Computer-aided styling

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Computer-aided styling (CAS) ( German : computer-aided design ) refers to the virtual development process in design. Objects are modeled in 3D software on the basis of sketches ( renderings ), verbal information or tactile data (point cloud ).

The CAS process is increasingly replacing the classic form-finding with clay (industrial plasticine ) or model making (e.g. rigid foam, ureol, filler). The CAS process offers many advantages, such as the creation of models based on design data (package), variety of variants, going back to older variants and more cost-effective modeling, but assessing the design on the screen is more difficult than with the classic model. This is due to the artificial ( virtual ) lighting, the reduction or enlargement on a computer monitor, the mostly unusual viewing angle and the two-dimensionality on the screen. These disadvantages are partly compensated for by more complex visualizations on projectors , large plasma screens or even three-dimensional (e.g. CAVE ). However, these funds are only available for cost-intensive projects. If one data physically (. Eg by STL , 3D printing , or CNC - milling ) represents one loses a part of the cost advantage.

CAS is most widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries . In the early design phases, polygon modelers such as Autodesk Maya (software) or Cinema 4D are used. This modeling method allows quick design changes and many variants in a very short time. The surface quality is not yet very high due to the faceting. Nevertheless, the data can be used for the first hard models (stereolithography) or as a basis for a clay model. For this purpose, a CNC program is calculated from the polygon model and milled out of the clay.

In later design phases, NURBS modelers such as Autodesk Alias ​​Studio ( see also Alias ​​(company) ), ICEM Surf or Rhinoceros 3D are used. Rhinoceros 3D can be found for the most part in industrial design offices and medium-sized companies due to the relatively low purchase price. ICEM Surf is widespread in the automotive industry and is focusing his attention on the strong strak .

Depending on the quality, the generated geometry can be used from construction for preliminary investigations and concept creation to series construction. With the help of special visualization programs such as Autodesk VRED Professional or RTT DeltaGen , static renderings, animations and films are generated from CAS models . These visualizations are used from internal company communication to advertising appearances and enable the shortening of product cycles through the early start of marketing . Real-time visualization is mainly used for design decisions and for interactive applications such as games and product configurators.