Sunday, August 19, 2012

Bathrooms Designs In Automobiles

Transport vehicles include automotive, trains, buses, airplanes and ships among others. All these can be divided into two main categories, which are public and private transport. At times, transporting from one place to another takes longer than the normal time, or is expected to take many hours, days, weeks and even months. Therefore, some of the facilities present at homes, schools, work and other establishments are built into these automobiles and especially bathrooms since they are necessary for purposes of hygiene.

The bathroom design largely depends on the type of automobile that is at hand. Bathroom facilities in public transport are often dirtier than those in the private sector. Private transport such as limousines, jets and yachts have been to have luxury facilities completely equipped with tubs, and at times even Jacuzzis.

RV bathroom design

When shopping for RVs, most people are influenced to go for models that offer right amount of dining, sleeping, cooking, storage and a family closet space. Even though, these features are vita, it is also important not to neglect other crucial segments of the RV that can contribute to your overall comfortable experience. For instance, the bathroom is the most under-rated area of the RV. Persons purchasing RVs for the first time ignore new bathroom ideas that are comfortable and stylish, only to realize they spend more time in that room than they actually thought.

The size, layout, location and features of this room should be among the most important considerations when purchasing an RV. Many new RVs have been traded in to dealers, because the owners found the toilet to be inadequate. The most criticized feature of an RV's toilet is it inconvenient location, the poor design of the shower stalls and the lack of storage for the toiletries and other things. In most of the RVs, the bathroom and shower areas have poor design and construction. One popular design is combining the shower and the tub, which requires the user to climb through a small opening while balancing on one foot.

What to look for

It is vital to consider the bathroom features when purchasing an automobile that has this facility. A great new design can add to the overall style and luxury of the automobile. On the other hand, a poor design can cause you a lot of misery. The first thing to consider is whether the place is roomy enough to hold even heavy person comfortably. The next thing to look out is the storage, which should be adequate to host all the family's toiletries. Check if it has a sizeable mirror, towel racks and heating ducts. It should also have a linen and towels closet located near the bathroom if not inside. The room should also be waterproof and strong built.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Rapid Prototyping for the Automotive Industry

Since its introduction Rapid Prototyping has become an important tool in the Automotive design process, allowing designers and engineers to identify production pitfalls, and gauge consumer reaction early in the product development cycle. A physical model of automotive parts can be produced within days providing engineers with the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of a design, as they pass it around, twisting and viewing the prototype model.

Recent developments in the range of materials available have led to the introduction of Rapid Prototyping technology into the production process, particularly in the field of Formula1 design where designs modification is required between races to make sure optimal performance.

Since 2004 Aston Martin Racing, a joint venture between Aston Martin and Prodrive, has been designing and building successful race production based sports cars. Lead times have proven crucial with a development schedule of just 6 months, making the use of Rapid Prototyping a "no brainer" got the teams Technical Director George Howard-Chappell as engine parts and driver controls could be printed in a matter of days. Early chassis mock ups could also be created to ensure maximum efficiency and that all designs met the 2011 Le Mans regulations.

Using SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) the University of Ulster Formula Student team successfully designed and produced air inlay manifolds capable of withstanding demanding testing, and in race conditions (with the engine reaching up to 13,000 rev/min during the testing process).

Automotive manufacturers Chrysler along with Fords luxury marque Mercury have also turned to Rapid Prototyping as a production tool, with both firms using Vacuum Casting and Reaction Injection Moulding for the low volume production of lighting assemblies.