3D Printed Mass Customization for Daihatsu’s Copen Cars
Daihatsu Motor Company, known for manufacturing compact, lightweight cars, will offer customers customized design elements for car exteriors. Customers will be able to customize their Copen Convertibles with Stratasys 3D printed effect skins. Stratasys FDM 3D printing technology was used to “build” these three-dimensional patterns, called Effect Skins, for the front and rear bumpers of Daihatsu’s Copen 2-door convertible. “Using Stratasys 3D Printing technology to customize and supply parts to customers and to allow self-expression within a single car is, I believe, a first,” said Osamu Fujishita, General Manager, Corporate Planning Department, Brand DNA Office, Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. Daihatsu Copen owners will be able to choose from 10 Stratasys ASA 3D printing material colors and 15 base patterns to create their own signature designs. The auto experts at Daihatsu collaborated with designer Kota Nezu and 3D modeling artist Sun Junjie. Nezu’s firm, Znug Design, manages planning and design for industrial products, such as cars and motorcycles. Junjie has had extensive experience in fashion, as well as a deep understanding of what Stratasys 3D printing solutions have to offer, but had never worked with the automotive industry. The pair developed more than a dozen base patterns of Effect Skins in 10 different colors; [...]
Handy Scan – Versatile Metrology Solution
The Handy Scan 3D 700 is a portable yet versatile metrology solution from Creaform. Through 3D scanning, companies can effectively conduct reverse engineering and inspection operations throughout the product development process. The Handy Scan is a handheld laser scanner optimized to meet the demands of engineers. It features 7 lasers that produce a highly detailed point cloud from physical parts and assemblies. To setup the scanner, simply connect it to a laptop or workstation with a USB and power cable. Next, you stage your part by placing the targets, which will enable the lasers to triangulate and generate the scan data. Surprisingly enough, you can be up and running in just a few minutes. There are several great features about this scanner. For example, it features multi-functional buttons that allow me to do things like adjust the zoom, the shutter, and even initiate my scan without having to go back and forth to your computer. Another benefit is its accuracy and speed. It produces scans with tolerances of up to 30 microns and has one of the highest measurement rates on the market, 480,000 measures/s. This allows for timely scanning in an age where speed is critical to success. Finally, its ergonomic design [...]
Working With SOLIDWORKS 2016 Edge Flanges
In today's episode of “What’s New in SolidWorks 2016” I’m going to show you an enhancement to sheet metal flanges that will allow you to create edge flanges that are longer than the edge to which they are attached. In previous versions of SolidWorks, an edge flange feature would default to the length of the edge of the sheet metal part with no options to manipulate the flange length. This is no longer the case. Now, you can drag the edges of the flange preview or input a value for the desired flange length. Let’s take a look at how it works . . . Open a flat sheet metal part. Go to Insert > Sheet Metal> and select the icon for Edge Flange. Next, select the edge where you’d like the flange to attach and in the Property Manager, under Flange Length input a value for the length of the flange. In this example we set the length to 40 mm. Under Flange Parameters, click Edit Flange Profile. In the graphics area, drag each vertical sketch segment so they extend beyond the adjoining sheet metal edge. In the profile sketch dialog box, click Finish, and see how the edge flange is added [...]
Cimquest Sponsors Villanova Race Car
Auto racing can be a fun and exhilarating sport. Reveled by dedicated fans and casual enthusiasts alike, the rapid acceleration, extreme speeds, and powerful roaring of engines delivers a rush of excitement unlike any other event. This year, Cimquest joined in the excitement through our sponsorship of Villanova University’s Formula SAE team, known as Nova Racing. Using 3D printing, we were able to help print a racing part designed by the team’s student engineers. This part was used in their final car design for the 2016 Formula SAE competition at Michigan International Speedway. The Formula SAE competition offers college and university students the opportunity to practice real world systems engineering through the design, fabrication, assembly and testing of formula-style race cars. Each year teams from over 100 institutions compete, working under the assumption that a manufacturing firm has hired them to develop a prototype race car for evaluation as a production item. Cars are judged in a series of static and dynamic events, including design, cost presentation, acceleration, autocross, skid-pad and endurance. Nova Racing has been competing in FSAE since 2008, building high performance cars from the ground up. The team encompasses a bright group of 25+ Undergraduate and Graduate engineers, all of [...]
Metal Hydroforming
Hydroforming is a demanding process, which uses pressure to force sheet metal to take the form of a mold. It was first adopted before World War II to form metal sheets using liquid as a soft punch. Used in low-volume manufacturing, hydroforming is favored for its ability to fabricate high quality complex parts with achievable weights up to 30% lower than standard units. It is primarily used in the automotive industry to produce engine cradles, sub frames, suspension components, and radiator support beams. Aerospace companies also use hydroforming to make airframe or engine components and the process is useful for prototypes, repair parts, and one-off custom parts. Using a variety of design methods, hydroform dies are produced by skilled laborers using CNC machines. However, there are drawbacks to conventional methods, including the high cost of raw materials, and the substantial lead times and machining costs associated with outsourcing. There’s also a general shortage of skilled labor in the workforce, which can heighten demand and inflate costs further. 3D printed Hydroform molds produced through fused deposition modeling can provide companies with remarkable time & cost savings. There is no limit to complexity and the design improvements made possible through FDM can contribute to the [...]
Björk Performs in 3D Printed Mask
The Icelandic music and film icon Björk has taken yet another fashion-forward step. Before an invitation-only audience at Tokyo’s Miraikan Museum, Björk performed in a 3D printed mask designed by MIT professor, designer and innovator Neri Oxman. Inspired by Björk’s most recent album, Vulnicura, Oxman, renowned in design circles for her use of 3D printing and biomimicry in particular, used 3D scans of Björk’s face to create digital interpretations of her bone and tissue structure. The customized design was brought to life using Stratasys’ unique full-color, multi-material 3D printing technology. Björk wore the 3D printed mask, entitled “Rottlace” (a variation of the Icelandic term for ‘skinless’), during the opening performance of the Tokyo leg of her ‘BJÖRK DIGITAL’ event series – a new virtual reality project from the musician running from June 29 to July 18, 2016. Björk wearing the Stratasys 3D printed mask during the opening performance of her ‘BJÖRK DIGITAL’ event series, the first-ever event to be broadcast live via 360-degree virtual reality streaming. Photo credit: Santiago Felipe. The event is the first to be broadcast live via 360-degree virtual reality streaming. Björk performed the single ‘Quicksand’ from her latest album to a backdrop of high-resolution images of the [...]