 Feat of (Virtual) Clay
Updating a design tradition
Few people outside the milieu of engineering appreciate the importance
using of good modeling clay in design work. Kids get Play-Doh, and art students
use it in sculptural courses (the stuff potters use is a different consistency).
But in engineering, clay has been used all across the design process, from
creating casting masters to full-scale models of vehicle proposals. And
in some arenas, it's still superior to CAD technology.
Now comes the FreeForm system from SensAble Technologies, Woburn, MA,
which combines the special qualities of both analog and digital. Presently
in its third version, the package unites solid modeling software with a
haptic input tool that not only controls the cursor on the screen, but also
provides virtual feedback to the user's hand. In essence, someone using
FreeForm feels the resistance of the clay block they're carving. The system
uses established clayworking metaphors such as "sculpting" and
"wirecutting," so modelers begin work in familiar territory.
Already in use in film entertainment and in the design of toys, consumer
electronics, footwear, furniture, ceramics, jewelry and other products,
FreeForm V3 is allowing modelers to output IGES surfaces often required
by CAD and animation packages. Additionally, the system can be used to support
polygonal data. After completing a FreeForm model, users define NURBS patches
by placing curves directly on a model.
One company, RJ Studios in Newtown, PA, has used FreeForm in contract
work for companies like Mattel and Fisher Price Brands. One aspect they
found is that, when they originally worked in wax, they had to make an "original"
model, plus a second version for production identical but 7% larger than
the first to accommodate shrinkage. Switching to a computer-based system
removed the second step along with most of the 120-160 total hours to sculpt
both models. RJ Studios now places models into digital format either by
scanning a wax version, creating a model in a CAD package, or sculpting
directly in FreeForm. Says Tony Rogers, president of RJ Studios, "It
gives us the essential tools we need...It's a big part of our future."
--RM
For more information:
Circle 555 - SensAble Technologies, or connect directly
to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at http://www.OneRS.net/107df-555
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