Samsung Electronics utilizes many commercial CAD/CAM and CAE tools for conceptual design, modeling and manufacturing its products. This has been noted as the source of many problems for years. Data from one CAD tool could rarely be converted to another CAD tool which often necessitated recreation of the same design when moving from one product design step to another. Also, various requirements came from engineering and manufacturing divisions demanding improvements and feature modifications of the commercial tools they are using, which could not be satisfied by limited APIs or macro customization capabilities provided by the vendors. Engineers used to complain that the lack of flexibility of the tools contributed to added difficulty in capturing design know-how.

In order to overcome shortcomings of the commercial tools that were already in use, Samsung Electronics initiated a joint effort in developing a brand new version of VX CAD/CAM software, now ready to be released as VX Vision®. In the summer of 1998, Samsung Electronics tested final alpha version of VX Vision on an actual Samsung Electronics product line in the Cellular Phone Division. The target product was the new folding type cellular phone model. From modeling to rendering image to creation of 3D toolpath and to building mock-up core and cavity, VX far exceeded the expectations of the engineers in the Celluar Phone Division.

Through extensive testing by broader group of engineers within Samsung Electronics, a number of problems were detected and suggestions were made from the end-user's point of view. Corrections and improvements were made in no time thanks to busy and tight interaction between developers of the software and the actual users. Soon after using the software for only a few times, engineers found themselves expert VX users and could design complex models using it's superior surface and solid modeling features. They particularly appreciated the history regeneration and infinite undo/redo features of VX which made it almost trivial to reflect model change to the data of the previously designed model.

The photo-realistic images of the final design delivered by VX's rendering feature using various materials were realistic enough to be used as-is in the product evaluation exhibition. Mold manufacturing features like automatic parting line/surface generation and electrode generation were powerful and effective enough to change the previously used mold design methodologies.

Tight integration of CAD functionalities of VX with it's CAM functionalities brought a school of benefits to those who had to work with frequently changing models. Hole making and 2.5-3 axis milling features were proven to be very effective for making complex mock-ups. In particular, the 2.5 axis milling features were very useful in making mold base because it could easily generation the toolpath from drawing or 3D model. Also, the tactic-based architecture enabled the re-use of manufacturing knowledge, which demonstrated the possibilities of using VX as an underlying knowledge-based system.

Samsung Electronics as a company was pleased to confirm that after its initial application of VX Vision in the production line, VX did turn out to be what it promised to be. The prompt feedback and improvement cycle itself became one strong advantage of VX. At its final stage of product release preparation, Samsung Electronics is working with VX, improving current features and adding new features related to database management, customization, and product oriented modeling.