MusPuppis Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 I'm tentatively considering modeling the Z's engine bay in SolidWorks.. Will give me something to do thats Z related and may help myself and other Zers out down the road some. I'm a complete novice at this though and it would be a project in itself just figuring out what the hell I'm doing. What I'm wondering is, how would I go about getting accurate measurements on some of the oddly shaped parts in the Z's engine bay? Say, the inner fenders for example, strut towers, etc. Just wondering.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 If you had an endless budget you could use a 3D digitizer. They mount to a reference plane and they have a little finger on the end of an arm that you probe around with. Everywhere it touches it "memorizes" in 3D coordinates. Then a computer translates all the points you picked into an actual model. Big Bucks though. I have used one when we had to retool an old machine that had no blueprints. Another way is to use basic mapping and geometry skills. Triangulate key points and make best fit curves. The more accurate you want it...the longer it's going to take you. Guestimates are fine for what you plan to do anyhow. Tough challenge but sounds fun. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusPuppis Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 Thanks. What I had kind of thought about was modeling the general shape, flat, then working from the highest point down based on reference marks and just kind of tinkering with over-all radii from that. Or, alternatively I could bend a wire or flat peice of steel in small segmets, say, 1/8 maybe more narrow, and build the pannels band by band if that makes much sense.. I dunno, never done this sort of thing before. I dont even know Solidworks but its an interesting challenge and learning the program and basics of part modelling could only help me in the long run. Would give me something to do atleast. I could also make very general engine models based on basic dimensions so a person could load the engine, load the engine, position it and look at mount possibilities, routing for I/C stuff, or whatever else. Likely a pipe dream, but could be fun, and its very possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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