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CAD – Computer Aided Design

Key CAD Programmes

Alias AutoStudio



Alias SurfaceStudio



ICEM Surf



ICEM Style



CATIA

Also..

Digital Scanning of Clay Models (3D Digitising)

CMMs (Coordinate Measuring Machines)

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CAD – ICEM Surf

In order to facilitate end-stage design evaluation and development, ICEM Surf can process data from digitised physical models which can in turn be modified, corrected, balanced and otherwise resolved as required.

Key Features

• It is possible to create and modify aesthetic free-form surfaces directly and in real-time
  
  
  

• ‘Virtual clay modelling’ can be performed by direct modelling and diagnosis of point clouds or facet data without prior surface generation
  
  
  

• Direct surface modelling is possible through stereo, shaded display and real-time renderer modes
  
  
  

• Safety analyses (Head Impact Diagnoses) allow for early detection and resolution of possible safety issues
  
  
  

• ICEM Surf is used for Class A surfaces for automotive exterior and interior design as well as consumer goods, structural surfaces (Body-in-White) and free form surfaces in tool and die design.
  
  
  

• Digitised physical model or CAD data can be used to create free-form surfaces with automated smoothing and approximation
  
  
  

• Surface models can be quickly developed from ordered or unordered (point clouds) digitised data
• Fully feasible, high-quality aesthetic designs can be developed quickly
  
  
  

• With the ‘Global Modelling’ feature, whole detailed models can be modified in total, interactively and dynamically
  
  
  

• The rendering process is independent; rendering can be computed in the background or remotely whilst work continues

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CAD – ICEM Style

Key to the appeal of ICEM Style is the programme’s abilities for real-time visualisation. "No longer are third-party, stand-alone visualisation products required to visualise the complete design, nor a time-consuming wait for a static rendering to be generated".

The nature of ICEM Style’s interoperability with the down-stream ICEM Surf means that input from designers can be taken from tablet sketches, through preparatory stages and full scale models ready in anticipation of final A-Class surfacing. This simplifies the flow of work, eliminating certain transition stages which in turn saves time and translation discrepencies. ICEM Surf can then be used earlier to resolve a design and finalise production quality surfaces.

Advanced Digital Rendering for the Automotive Industry

Link www.artvps.com

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Step 3 – CAD Model Import and Material Application

The CAD model is imported into a suitable rendering package, (MAX, Maya, Viz or Catia) and the special ARTVPS materials are applied to the vehicle to give it that realistic appearance. The environment map and background image are then included and the job is submitted for rendering on RenderDrive.

Step 4 – Final rendering

Finally the image is produced. Should a different car, different colour, different wheels, different angle, different lens length be required, it can all be achieved with the HDRiMAGING process. With the background image and 360º environmental data captured, it is easy to make changes to the specification or design of the car and re-render.

Further Examples

Backplate and HDR Scan	Finished Image

Backplate and HDR Scan	Finished Image

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Images © & courtesy ARTVPS Limited. Strictly no reproduction without permission.

Coordinate Measuring Machines – CMMs

The Basics

CMMs scan three-dimensional objects, and record information about those objects as points in space – coordinates. These large amounts of coordinate data are known as ‘point cloud data’.

Early measurement systems involved large touch probes that were slow and cumbersome and would only record cross-sectional data. From these cross-sections, surfaces were developed and a toolpath created; from this the other half of the clay would then be milled (and balanced). This process would take several weeks.

With the use of optical laser CMMs, it is now possible to scan a full-size vehicle in a day. Millions of coordinates can be recorded in a matter of seconds, meaning a fast process that precisely interprets the design without loss of information. Using this data, a polygonal mesh of the vehicle is created – without the need to rebuild all the surfaces on computer.

Once the data from the model is interpreted by a CAD system, it can then be used for further development as a computer model thus allowing designers to try new ideas and then using the CMM in milling machine guise to create their new vision in clay. Old ideas can even be recorded in CAD and then milled back out should newer variants not prove successful.

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CAD – CATIA

Made up from many different elements, or ‘products’, CATIA can perform a range of tasks depending upon its configuration. Within the automotive industry these tasks include Class A surfacing, body-in-white template design, body-in-white fastening design and many more. Some of the main applications are listed below.

Vehicle Synthesis

Analysis and decision support throughout the vehicle development process

Body

The full BODY in WHITE Process from the first stylist idea to tool generation

Chassis

Suspensions and steering wheels, integration of the chassis in the vehicle.

Powertrain

CATIA is used to design and evaluate the full spectrum of powertrain components and is used to design the processes and tooling required for manufacture.

Electrical and Electronics

Software to manage the electrical behavior of components and their integration into the 3D digital mock-up.

Interior and Exterior Trim

Automotive Interior process is handled by the whole Dassault Systemes V5 line of product, covering all aspects of automobile plastic parts conception from design to manufacturing.

Some of the Available CATIA Automotive Products

Automotive Body-In-White Fastening 3 (ABF) is dedicated to the design of Automotive Body In White Fasteners. It supports Welding technologies and mechanical clinching, along with Adhesives, Sealers, and Mastics.

Automotive Body in White Templates is an advanced product that uses unique skilled features to boost body in white design phase productivity. These powerful features allow body in white design teams to quickly create or modify a car body in an associative styling and engineering context. For instance, a user can create an associative shape, place welding points on it, and then assemble the two parts with unprecedented rapidity.

Automotive Class A Optimizer 3 (ACO) offers extended tools to create and model aesthetic and ergonomic shapes to highest Class A quality. Powerful tools like using global surface modelingtechniques, Shape Modeling, and global feature creation methods, Global Flange, on top of the ACA product speed up the total development styling process.

CAD Rendering: Virtual Photography with ART VPS

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Link www.artvps.com

Step Three – Apply Lighting

There are two approaches to lighting: standard and high-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI). Standard lighting techniques use computer graphics lights to replicate real-life light sources. RenderPipe complements the full range of light types found in most 3D packages. ART VPS also provides the option of adding an HDRI image to be used for lighting, reflections, shading and other effects. HDRI has revolutionized the external lighting process. In conjunction with ART VPS rendering hardware, it has made Virtual Photography a reality. HDRI images contain high resolution contrast data, recorded photographically on location, which is used by ART VPS’s ray-tracing renderer to light the scene. The image also appears as the background environment. This means you are able to drop a computer model into a scene and it will be fully integrated into an apparent real-world environment.

Step Four – Apply Cameras and Render

RP cameras work just like the standard 3ds max, Maya, VIZ or CATIA cameras. In 3ds max, Maya and VIZ they have additional controls for motion blur, depth of field, and lens effects. The ART VPS RenderPipe renderer is integrated with the application. A user selects RenderPipe as the active renderer giving access to a selection of RenderPipe options, including chalk preview, image quality, ray depth, and a preview that shows the entire rendering in progress, rather than just the partial fill shown by many software renderers.

Step Five – The End Results

	This scene was rendered in 12 minutes and 34 seconds at a resolution of 1828×1332 pixels.
	Because of the way the system works, should it be necessary to make changes to the rendering, it only takes about 15 minutes to modify and re-render the image to incorporate, for example, silver paint work and chrome alloys.

This image illustrates the potential of the Virtual Photography system, allowing the CAD derived object to take on the light, shade and reflection properties of its surroundings. For more information about ART VPS, visit their website: www.artvps.com Images courtesy & © ART VPS Lexus model by M Pavos.

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CAD – Alias SurfaceStudio

Key Features

• Cloud data processing
• Direct, Patch-based modelling
• Procedural, curve based modelling
• Real-time diagnostic feedback
• Dynamic surface evaluation
• CAD integration

In Brief

User Interaction

A user interface that enables creativity and efficiency

Sketching

A complete set of tools for 2D design work tightly integrated into a 3D modelling environment

Modelling (Modeling)

Industry-leading, NURBS-based surface modeller.

Advanced Automotive Surfacing Tools

Surface creation tools that maintain positional, tangent or curvature continuity between surfaces – for high quality, manufacturable results.

Reverse Engineering

Tools for importing and configuring cloud data sets from scanners for visualising, as well as extracting feature lines and building surfaces based on cloud data.

Evaluation Tools

Tools to analyse and evaluate the styling and physical properties of curves and surfaces interactively, while creating and editing geometry.

Data Integration

Support for industry-standard data formats and a wide range of peripheral devices.

CAD – Alias AutoStudio

Alias produces the leading automotive design software AutoStudio. AutoStudio is a programme to design and visualise full scale automotive projects. It is accompanied by a range of hardware and software products including sketching tools and advanced rendering and visualisation functions. AutoStudio customers include: BMW, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Italdesign.

What it does Alias AutoStudio allows a user to access a range of features which assists them in everything from concept sketches to Class-A surfacing. Principle Features Sketching Concept Design Cloud Data Processing Advanced Modelling Advanced Surface Evaluation Visualisation CAD Integration In Brief User Interaction A user interface that enables creativity and efficiency Sketching A complete set of tools for 2D design work tightly integrated into a 3D modelling environment 2D / 3D Integration Take advantage of your sketching skills throughout the design process. Add details and explore ideas quickly by sketching over 3D forms before taking the time to model them. Modelling (Modeling) Industry-leading, NURBS-based surface modeller. Advanced Automotive Surfacing Tools Surface creation tools that maintain positional, tangent or curvature continuity between surfaces – for high quality, manufacturable results. Reverse Engineering Tools for importing and configuring cloud data sets from scanners for visualising, as well as extracting feature lines and building surfaces based on cloud data. Evaluation Tools Tools to analyse and evaluate the styling and physical properties of curves and surfaces interactively, while creating and editing geometry. Rendering Create photorealistic images using textures, colours, highlights, shadows, reflections and backgrounds. Animation Animations can be used for high quality design presentations, design analysis of mechanisms, motion and ergonomic studies, manufacturing or assembly simulation. Data Integration Support for industry-standard data formats and a wide range of peripheral devices.

Images © & courtesy Alias