The automotive industry is undergoing a huge transformation. As the world moves towards more sustainable energy sources, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a driving force to transition from gas-powered cars. Just recently, Gear Patrol and Car and Driver have showcased future EVs from a wide range of automotive manufacturers, including Acura, Audi, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Ford, BMW, Polestar, Kia and Hyundai. Even luxury car brands, like Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Bentley, are jumping on the EV bandwagon.
What’s more, shops and the aftermarket sector are noticing a substantial increase in demand for converting combustion vehicles to electric, propelled by demand from DIYers and classic car collectors. But developing EVs or converting traditional cars to electric is not a mere battery-swapping game. It’s a complex process involving precision, detail, and innovative engineering. At the heart of this new approach to vehicle design is 3D scanning technology.
Phiaro’s engineering managers see a promising future for Creaform’s 3D scanners in their EV design and inspection workflows
3D scanning: A pivotal technology for designing brand-new EVs
When manufacturers embark on a new project to create an innovative EV model, metrology-grade 3D scanners allow engineers and industrial designers to accurately acquire 3D measurements of existing combustion-engine vehicles, which can then be used as the springboard for designing its EV counterpart.
Traditional vehicle design methods, involving multiple physical prototypes and iterations, are both time-consuming and resource intensive. Using 3D scanners can substantially reduce the costs associated with these EV development processes, making them more efficient, and accelerating an automotive manufacturer’s time to market.
The design teams at Phiaro use Creaform’s Go!SCAN SPARK to replace their conventional methods of taking photographs with a digital camera or using legacy equipment fixed to a jig to conduct tests on the vehicles they are designing. Both of these methods were cumbersome as not all the information was readily available to Phiaro’s development teams or did not offer the level of accuracy required for engineering and performance assessments. The Go!SCAN SPARK generates measurements without the use of positioning targets which saves a lot of time, and it captures precise texture info together with color.
To adopting new technologies, Phiaro is also using the Go!SCAN SPARK, along with mixed reality (MR) technologies to recreate accurate virtual models of vehicles. These models, when integrated with mixed reality tools, provide a virtual playground for engineers. The virtual validation process drastically cuts down design and testing time. They can “explore” the car, “see” the components in 3D space, and virtually confirm the design of EV engines, for example, when they are installed in the actual vehicle space.
Looking for 3D measurement solution?
TWA 3D present to provide convenience and the quickest solution in the manufacture of prototype and reverse engineering, inspection & portable CMM, empowering our customer to create with confidence.
