Case Studies and Videos

La sfida

After recently introducing the world's highest-performing stand-up paddling (SUP) boards, Hobie Designs Inc., went to work on their first SUP paddle. SUP is an easy blend of surfing and kayaking that delivers a great core workout that can be done on any surface - waves or flatwater. Hobie wanted to create a SUP paddle focused on performance and comfort. In order to create the perfect paddle, Hobie needed help converting ideas and fiberglass carvings to manufactured pieces.

La soluzione

After carving a few knobs out of fiberglass and Bondo and settling on a design that felt close, Hobie turned to RapidTech to manage the digital manufacturing process for easier refinement, prototyping, and manufacturing. To accomplish this, RapidTech used a NextEngine 3D Desktop Scanner to capture the surfaces of the hand-carved knob and convert it into a digital model. NextEngine software infers the relationship between multiple facets and instantly knits them together in a cohesive model. Once the model was complete, the file was imported into SolidWorks to convert the solid body into a surface body for easy manipulation and viewing. The SolidWorks part model was then exported as a STL file and printed as a plaster model with a Z Corporation 3D printer. Once tested, RapidTech sent the final approved CAD data to Hobie’s mold-maker for production and tooling. Actual work time was 8 hours – 30 minutes of scanning, 7.5 hours of CAD modeling, which included four different handle iterations. By using NextEngine and SolidWorks, RapidTech was able to get the work done quickly and easily – allowing Hobie to deliver this new concept to market as fast as the idea was conceived.