Awesomewifi.com

3D modeling using programs such as Autodesk Inventor has become the standard in many industries. Even if you do not use this technology, chances are your competitors are. But 3D modeling is only the beginning, and in fact, the most competitive companies are using technology to do much more than just verify the geometry of their parts and assemblies. It is now possible to create lifelike “pictures” from 3D digital models of designs that look so real it is hard to believe the parts exist only as an electronic pattern inside of a computer.

One project I worked on involved the development of a new line if KitchenAid ranges. My group developed all of the components digitally and brought them together into a main assembly before any prototypes were ever constructed. Industrial design came to me and requested that I provide them with the geometry of different configurations of the ranges to represent the different models that were intended to be sold. All said it took me about 8 hours to provide the geometry they requested. 3 days later, I was looking at a “picture” of my designs in different kitchens complete with various lighting, reflections, and textures. It was truly amazing, and so real that I wanted to ask to see the unit even though I new we were months from production.

These realistic images of designs can be created even earlier in a design using preliminary 3D digital models. This gives engineering and industrial design groups the ability to communicate effectively and evaluate not only the appearance of multiple designs but also the manufacturability of the products. Customers can also provide feedback early in the design cycle which can allow for adjustments to be made before it becomes an expensive, hair-ripping exercise. Also, once customers get used to seeing their products early and being able to ask for changes that would be impossible later, they begin to expect it. The competitive edge this technology provides far outweighs its cost.

Speaking of cost, let’s get down to the numbers. So what is it going to set your business back to increase your capability from just 3D modeling to photorealistic rendering? Probably not as much as you think. High-end packages do run as much as $30,000 per seat, but a seat of 3D Studio Max currently costs $3,500 and does everything most companies need. The computer with the specs needed to run the software is going to be comparable at about $3800. Compared to the cost of building a prototype, setting up the display, and hiring a photographer, that price tag seems pretty attractive.

Photorealistic rendering allows for tasks that were traditionally performed linearly to be completed concurrently and consequently crunches time to market by weeks or months. It also makes designs more nimble allowing for input early from all departments and end users when changes can be made quickly and cheaply. Photorealistic rendering is just one more way that digital prototyping is utilizing technology to make business more competitive than ever before by increasing their capabilities and saving both time and money.