Cadalyst MCAD Tech News: 2D to 3D #7 (October 14 , 2004)
13 Oct, 2004 By: Arnie WilliamsSmooth Exchange
Injection Molding Specialist Maier eases Development of New Mobile Phone Range Using ICEM Surf
Gernika, Spain-based Maier designs and manufactures injection-molded plastic products for a variety of automotive and telephony customers. Products include mobile telephone housings, automotive vehicle exterior and interior components and trim, and surface finishing parts. The company, which also has two more offices in Spain and one in the United Kingdom, employs more than 2,000 people and boasts annual revenues exceeding 200 million euros (approximately US$247 million).
Enhancing Design-to-Engineering Communications
Maier recently selected ICEM Surf modeling software to
enhance communications between its design and
engineering departments during development of a new
range of mobile phones in for Spanish market (figure 1). Maier
designers imported preliminary 2D sketches, along with
internal component "space envelopes," into ICEM Surf to
use as visual references. Then they used sophisticated
ICEM Surf surface-modeling functions to create digital
surface models and outer skins, including front and
back covers, battery covers, camera trims, and front
windows and keypads.
Using these models, Maier engineers carried out
feasibility studies to ensure optimum
manufacturability. Designers also used ICEM Surf to
create photorealistic renderings for client review and
sign-off. Then engineers exported approved models into
CATIA, via ICEM Surf's direct translator, for
preparation of the final tooling process. 
Figure 1. Maier used
ICEM Surf surface-modeling functions to create digital
surface models and outer skins for a line of mobile phones, including front and
back covers, battery covers, camera trims, and front
windows and keypads.
Easy revisions
For any required modifications to address component
interferences or manufacturing requirements, designers
took the models back to ICEM Surf by reexporting from
CATIA. In fact, the ability to move seamlessly back and
forth between the two 3D programs — a boon for design
and engineering communications — was a strong selling
point in ICEM Surf's favor for Maier management.
"The benefits of using ICEM Surf on a project like the
design of a mobile phone are that it enables us to have
complete control over the design surfaces, especially
the very small dimensions involved in a mobile phone,"
says Alvaro Paramo, head of Maier's Styling Department.
"But we're also able to use ICEM Surf's ability to
exchange design data directly with our CATIA
engineering CAD/CAM system. This has ensured that the
design development of the phone's exterior components
and of its internal electronic and mechanical
components and assemblies move forward together
smoothly and without delays."
Maier: http://www.maier.es
ICEM: http://www.icem.com
ABOUT this issue
This special edition of MCAD Tech News examines the real-world experiences
of manufacturing companies as they move from 2D drafting to 3D modeling.
If you have suggestions about companies or issues you'd like to see
covered here, please e-mail us at
editors@cadalyst.com.
