidWorks model
Assemblies are checked for fit before parts are ever cut
Changes and revisions are controlled and tracked directly in the CAD environment
This tight integration helps reduce:
Fit-up issues during assembly
Rework and delays on the shop floor
Misalignment between engineering, manufacturing, and wiring
The result is high-fidelity simulated avionics that look right, fit right, and go together smoothly.
Detail-Driven Design for High-Fidelity Training
High-fidelity simulation demands high-fidelity hardware—and that starts with engineering discipline.
Simtek’s mechanical engineering team, powered by SolidWorks 3D modeling, ensures that every:
Panel
Display
Instrument
is designed down to every detail of the customer’s specification.
If you’re looking for a partner who can take your cockpit concept—or your existing aircraft hardware—and turn it into precision simulated avionics, our engineering team is ready to get to work.
