LEV Capture Hood Design and Optimization

I am developing a compact (≤ 600mm wide) horseshoe-shaped LEV capture hood for an industrial manufacturing application and need a complete, production-ready design. Airflow has to be optimised so the hood achieves the greatest possible capture distance while keeping pressure losses low. Alongside the geometry, I expect a full CFD study—iterations on mesh density, turbulence model justification, velocity and pressure contours, and clear recommendations that feed back into the CAD.

Because the unit will sit in a small workspace, the exact envelope can still flex within the “small” category; propose wall thicknesses, radii and nozzle spacing that balance aerodynamic performance with ease of fabrication. Sheet-metal folding, welded seams and standard fasteners are preferred so the final drawings drop straight into our fabrication shop without re-work.

Typical toolsets I work with are SolidWorks or Inventor for CAD and ANSYS Fluent or Autodesk CFD for simulation, but I’m open to your proven workflow as long as native files and neutral formats are supplied.

For clarity, these are the concrete deliverables I need: • Parametric 3D CAD model of the hood (native + STEP/IGES) • Iterative CFD report with boundary conditions, results and optimisation notes • Manufacture-ready drawings (PDF + DXF/DWG) including material call-outs and weld symbols

I’ll provide target flow rates and fan data once we start; feel free to suggest further data you might need. Let’s engineer a hood that captures efficiently, is simple to build and lasts on the line.

Timeline: 10-15 days Budget: GBP 750–1500 Skills: CAD/CAM, 3D Rendering, Solidworks, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Design, 3D Design, Autodesk Inventor, Manufacturing Engineering