The quick and easy way to find
spares for a 1970S Formula 1 car

If you own one of the UK's largest collections of classic racing cars, how do you find spare parts which are likely not to have been made for 20 or even 50 years or more?

Refer to pictures: The team at Donington Grand Prix Collection have found to be most effective is white light scanning - where a "structured image" - typically containing the equivalent of hundreds or thousands of lines - is projected.  By projecting a series of these images, the shape of the object can be calculated using triangulation - just like a laser scanner, but perhaps 10 or 100 times faster.  Such a scanner can measure an area of metres in seconds - and, because the scanned areas are enormous, the need to align scan patches is greatly reduced.

That has been the challenge facing Kevin Wheatcroft, owner of Donington Park racetrack in Derbyshire, which is home to a museum containing many famous classic racing vehicles, including McLaren and Ferrari Formula 1 cars driven by the likes of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

Many of the vehicles in the museum are still used by enthusiasts and the wear and tear inevitably takes its toll. But sourcing spares is arguably a harder task then negotiating a high-powered Formula 1 car around a challenging racetrack.

Kevin Wheatcroft of Donington Grand Prix Collection explains: "Many spares are non-standard, high-specification products made in small number specifically for a vehicle and once that vehicle is no longer in production - effectively every year in the case of Formula 1 or touring cars - they are virtually impossible to track down.

"We have worked out that the only way to do this is to create a highly detailed CAD image of the spare and then supply this to a specialist manufacturer to produce the part to the correct size and specification for us."

Representations of this kind for reverse engineering can be created in a number of ways. Co-ordinate measurement machines are highly accurate but can only measure a limited number of points at a time, meaning to develop a detailed virtual image can take days or even weeks, while, as a contact measurement system, it is unsuitable for any component which may deform on contact. Laser scanning is quicker but speed can come at the expense of accuracy. While this type of scanning requires 'patches' to be stuck together virtually, and is more subject to variations in the operator's working methods and to physical issues such as laser speckle.

What the team at Donington Grand Prix Collection have found to be most effective is white light scanning - where a "structured image" - typically containing the equivalent of hundreds or thousands of lines - is projected.  By projecting a series of these images, the shape of the object can be calculated using triangulation - just like a laser scanner, but perhaps 10 or 100 times faster.  Such a scanner can measure an area of metres in seconds - and, because the scanned areas are enormous, the need to align scan patches is greatly reduced.

Kevin Wheatcroft continued: "We have found that using white light scanning is far quicker and able to deliver a more accurate representation of the part we are wishing to source - and the fact that we are able to supply such a faithful representation reduces the risk of errors in the reverse engineering process.

"Overall we have found the use of white light scanning to be invaluable in the sourcing of accurate, high-specification spares for our vehicles.

Ralph Weir of Phase Vision, a leading innovator in white light scanning systems, added: "White light scanning offers the best of both worlds in terms of speed and accuracy, with the added bonus that many modern systems so not require either expert operators or laboratory conditions to operate effectively. Accurate, detailed scans can be produced in a matter of minutes or even seconds - speeding up the reverse engineering process while eliminating the risk of errors."

To see the future of measurement at TCT Live - or book a demonstration, view website: www.phasevision.com  Refer to page 35

Enthusiasm for first land, water and air electric vehicle event

BAE Systems has just agreed to speak at IDTechEx event Future of Electric Vehicles USA 2010 www.IDTechEx.com/evUSA in San Jose December 7-8. It is eloquent testimony to the need for this event that, for the first time covers hybrid and pure electric vehicles and their components for land, water and air applications because the $36 billion BAE Systems does all three with similar technology and challenges. Indeed, fresh from making a Deepflight submarine for Richard Branson, Graham Hawkes of Hawkes Ocean Technologies, another speaker at the event, believes it is now possible to plan for an aircraft that dives underwater like a gannet. PC-Aero of Germany presents a new pure electric manned aircraft with solar panels on the wings as an option. 

Never was there a greater need for vehicle, material and component manufacturers to sell their skills and benchmark best practice beyond the well rehearsed subject of electric family cars. For example, another presenter with very broad electric vehicle ambitions is Fiat Group. It owns Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia and Maserati. Fiat Group has 20% of Chrysler and it can become the majority owner once Chrysler's government loans are repaid. Fiat Group owns CNH Global (Kobelco, New Holland etc). CNH is the second largest agricultural equipment manufacturer in the world. It is also the third largest producer of construction equipment. On the other hand, there will be a visit to presenters Kleenspeed, which has a 200 mph Formula One car as a test bed for the big advances in affordable on-road vehicles of the future. 

At this unique event, printed electronics and electrics, next generation batteries, energy harvesting, wireless sensors, turbine range extenders, smart materials and new components of universal appeal will be presented. Best-in-class speakers from across North America, Europe and East Asia have been selected with space for a few more. This is attracting those needing the big picture and best practice from wherever it comes and on whatever vehicle it is used for the first time. The evolution of both hybrids and pure electric vehicles over the next ten years will be analysed, with scoping of global demand by types - land, water and air. The breakthroughs to come are the focus.

Organiser Dr Peter Harrop of EV analysts IDTechEx says, "We are certainly having no trouble in getting speakers because this is exactly what they say is wanted. Indeed our delegates already include people from Russia, Japan and Saudi Arabia, such is the breadth of interest." 

For further information on the events, or to become a media partner, contact Cara Van Heest, e-mail: c.vanheest@IDTechEx.com 

Durable range of premium drawer systems and workspace equipment - with a 10 year warranty!

Leading storage company, Lista UK, offer a new ten year warranty on its durable range of premium drawer systems and workspace equipment.

Having previously offered a five year warranty on its products, Lista has decided to double its warranty to cover a ten year period, giving customers further peace of mind on its reliable storage solutions.