Case Study: Steam Machines, Inc achieves reduced development costs and faster product cycles with SolidWorks

Innovating CCR diving systems with SolidWorks Premium

Steam Machines, Inc., a pioneer in recreational closed-circuit rebreather (CCR) systems, needed an easy-to-use design platform with integrated CFD and analysis tools to streamline development, contain costs, and reduce prototyping. After finding Pro/ENGINEER inadequate for CFD work, Steam Machines adopted SolidWorks—using SolidWorks Premium along with SolidWorks Flow Simulation and SolidWorks Simulation—to support conceptual design, simulation, validation and manufacturing.

By implementing SolidWorks, Steam Machines compressed design cycles, reduced manufacturing costs, eliminated prototype production and optimized system performance. SolidWorks (Premium, Flow Simulation and Simulation) plus CAMWorks enabled validated virtual testing, faster mold and tooling development and immediate production with minimal rework—helping lower CCR unit costs (from roughly $18,000 to $7,800 after material/process innovations), change from 5,000‑psi stainless fittings to lower‑pressure naval brass, and produce hundreds of components annually.

Steam Machines, Inc

Peter Readey

Founder and Owner