The production process to get customised toy car seats for disabled children is being studied into Custom-Fit European Project auspicious
Spain, Spanish State (Press Release) January 9, 2008 --
Custom-Fit is an integrated project funded by the European Commission and led by companies whose aim is to investigate the possibilities of moving towards knowledge-based manufacturing and personalized production. Its goal is to create a fully integrated system to design, produce and deliver individualized products.
Basically, the project is investigating the development of; new tools to capture and store geometric and no-geometric user data (personal data, preferences, comfort…), new programs to automatically obtain the resulting designs and incorporate them directly into rapid manufacturing systems.
It is also investigating the social implications of these technologies for future business and consumer, developing training and carrying a broad diffusion to pass the project philosophy to both potential users and companies.
Why Customized Toy Vehicles Seats?
The benefit of personalization (customization) and adapting vehicles for child seats is seen from two important points. The first one refers to the user's security. Let us consider a child affected by any kind of incapacity (legs, back) that prevents them from sitting in the same way a child without the disability would. In a customized seat the child would be more tightly held within the vehicle and consequently benefit from increased security. The second aspect is the greater feeling of comfort which will make the child want to play longer. Finally, as the seat is personalised, the subsequent emotional involvement will allow the child to enjoy playing with the vehicle more and more.
Customization Process for Toy Car Seat
The Technological Toy Institute, AIJU along with the FAMOSA Group, are responsible for the part of the project dedicated to seat customization for battery powered toy vehicles (cars and quads). The customization, and car seat adaptation to child body geometry, process begins with data capture through a geometric deformable cushion that changes and keeps its shape when pressure is exerted on it. As a test case a seven year old child was chosen whose left leg joints turn through 360° which hinders their attachment to any type of vehicle seat. With a customized seat, manufactured using Custom-Fit technology, the child would perfectly fit into the seat and be completely supported. After sitting on the cushion the child’s body shape and support points are firmly embedded on it, the computer then obtains a 3D scanned file which, through other partners in the project, will be used so as to merge it with the CAD file car seat. Thus there will be a single combined computer file (cushion + seat), which is subsequently sent to the Rapid Manufacturing tool to produce a completely individualized seat, tailored to the special characteristics of the child. As a first prototype, selective laser sintering will be used, but such seats could be manufactured using other project developed technologies such as printing plastic powder (PPP). The seat manufacturing stage is being developed now.
Basically, the project is investigating the development of; new tools to capture and store geometric and no-geometric user data (personal data, preferences, comfort…), new programs to automatically obtain the resulting designs and incorporate them directly into rapid manufacturing systems.
It is also investigating the social implications of these technologies for future business and consumer, developing training and carrying a broad diffusion to pass the project philosophy to both potential users and companies.
Why Customized Toy Vehicles Seats?
The benefit of personalization (customization) and adapting vehicles for child seats is seen from two important points. The first one refers to the user's security. Let us consider a child affected by any kind of incapacity (legs, back) that prevents them from sitting in the same way a child without the disability would. In a customized seat the child would be more tightly held within the vehicle and consequently benefit from increased security. The second aspect is the greater feeling of comfort which will make the child want to play longer. Finally, as the seat is personalised, the subsequent emotional involvement will allow the child to enjoy playing with the vehicle more and more.
Customization Process for Toy Car Seat
The Technological Toy Institute, AIJU along with the FAMOSA Group, are responsible for the part of the project dedicated to seat customization for battery powered toy vehicles (cars and quads). The customization, and car seat adaptation to child body geometry, process begins with data capture through a geometric deformable cushion that changes and keeps its shape when pressure is exerted on it. As a test case a seven year old child was chosen whose left leg joints turn through 360° which hinders their attachment to any type of vehicle seat. With a customized seat, manufactured using Custom-Fit technology, the child would perfectly fit into the seat and be completely supported. After sitting on the cushion the child’s body shape and support points are firmly embedded on it, the computer then obtains a 3D scanned file which, through other partners in the project, will be used so as to merge it with the CAD file car seat. Thus there will be a single combined computer file (cushion + seat), which is subsequently sent to the Rapid Manufacturing tool to produce a completely individualized seat, tailored to the special characteristics of the child. As a first prototype, selective laser sintering will be used, but such seats could be manufactured using other project developed technologies such as printing plastic powder (PPP). The seat manufacturing stage is being developed now.
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