Product category:
Design Services
News Release from: DesignEdge | Subject: Mechanical design
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 12 May 2006
Design adds to automotive tester's
appeal
Racelogic, a company that specialises in high-end test-equipment to the automotive industry, has used product design specialist DesignEdge to design its first mass market product.
Racelogic, a company that specialises in high-end test-equipment to the automotive industry, has used product design specialist DesignEdge to design its first mass market product The Driftbox is a state-of-the-art meter for measuring drift angle in performance cars
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 3 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Racelogic's previous products, using custom machined enclosures, had been designed in-house, but, with its high associated costs, this process was not an option for the Driftbox as Technical Director, Chris Smith explains: "The success of Racelogic in this industry was partly due to the rugged, attractive design of our custom CNC machined aluminium enclosures".
"This design however came at a relatively high cost".
"In the design of Driftbox it was clear that to be competitive we needed a plastic enclosure that looked good".
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This meant custom designed injection mouldings, but Racelogic lacked the experience and tools to complete the design in-house, so they turned to DesignEdge "Using an outside design agency meant that we could concentrate on the electronic and software design".
"DesignEdge not only came up with a good design but also a design that could be manufactured easily and cheaply".
It's these additional aspects of design that are often overlooked says DesignEdge's Alasdair Barnett: "As designers we often come across negativity from engineers who believe all that we offer is an unnecessary expense".
"It's only when they see what technical product design can add in terms of cost saving, functionality and value to the product that we can win them over".
The design for the Driftbox wasn't straightforward.
The unit - which would sit on the dashboard or windscreen - had to fit with the different rake angles of windscreens in various models of performance cars, while at the same time keeping its internal GPS system horizontally calibrated.
The product also needed to sit in a removable cradle, so it could be taken out of the car to link in with diagnostic systems.
All this posed a tricky design challenge.
DesignEdge met the challenges by developing a multi-adjustable cradle that could be angled from 30 to 60 degrees and then quickly and easily locked off.
The product was made removable with the development of an easy to clip-in/clip-out system.
It also included three clear suckers to mount it to the windscreen or dashboard if required.
Although functionality was a priority in this design, Racelogic also wanted some "inspiration" from the design team.
Barnett explains: "The box was going into highly stylish cars full of the latest in-car accessories and sophisticated interiors, so the design of the Driftbox had to fit in with this".
"We therefore went for soft, flowing lines and a striking silver keypad".
The product was recently successfully launched at the Autosport Show and the company is hard pushed to keep up with demand.
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