Scale Motorsport Sets New Standards in Model Car World with Avatech Solutions and Autodesk Inventor
Innovative Instructional CD Walks Users Through Model CarAssembly in 3D, Replacing Paper Booklets
OWINGS MILLS, Md.--Sept. 26, 2002--Avatech Solutions, the nation's leading provider of design automation tools, training, integration services, and technical support, today announced that Scale Motorsport is setting new standards in the model car world with the development of a full-motion, animated, 3D instructional assembly CD.
This replaces one-dimensional paper-based instruction booklets that are difficult to understand. After discovering a unique application for Autodesk Inventor(R) software beyond its role as a premier 3D design software solution for the manufacturing industry, Scale Motorsport turned to Avatech Solutions to develop its idea for a sub-assembly prototype.
The instructional CD will ship starting with the popular Porsche/Martini Big Scale Transkit. With 3D animated instructions users can quickly identify which parts go together--saving time and maximizing enjoyment. The CD will also contain "Up Close and Mechanical(TM)" photos produced from Inventor software, and extensive research information about each car. Scale Motorsport is now able to offer this new service called "Animated Assemblies" to other companies interested in creating a similar type of communication/product. This unique application of Autodesk Inventor brings design information outside of the engineering department, straight to the consumer, by giving them more realistic representations of the car model parts for assembly.
Small Cars - Big Business
The hobby market is big business, estimated to be approximately US $2.5 billion per year, with professionally built model cars ranging in price from US $500 to $50,000. Everything that happens in the real car world, applies to the model car world in terms of design, manufacturing, distribution, sales, customizing, and car shows around the globe. Using Autodesk Inventor software, widely deployed in the automotive industry for design and manufacturing, is another parallel. Scale Motorsport is best known for producing realistic aftermarket detailing components for road and race cars--Rally, GT, LeMans and Formula One-- for hobbyists.
"By having Avatech Solutions customize an innovative instructional CD for customers to follow for model assembly, we are also providing a unique, 3D multimedia experience," said Matt Wells, president of Scale Motorsport. "We believe that the animated CD can help us reach the coveted youth market, many of whom have been lost to the video game craze. Avatech's application engineers were able to perfectly translate my vision for this project into a usable consumer end-product."
Parts for a model car are minuscule, making correct assembly challenging. Following Scale Motorsport's vision for an animated assembly product, Avatech's application engineering experts were able to create AVI files from Inventor software to show the engine pieces in 3D and clearly demonstrate how each piece should go together. In order to view the animated instructional booklet, users require a web browser only; they do not need Inventor software.
"By getting creative and pushing the limits of Autodesk Inventor, Scale Motorsport has discovered a unique application that will directly benefit consumers," said Dan Brown, mechanical applications engineer at Avatech Solutions. "This is just one example of the types of customized applications that can be developed--helping our clients make a direct impact with their customers and win in their markets."
"We are impressed with the creative ways customers are using Autodesk Inventor to improve their design and manufacturing processes," said Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Division at Autodesk. "With the expertise of Avatech, Scale Motorsport has used the power of (Autodesk) Inventor to offer simple and easy assembly instructions to car model hobbyists."
About Avatech Solutions
Avatech Solutions, Inc. (www.avatechsolutions.com) is one of the most trusted names in design automation software, training and comprehensive technical services. Headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, the company offers a complete solution to customers through its national network of 20 locations coast to coast--backed by a professional services group, training centers and a national support center.
The company is the largest Autodesk software provider in the U.S., and also offers an expanded line of products from manufacturers such as Cyco Software and Hewlett-Packard. Avatech Solutions' 18,000 clients include industry leaders from the Engineering News Record's Top 100 and Fortune 500 lists.
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