Outmaneuvering the competition: 3D modeling brings revolutionary product to market faster
MBT Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 9/26/2007
A 3D modeling package helped speed development a revolutionary product—the first scuba fin that can be worn both in and out of the water.The Amphibian dynamic scuba fin was conceived by Ronen Moyel, founder of Omega Aquatics and an Israeli Special Forces veteran who recognized the need for something that was maneuverable both in and out of the water. Such a product would keep military divers from drifting away as they put on fins in the water while fully loaded with scuba gear.
The Amphibian fin is strapped on prior to entering the water and removed after exiting, allowing divers to walk while wearing their scuba fins.
Moyel took his initial design—in the form of 2D sketches—to an engineering services house known as Designcraft, which sped the product through the prototype stage using 3D capabilities in the Pro/ENGINEER software package from PTC.
Designcraft uses Pro/ENGINEER as its standard 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software for all product design. With Pro/ENGINEER, Designcraft developed and prototyped the two-piece fin brought together by a special hinge that allows the webbed blades of the fin to be kept in the up—or in walking—position until the swimmer hits the water. The blades are locked into swimming position by a simple kick in the water.
“Omega Aquatics brought us an innovative concept in rough 2D sketches,” says Casey Stahl, lead designer, Designcraft. “Pro/ENGINEER allowed us to interpret and develop the idea into a 3D solid model that could easily be modified throughout the iterative design process. Initial design and development was completed in less than six months, enabling Omega Aquatics to revolutionize the diving industry with the first dynamic scuba fin. The initial design has evolved since its debut, but because everything was designed in Pro/ENGINEER, it’s been easy to incorporate modifications without impacting production.”
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