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MCAD Tech News (#301)
10 Mar, 2011 By: Cadalyst StaffSchutt Sports Scores with Football Helmet Digitization
With the help of ReverseEngineering.com software, this safety equipment company transforms captured surface data directly into SolidWorks CAD models.
By Nicholas Iwaskow
Do you want to be safe, or do you want to be cool? When it comes to sports, these are often mutually exclusive options, but not in the case of Schutt Sports football helmets and faceguards. The company's Ion 4D, Schutt AiR XP, and DNA Pro+ are the world's only helmets to feature advanced TPU (thermoplastic urethane) cushioning — the material used in U.S. fighter pilot and paratrooper helmets. These helmets protect heads and look good doing it.
Though a rising star, Schutt Sports has made football safety equipment since 1935, when it developed the sport's first faceguard. Today, three out of four pro football players wear Schutt Sports gear. The company recently decided to aggressively upgrade its entire helmet and faceguard line, a decision that presented several engineering challenges.
Recovering Complex Surfaces from 2D Designs
The first of these challenges was complexity of form. Although it may appear to be roughly spherical, a football helmet in fact has a complex set of curves to optimize safety, fit, performance, and eye appeal. Adding to this complexity are cooling vents that keep the wearer comfortable and help prevent heat stroke.
 Cooling vents and a multipart cushioning system are two of the design elements integral to this Schutt Ion helmet. |
Second, Schutt's engineering documents were trapped in static 2D files, presenting a major productivity hurdle for engineers who were used to working with Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks 3D modeling software.
"We needed a straightforward way to get our existing, older designs into a 3D format so we could update them," said Tony VanHoutin, Schutt's lead design engineer. "We could not compromise on precision because we need a perfect fit of all helmet components — including shells, padding, faceguards, and fasteners — across our full range of child and adult sizes." Read more »
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Nicholas Iwaskow is the manager of alliances for SolidWorks.
Mark Your Calendar: MCAD Events
Webinar: Bridging the Gap between SolidWorks and your Electrical and Fluid Designs
March 16, 2011
Noon ET
Zuken's Patrick Hackney will present this webinar, which focuses on using E3.WireWorks within a SolidWorks environment. Read more »
Webinar: CAE Practical Applications — CFD and Structural Multidisciplinary Analysis
March 17, 2011
1 p.m. ET
This is a webinar in Siemens PLM's bi-monthly series for analysts, managers, and lead engineers who are responsible for engineering and development processes. The webinar begins with a technical presentation, followed by a Q&A session. Read more »
Webinar: What's New in Teamcenter 8.3
March 22, 2011
2 p.m. ET
In this webinar, the Education Services group at Siemens PLM Software will share the latest features of Teamcenter 8.3. This free mini training session provides tips in the use of Teamcenter software and potential productivity gains achieved by investing in formal training options. Read more »
CIMdata PLM Certificate Program: The Netherlands
May 9-13, 2011
Amsterdam, Netherlands
CIMdata's PLM Certification Program prepares PLM technologists at several levels to address the challenges inherent in PLM implementations. Read more »
CIMdata PLM Certificate Program: Massachusetts
June 20–24, 2011
Andover, Massachusetts
This assessment-based program includes an intimate classroom experience, individual and team exercises, and individual evaluations of achievement. Read more »
For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com.
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CAD Users, Vendors, Resellers: Cyon Research Needs Your Input
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On the Edge Solid Edge Tutorial: Apply Custom View Styles to Your
Set up your display with view styles, and change among them quickly. Read more »
Newforma Adds Mobile Functionality, Revit Connectivity, and Contract Management
New modules extend reach of Newforma Project Center Eighth Edition, the company's core project information management solution. Read more »
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