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3D Modeling & CAD for Motorsport: Step 1 - Planning

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Step 1 - Planning

03.43

00:00 - In the coming modules, we'll be outlining the HPA five step design process for using CAD on automotive projects.
00:08 Following this, we're going to be putting the process to use on some worked examples.
00:12 That way you'll be able to see it all in action on real world automotive projects.
00:17 To clarify, this isn't intended to be a strict set of steps that should be followed to the letter for every part we design.
00:24 Realistically the process will always be at least a little different depending on what you're designing.
00:30 A simple fabricated part that we plan on making ourselves for example may only require two of these five steps.
00:38 The action of actually modelling our designs will also be completely different for each part and as we know there are usually multiple ways of successfully modelling the same thing.
00:49 So think of this as more of an outline of where to use the skills and information that we've covered in the body of this course to get the most out of our designs.
00:59 This five step process represents a good practice to follow from the recognition of a need for a new design through to the finished manufactured product.
01:08 Remember everything we discuss in these steps has been covered in the course so if you're a bit hazy on anything we talk about, stop and jump back to the corresponding module to get a refresher before moving on.
01:21 And this brings us to our first step, the best designs stem from the need to solve a problem and we need to have a good understanding of the problem we're trying to solve to make sure our design is actually successful.
01:34 This could be as simple as the need to support a catch can in the engine bay, or a more involved example like fixing undesirable suspension geometry that causes excessive toe change through travel, resulting in bump steer.
01:49 Once we understand our problem and what we're trying to achieve, we can begin the planning phase.
01:54 More often than not, we're going to need to take some measurements of the vehicle or from the components that our design will interface with.
02:02 For example, the distance between the mounting holes we want to use for a bracket and the size of the associated hardware.
02:10 We may also want to create models of any existing components that our new design will fit with.
02:16 Then we can create assemblies with joints between existing and new components, this is the best way to understand how the components will interact and fit together.
02:26 Depending on the situation, it might be possible to take some photos that can be used for canvases to save us some time by reducing the number of measurements required as well as providing a visual reference while modelling in CAD.
02:40 3D scans are an extension of this, giving us the ability to quickly capture the geometry of existing parts or environments and use it for reference in CAD when developing new designs.
02:52 In both cases, for canvases and scans, we need to take a few physical measurements regardless to check the scale and calibrate them once inside our CAD workspace.
03:04 Thinking back to our design fundamentals module, now is a good time to understand the material requirements.
03:11 Consider the forces that might be acting on the part and other factors like corrosion resistance.
03:17 It's also ideal if you can determine the intended manufacturing method alongside the material so we can keep any special considerations and limitations in mind throughout the design process.
03:29 Drafting a few hand drawn concepts down on a piece of paper can be a helpful way to get a quick visual understanding of a good starting point for the upcoming CAD modelling phase.

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