How is it possible to capture the current condition of a very rare collector car and take precise measurements to preserve it for posterity and ensure that spare parts can be manufactured in the event of an accident or damage?
The Classic-Car.tv team is developing a database of classic car models, one of which is a 1937 Ford Eifel. The vehicle has a special Gläser chassis and is therefore considered an absolutely unique piece.
Until recently, classic cars were captured manually using stencils: a frame was placed around the vehicle and scanned graphically slice by slice. Wooden skeletons were created from the resulting cuts to reproduce the shape of the vehicle. Although this method was quite popular, it was costly and not always accurate enough.
Using Artec 3D scanners for this task has saved time and money compared to the traditional method. Scans of individual parts are now used for reverse engineering, where parts are examined and often modified to produce replacement parts. This is particularly important for unique models such as the Ford, in case they are damaged. If this car's sunroof is missing, it can now be recreated. In addition, the car's owner wanted to document its condition as accurately as possible, which included taking 3D measurements. The data can now be used for 3D printing, and a ¼ model of this Ford has already been created.
The digitization of the Ford Eifel was facilitated by the high-tech workshop MakerSpace, which is the innovation center of the Technical University of Munich. The Classic-Car.tv team visited the workshop to digitize the Ford using Eva and Space Spider scanners, supplied by Artec 3D.
" Our expertise lies in the presentation and restoration of classic cars, but today, modern technologies, and in particular 3D scanning, are playing an increasingly important role in our business. "says Kay McKenneth, editor of Classic-Car.tv
3D scanners deliver high-quality 3D data down to the finest detail
The team used the Eva and Space Spider portable scanners to gather as much data as possible on the 80-year-old Ford. The Ford's body, interior, wooden frame and chassis, on which the body rests, were scanned with the Artec Eva. This enabled precise digital measurements to be acquired and missing buttresses to be located so that they could be fabricated separately at a later date. In addition, the classic car was disassembled so that the team could scan its hard-to-reach parts. This is where the Space Spider, an ideal tool for detail scanning, came into play: it captured the individual parts in very high resolution.
" Working with Artec 3D scanners is a totally new experience for me and has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. "said Kay McKenneth. " In the past, you had to measure a classic car with templates and build the appropriate models. This could take months, and there was the risk of ending up with mistakes. In my opinion, a 3D scanner should nowadays be present in every decent classic car garage. "
Scan processing in Artec Studio
The individual scans were aligned and merged in the 3D modeling software Artec Studio. The scan of the Ford went smoothly, and retouching only had to be applied to a few corners and hollows that were too angular to capture. At the end of the process, a point cloud, a polygonal model and a set of texture data were created. The 1:1 model can now be used to create 3D prints, sheet metal dies and parts. Thanks to Artec 3D scanners, this unique classic model has been preserved for posterity, car fans and its owner.
Learn more: www.artec3d.com