AMERICAN MAGIC: CREAFORM’S LATEST PRESTIGIOUS 3D SCANNING PROJECT
Over the years, Creaform has worked with many global customers to leverage the tremendous potential of portable 3D measurement solutions to address a wide spectrum of product development challenges and opportunities.
And while 3D scanning isn’t magic, our technologies have definitely worked their magic on our latest prestigious project with New York Yacht Club American Magic, a sailing marvel.
What is the American Magic project?
American Magic called upon Creaform to become the official 3D Measurement Technologies Supplier for the team’s 75-foot monohull, which is capable of speeds of over 50 knots and will race for the America’s Cup.
Developed using aerospace technology from Airbus, which is a clear-cut advantage for sailing, the monohull is certainly a sight to behold; when it reaches a certain speed, it undergoes an astonishing transformation: it literally rises up on hydrofoils and flies across the water. According to sailing connoisseurs, the sport has never before seen a large-scale fully foiling monohull.
Designing the monohull to ensure an unprecedented competitive edge was no small feat, simply due to a major limitation: time. American Magic needed to bring together pros from a variety of different fields across the globe to address the monohull’s engineering and production challenges—all while meeting each critical milestone.
Using metrology technology to give American Magic a competitive edge
American Magic is the US Challenger for the 36th Americas Cup—the pinnacle of competitive sailing and the oldest event in international sports. First contested in 1851, the America’s Cup predates the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. The next race will take place in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2021.
Creaform’s metrology team worked with engineers and sailing experts from around the world to scan high-end carbon fibre components and carry out advanced analyses to determine how they interreacted with each other, how they impacted the monohull’s performance, and what changes had to be made.
Other prestigious 3D measurement projects
Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s use of Creaform solutions for the FIA World Endurance Championships
We worked with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to use a brand-new measurement technology to improve the scrutineering period of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Triple Crown of Endurance car races. The goal was to use Creaform’s MetraSCAN 3D scanner to inspect competing cars—under 10 minutes—to ensure they are compliant with the races’ regulations.
Helping Koenigsegg develop high-performance sports cars
Giving SCOTT Sports a competitive advantage by accelerating its time to market
SCOTT Sports, the Swiss manufacturer of bicycles, winter equipment, motorsports gear and sportswear, turned to us to help design its Symbol 2 freeski helmet, which featured a complex shape. The product development team needed accurate measurements fast—and used the HandySCAN 3D to reduce the design cycle time and accelerate the product’s time to market.