TOM'S INC.
Industry:
Racing team management
Development and sales of automotive products and accessories
Commissioned vehicle design and industrial design
Planning and development of complete cars based Toyota vehicles
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://www.tomsracing.co.jp
The Company
Since its establishment in 1974, TOM'S INC. has been driven by a passion for cars, bringing excitement and innovation to the automotive world through its work in the racing business, automotive supplies and design.
The company designs and sells automotive parts, develops car based on Toyota vehicles and offers commissioned design services for both vehicles and industrial products. In motorsports, TOM'S collaborates with Toyota Motor Corporation and affiliated companies, helping to advance technologies used in prestigious races such as SUPER GT, SUPER FORMULA and F3.
The design business of TOM'S spans the entire product development lifecycle, from design to engineering, prototyping and providing product support to other companies.
The Challenge
TOM'S key requirements for introducing a 3D CAD system were straightforward: the system needed to be powerful and flexible enough to cover the entire car design process, while also being cost-effective for initial implementation.
ThinkDesign as a Solution
ThinkDesign met these criteria perfectly, offering a smooth learning curve and a practical solution that fit their budget, enabling the company to quickly realize the benefits of 3D design without significant upfront investment.
ThinkDesign is used for designing all monocoques, suspensions, exterior components, and mold designs of the racing cars the company is developing. It is also used in aero design and wheel design for aftermarket automotive parts, such as those made for TOYOTA vehicles.
The company’s designers learn to use ThinkDesign through the e-Learning modules provided by DPT. They then enhance their skills by applying ThinkDesign to real-world projects, sharing and building on their in-house expertise.
According to TOM’S designers, the learning curve is fast, thanks to ThinkDesign’s user-friendly interface and the excellent customer support. This allows the design team to become proficient in a short amount of time.
SKETCH AND SOLID
TOM’S leverages the powerful capabilities of the Sketch and Solid commands within ThinkDesign to design a wide range of mechanical parts. These tools are essential for creating components such as brackets and metal-cutting products, which require precise geometries and material specifications for optimal performance in manufacturing. By utilizing these tools, the company ensures high precision and efficiency in its designs, meeting the demanding standards of the automotive industry.
ThinkDesign has transformed our approach to design.
The 30-40% time savings in our initial layout planning alone have had a significant impact,
helping us stay ahead in the competitive automotive industry.
SHEET METAL
TOM’S also benefits from the Sheet Metal toolset provided by ThinkDesign, primarily used for designing simple jigs. By simplifying the creation of features like bends, flanges and the ability to unbend components, the toolset allows for flexible and precise design of sheet metal parts.
The versatility of these tools not only accelerates production timelines but also contributes to cost-effective solutions, improving both the quality and efficiency.
SURFACE MODELING
TOM'S employs a comprehensive set of surface modeling tools to create complex carbon fiber components. These tools include commands for offsetting surfaces, creating lofted and linear surfaces, adding fillets, etc. – all essential for manipulating and creating surfaces. These capabilities allow them to developing lightweight outer panels that improve vehicle performance, as well as carbon fiber brackets that provide strength and durability while maintaining minimal weight.
GSM - FREE-FORM MODELING
To modify models, the company employs various approaches using ThinkDesign. When working with surface modeling, the company uses Global Shape Modeling (GSM) commands to design automotive components and exterior parts, providing the flexibility and precision needed for complex designs. GSM technology enables rapid adjustments to the shape of entire objects, allowing for efficient modifications that would otherwise take days or weeks. The result is high-quality, customizable designs that are able to meet both the aesthetic and functional requirements of the automotive sector.
REVERSE ENGINEERING
Recently, the company has been increasingly focused on reverse engineering work, particularly from 3D scans. As part of this initiative, they are looking to integrate ThinkDesign’s reverse engineering functions into their workflow. These capabilities enable the seamless import of 3D scan data, allowing the team to recreate precise digital models of physical objects. By using ThinkDesign, these 3D models can be further modified and optimized for manufacturing. This not only accelerates the design process but also improves the quality and precision of the final products, giving the company a competitive edge.
Conclusion
ThinkDesign has proven to be an invaluable tool for TOM'S, providing a comprehensive solution that enhances both the design process and overall efficiency.
The software's intuitive interface makes it easy for the team to study rough layouts and shapes early in the design process, with the ability to manipulate work planes effortlessly. In fact, TOM’S has achieved a 30% to 40% reduction in time spent on initial layout planning, significantly boosting efficiency and productivity. By integrating ThinkDesign into their workflow, TOM'S has not only streamlined its product development but also gained the flexibility to handle complex designs with precision. ThinkDesign has also improved collaboration across teams, helping TOM’S maintain its competitive advantage in the industry.
With ThinkDesign, TOM'S is well-positioned to continue its legacy of innovation and excellence in automotive design.