When getting into a new car, the first thing one notices is the interior features: the design and color scheme of the fittings, seats, and door trim quickly catch the eye. Since it is this first impression that counts, the manufacturers take the high demands of their customers and thus the interior design of their vehicles seriously: Sophisticated design and a pleasing feel to the touch play a key role in the purchasing decision. For this reason, the imaging of the often complex shapes and decorative surfaces is particularly important. Benecke-Kaliko has developed the Surfvis(TM) 3D advanced simulation technology and service solution for components of this kind.
Using three-dimensional imaging, the simulation helps save a great deal of time and money in the development phase. In each case, Surfvis™ 3D simulates the manufacture of interior surfaces for components like instrument panels and door trim down to the smallest detail – of late even taking into account surface grain structure. Indeed, every design is unique and copes better or worse than others with the manufacturing process. Which is why Surfvis™ 3D now stands for a precise, photo-realistic imaging of the design in the production process, without additional costs for production equipment, materials, and reworking.
Components are equipped with millimeter-thin foils in the deep-drawing process. To achieve this, the foils are heated, pre-blown and then vacuum-stretched over a mold. In this way, the foil clings precisely to each and every detail of the contour. This process yields decorative surfaces that are less than one millimeter thick in some cases. These are lightweight yet tough. Their low-weight quality supports the efforts of automotive manufacturers to design ever lighter and more eco-friendly vehicles.
Conserving resources and saving time
A distinguishing feature of Surfvis™ 3D is that it provides an accurate and realistic image of the grain pattern for deep-drawn components. The program does this by rigorously analyzing the vastly complex combinations of factors influencing the grain pattern – from the raw materials, foil construction, and production processing through to the respective vacuum forming method and the prevailing operating conditions. “Surfvis™ 3D offers much more than a simple simulation and is thus rather intricate. It does, however, save our customers a lot of development time, and thus cost, as well,” explains Dr. Jürgen Bühring, development manager at Benecke-Kaliko. The company is the first automotive interior manufacturer in the world to offer this type of sustainable service.
Experience and expertise in foils
Surfvis™ 3D is based on the knowledge of Benecke-Kaliko's expert engineers. For decades, they examined foil constructions made from various materials, each with uniquely tailored and tightly defined properties. On this basis, it was possible to more efficiently design the complete product development process. “Surfvis™ 3D should be used as early as possible in the design phase for new vehicle interior components,” says Dr. Bühring, adding, “This enables us to provide our customers valuable tips fpr realization of the design concept in terms of appearance, grain distortion, and material thickness. We can also make recommendations for geometrical enhancements. Surfvis™ 3D and the materials from Benecke-Kaliko help customers to efficiently develop and produce eco-friendly and perfectly harmonized vehicle interiors."
Using three-dimensional imaging, the simulation helps save a great deal of time and money in the development phase. In each case, Surfvis™ 3D simulates the manufacture of interior surfaces for components like instrument panels and door trim down to the smallest detail – of late even taking into account surface grain structure. Indeed, every design is unique and copes better or worse than others with the manufacturing process. Which is why Surfvis™ 3D now stands for a precise, photo-realistic imaging of the design in the production process, without additional costs for production equipment, materials, and reworking.
Components are equipped with millimeter-thin foils in the deep-drawing process. To achieve this, the foils are heated, pre-blown and then vacuum-stretched over a mold. In this way, the foil clings precisely to each and every detail of the contour. This process yields decorative surfaces that are less than one millimeter thick in some cases. These are lightweight yet tough. Their low-weight quality supports the efforts of automotive manufacturers to design ever lighter and more eco-friendly vehicles.
Conserving resources and saving time
A distinguishing feature of Surfvis™ 3D is that it provides an accurate and realistic image of the grain pattern for deep-drawn components. The program does this by rigorously analyzing the vastly complex combinations of factors influencing the grain pattern – from the raw materials, foil construction, and production processing through to the respective vacuum forming method and the prevailing operating conditions. “Surfvis™ 3D offers much more than a simple simulation and is thus rather intricate. It does, however, save our customers a lot of development time, and thus cost, as well,” explains Dr. Jürgen Bühring, development manager at Benecke-Kaliko. The company is the first automotive interior manufacturer in the world to offer this type of sustainable service.
Experience and expertise in foils
Surfvis™ 3D is based on the knowledge of Benecke-Kaliko's expert engineers. For decades, they examined foil constructions made from various materials, each with uniquely tailored and tightly defined properties. On this basis, it was possible to more efficiently design the complete product development process. “Surfvis™ 3D should be used as early as possible in the design phase for new vehicle interior components,” says Dr. Bühring, adding, “This enables us to provide our customers valuable tips fpr realization of the design concept in terms of appearance, grain distortion, and material thickness. We can also make recommendations for geometrical enhancements. Surfvis™ 3D and the materials from Benecke-Kaliko help customers to efficiently develop and produce eco-friendly and perfectly harmonized vehicle interiors."
