Example of an existing system in the motor industry: the Unisurf system

Abstract

The shape of a car body is first of all defined by means of a full-scale clay-model, very carefully hand-built. Drawings, m aster model and stamping tools must be in perfect accordance with the model; the process is costly and time-consuming. Accuracy and lag-time have been improved with help of numerical control which plays an important part in recording coordinates on models or drawings, marking off points on drawings, lofting, fairing curves and also defining and milling surfaces. On the top of this, Renault now uses it to help stylists define, through figures, any shapes they have devised. So, numerical control is used in their conception process instead of taking p art into their translation only.