3D Modeling & CAD for Motorsport: Step 4 - Prototyping
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Step 4 - Prototyping
01.53
| 00:00 | - Now we've finalised our design, it's worth making a quick prototype to be sure it'll work before we spend the time and money on manufacturing. |
| 00:09 | Although our CAD model looks promising, a physical test can often highlight issues that weren't obvious in the virtual world and gives us confidence that our design will function as intended. |
| 00:22 | For a sheet metal part like ours, the easiest way of doing this is to transfer our flat pattern to a piece of cardboard that we can then cut out and bend to create a relatively accurate representation of our geometry. |
| 00:36 | At least the shape anyway, obviously not the strength. |
| 00:40 | Naturally, this isn't going to tell us if our design is strong enough to last but we will be able to test if it'll fit which is half of the battle. |
| 00:49 | The first step while we're still in our CAD software is to create a flat pattern for each sheet metal component with that component activated. |
| 00:58 | Which we then use on a 1:1 scale drawing. |
| 01:01 | Depending on the size of paper we're able to print, the design might need to be printed in sections, still to scale and then pieced together as accurately as possible. |
| 01:11 | If we can't print directly onto card or cardboard, it's easy enough to just glue the printed flat pattern onto something a bit thicker to give it more structure. |
| 01:21 | Then we can cut out the outline and holes and also make the bends using the bending equipment we intend on using for the real part. |
| 01:30 | This way we can both check we'll be able to make the required bends in the equipment we have access to, as well as determine the best order in which to make them. |
| 01:39 | It's then simply a matter of holding the part in place in the mounting location with the battery and checking that it'll work, and just as importantly, if we're happy with how it looks. |
