In our previous blog post, we walked through the process of setting up an airflow study over the front of the Thunder Roadster. We used SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation to set up a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis to verify that incoming air is adhering to the surface of the car and entering the hood scoop at racing speeds. With the results verified, the next step is to design new inlet components to route as much of that air to the engine as possible to improve performance.

In our previous blog post, we walked through the process of gathering usable data by 3D scanning the entire outside of Ryan's car. TriMech's Project Engineering Group helped us convert the scanned data into a usable SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD model of the Thunder Roadster. With this model, we'll be able to make, evaluate, verify and even modify the vehicle for ultimate performance!

The main appeal of DraftSight is that it allows users to create, edit, view and mark up any kind of DWG file with a familiar user interface, so transitions to and from a user’s CAD application are quicker. That integration between the 2D and 3D environment is key to what makes DraftSight such a great tool. Since it is part of the Dassault Systèmes family, it can seamlessly integrate with other products like SOLIDWORKS, GEOVIA, DELMIA and many others. With the release of DraftSight 2019, they have added even more integrations to the list, and these are our favorites:

Our QA blog series looks at different members of our team and their perspective on the most current 3D printing and CAD technology. This month’s QA features Techline Todd and Customer Support

This week's Product Story showcases Milwaukee School of Engineering and their use of Stratasys F123 series printers and Stratasys materials.

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) offers an innovative partnership between business and education in its Additive Manufacturing Lab. Students have the opportunity to work with businesses as they address unique challenges that arise when developing new products. The engineering students partner with Additive Lab consortium members to find a solution for these challenges.

TriMech’s solution partner, Stratasys, has recently signed an agreement with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Don Schumacher Racing. This agreement allows the automotive teams to leverage the Fortus and F123 series of 3D printers as part of their additive manufacturing process to stay ahead of the competition by accelerating component prototyping, proof-of-concept and finished ultralight usable components. 

ABS is the most widely used polymer for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. Take a walk down any aisle in a store and you are bound to see ABS in items that contain plastic. Consumer goods and automotive are the first industries that come to mind. Although, many industries have taken advantage of the unique combination of UV resistance, vivid colors and glossy finish that set this material apart. 

TriMech’s solution partner, Nano Dimension, has recently created the world's first fully functional 3D printed Internet of Things (IoT) communications device. They were able to 3D print, assemble and test the device 90% faster than traditional manufacturing using their proprietary additive manufacturing process. This milestone brings with it exciting new possibilities for how we design and create  the next generation of smart devices. 

In our previous blog post, “Customizing a Thunder Roadster: Introduction”, you might’ve caught Ryan’s car being scanned using the Artec Eva 3D scanner. Artec manufactures structured light scanners, which are the perfect choice for making a textured and accurate 3D model. 3D scanning is being used more in many industries for reverse engineering and product customization due to the precise results and lowered technology costs. By capturing technological details and data from an object, it is possible to then recreate or improve upon it. In part two of this series, we’ll take a look at how Ryan’s Thunder Roadster was scanned.

Artec 3D announces the newest member to their growing line of 3D scanners: the Artec Micro. A first for Artec, this metrology-grade desktop 3D scanner is fully automated and moves the part while the scanning cameras remain stationary. The mechanically controlled synchronization between the cameras and the dual-axis aperture is a key part of what allows for the incredible scan accuracy of up to 10 microns. How small is that? Ten microns about a tenth the size of a single grain of salt, and four times smaller than what is visible with the human eye.

Migrating CAD data can be a daunting task. There are so many things that could be lost, forgotten or looked over. With all of the variables surrounding the transition, it can be overwhelming to define the top items to tackle with data self-migration. Lets uncover some of the top tips and pain points that will occur in the transition.

At TriMech, our engineers are always excited about the technologies that we offer our clients. From the latest in CAD changes to the newest advancements in additive manufacturing, our goal is to have the best technical staff available. One of the ways that we encourage their advancement is by embracing the use of technologies for personal experiences and professional development.

During this multi-part video series, we are going to highlight one of our Senior Application Engineers, Ryan Zeck. Ryan has been racing since before he was nine years old and has always had a passion for going fast! So for this project we’ve given Ryan access to TriMech’s entire product portfolio to see how we can make his car go even faster.