This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Asientos individualizados y adaptados en vehículos de juguete

Individualized and adapted Toy vehicle seats

Drafting PU25/04/2008

April 25, 2008

Custom-Fit is an integrated project funded by the European Commission and led by companies that aims to investigate the possibility of moving towards the knowledge-based manufacturing and production personalized through the integration of rapid manufacturing technologies, technologies of the information and materials sciences. In this case we see an interesting example of development of a seat individualized car toy, designed for children with motor disabilities.

Project Custom-Fit

Why customize seats for toy vehicles? The advantage of personalization ('customization') and adaptation of children's car seats there is note from two important aspects. The first of these refers to the security of the user and, in doing so, think of a child affected by any dysfunction (legs, back) to prevent him to sit in the same way to as you would a child without the disability. In this case the child would be more subject to vehicle and consequently increase their security. The second aspect, that is directly derived from the security, is the increase in the feeling of comfort of the same so that the child is prepared to play for a long time. Finally, given that the seat is individual, the emotional involvement that entails also will influence the child to enjoy more with the vehicle.

Takes geometric data of the child.

The weight of the child makes the impression of which would be the perfect accommodation for the child.

Process of customization for the seat in the toy car

The technological Institute of the toy, Aiju, together with the famous group, are responsible for the part of the project dedicated to the personalization of the seat of toy vehicles that run on battery (such as car and quads). The beginning of the process of customization and adjustment of the seat of the car body geometry of the child is carried out with the acquisition of geometric data of the child by a deformable cushion that modifies and maintains its shape when pressure on it. To do so was elected to a 7 year old whose left leg joints allow a 360º turn which makes her subject to any type of vehicle seats. The child would a seat customized using Custom-Fit technology be adjusted perfectly to support reducing potential falls.
When the footprint of the points of support is fixed in the cushion, builds the computer file by scanning in 3D which, thanks to the collaboration with other partners of the project will be treated to merge it with the CAD file for the seat of the car.
This way produces a single combined computer file (pad + seat) that is then sent to the machine of rapid manufacturing for the production of seat fully individualized and adjusted to the special characteristics of the child.
As the first prototype is going to use the selective sintered by laser, but also you could get these pieces by one of the technologies developed in the project as printing of plastic powder (Plastic to Printing, PPP).

Other case studies

In addition to seats for toy vehicles, the concept of Custom-Fit is investigated with respect to the application in other consumer products such as seats custom motorcycles and helmets adjusted for motorists and medical products such as prostheses, implants in jaw and knee implantsin which they are involved different European companies.

More on Custom-Fit

Funded within the sixth framework programme, in the project Custom Fit 33 members from 12 European countries participating. The aim is to create a completely integrated system to design, produce and provide individualized goods.
Basically, the project investigates the development of new tools of capture and storage of non-geometric and geometric data (personal data, preferences, confort…) of the user, new programmes to obtain automatically the corresponding design and transfer them directly to rapid manufacturing systems created for the project.
The project also Custom-Fit being investigated the social implications of these technologies developed in future business and consumers. Also various training modules are developed in technology design and rapid manufacturing, among other topics, and extensive work of dissemination is carried out to convey the philosophy of the project potential users as well as companies wishing to exploit the results obtained.