Protótipo óptico para as indústrias automotiva e de aviação

Optical prototype for the automotive and aviation industries

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Your questions about what your product will look and feel like when finished are answered by the appearance prototype. An appearance prototype is generally the physical representation of what your final product will look like when it goes into final production. Launch prototypes often don't work the same way the final product would. Just like the presentation prototype, both are created just to show stakeholders, designers and the media what the design will look like in the end. The appearance prototype typically has no moving parts or internal structure, such as an engine or drivetrain in a prototype car.

With the advent of prototyping technologies, CNC machined and 3D printed parts are now commonly used in appearance prototyping to make prototypes as close to the real product as possible. Materials used in this phase include 3D printed plastics, CNC machined RenShape parts, solid wood, clay, medium density fiberboard (MDF), metal sheets and paints.

An optical prototype of the Lotus Evora for feasibility study

Prototyping is common in almost all industries and is effectively carried out before the launch of new products. Here are some of the known industries that conduct this prototyping phase more frequently than others to generate revenue, public interest, and satisfy shareholders.

Auto Industry

CNC machining and various hand modeling techniques are widely used in the automotive industry to develop precisely designed prototypes and create models that are as close as possible to approved designs. As new car models are revealed at major auto shows to gauge market demand and attract media attention, companies carefully work on exterior details. A mixture of manual and CNC clay modeling techniques is one of the most used techniques in the automotive prototyping sector. Since prototypes need to attract the attention of investors and potential customers, it ensures that the external prototype “wows” its viewers. These levels of detail can be easily achieved through CNC prototyping.

Manual modeling in clay for later fine-tuning on CNC

Appearance Prototype-2

The prototype production model shown previously

Car 2

Prototyping of UAV airframes

UAVs have been on the rise over the past two decades and the technology required to produce them is also on the rise. UAVs, especially for military purposes, have to go through intensive bidding from multiple contractors. Therefore, each contractor ensures that the prototype is attractive and carefully crafted to meet the client's needs. To achieve this, pre-impregnated materials are used for autoclaving and CNC machining with low-cost cutting tools to keep the prototype within budget and still make it attractive enough to receive an order. Thanks to modern rapid prototyping techniques, CNC allows companies to spend more time designing products and less time creating prototypes.

UAV developed by Air Marshall Inc. displayed at an air show

aerospace industry

Precision is a must in all industries, but in aerospace it is even more important than in other industries. Small differences in the accuracy of the aircraft's fan blades or small missing screws on the landing gear can make flying significantly more dangerous. To achieve the highest precision and time-efficient production, CNC is one of the most important techniques in both prototype development and aircraft manufacturing. Modern aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus 350, use high-surface CNC polishing followed by multiple layers of paint to prevent corrosion on their prototypes. These prototypes are then used in international air shows to demonstrate the aircraft's capabilities and performance.

Airbus A350 prototype demonstrating the integrity of its fuselage

In addition to the production of the fuselage and avionics, the interior is also carefully planned and prototyped. Cabins are made by airlines and each airline tries to get the most out of its interior design. In the first offerings to the public, mainly cabin models of new aircraft, all possible prototyping techniques are used to make the appearance of the prototype as attractive as possible.

Computer industry

With the annual launch of new products and prototypes at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, we see beautifully designed cell phones and laptops every year. Each of the prototypes is the result of incorporating several rapid prototyping techniques, such as 3D printing and 5-axis CNC machining and polishing. Precise engraving of the brand name and initials, as well as model numbers, is done by laser printing and precise CNC machining.

equipment

Whether heavy or light, small or large, all devices require some form of CNC machining. CNC plays a crucial role in designing key components of heavy machine prototypes as this prototyping method is time and cost efficient. The textures and sizes of nuts and bolts, the design of crowbars, blades and hammers are the result of equipment and tools manufactured using CNC machining. Once the prototypes are approved, final production takes place, which also involves the intensive use of machining and rapid production.

Appearance Prototyping and Wayken

As demand for appearance prototyping increases and Wayken establishes itself as one of the nation's prototyping pioneers, we are the number one solution for all your prototyping needs. Wayken is a leader in plastic prototype machining, aluminum CNC machining, clear optical prototypes and low-volume manufacturing. At Wayken, we turn your ideas into reality as prototypes and bring your products to life. We invite you to schedule an appointment with Wayken and see your ideas become reality in no time. Good products require excellent prototypes and that's what we're here for.

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