Specialist repair and maintenance centre for sports aircraft, Gloucestershire-based Targett Aviation turned to white light scanning specialists Phase Vision to gain accurate representation of a lifesize version of its single-seater, electrically powered aircraft designed for the fast-growing sport of air racing.
Targett Aviation initially needed to create the lifesize ‘proof of concept’ model of its ‘Rebel Electric Racer’ aircraft in order to secure investment. The next phase was to gain an accurate representation of the entire aircraft for virtual testing and finite element analysis (FEA) on CAD with the aim of optimising the aerodynamic design of the final aircraft.
Targett Aviation contacted white light scanning specialists Phase Vision whose Quartz range of scanners create a highly detailed point cloud in just a few seconds – even with large and reflective surface areas.
Phase Vision scanned the entire aircraft within a few hours – a total of 250 scans which have since been ‘patched’ and surfaced ready for the FEA stage.
Russell Coggrave, CTO of Phase Vision, says: “Potential issues during the scanning included the gloss black finish of the model and also the varying light conditions within the hangar, but the fact that Phase Vision scanners are designed for use in all types of environments meant the measurements were not affected.”
Once the design is optimised through CFD and FEA, the CAD equipment will be used to drive a five-axis router which will create the moulds from which the final aircraft will be manufactured – true reverse engineering. A full working prototype will then be created.
Roger Targett of Targett Aviation adds: “We were impressed by the speed and accuracy of the measurements taken. Without this equipment there is no way such a detailed virtual representation would have been delivered within the required timeframe. We can now forge ahead with the virtual testing confident that what we are working on is a faithful reproduction of the ‘proof of concept’ model.”
Phase Vision T: 01509 839000
