Surface modelling plays lead role in new Freelander 2 success

Launched to the public last month at the revived British Motor Show in London, the new five-door Freelander 2 is scheduled to go on sale at the end of this year. Icem’s software was used throughout the design development of the body and interior, from the receipt of concept sketches and raw 3D scan data of the clay styling model, through to release into tooling development of the final Class A surfaces design data. As the body and interior designs were refined in Icem Surf, the evolving Class A surface model data was exported to Land Rover’s engineering CAD/CAM system for incorporation into the master engineering model and digital mock-up of the vehicle. Surface model data was also made available to individuals and departments responsible for developing production tooling to enable downstream processes, such as tooling design, to begin as early as possible in the overall design-to-manufacturing process. In addition, Icem Surf was used in design review meetings between Land Rover’s designers, engineers, manufacturing and quality personnel and suppliers so that as the design evolved it met the twin goals of aesthetic quality and engineering feasibility.