67-72 Development/Concept Photos Galore!

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Going back to address these earlier comments:

Not to be contrary but we (GM) still start with the clay. After the clay model looks like what the designers have in mind is is scanned and coverted to CAD data. The CAD styling data is what is sent to engineering to make it work.

It's an iterative process so as long as the clay is in the studio the designers feel like they can make subtle changes. Also - as engineering determines that some concepts won't work in real life the suggestions are cycled back through for studio response and input.

Usually the model is torn down and the clay recycled immediately at the conclusion of the project (which is probably for the best in view of the above). There were a few models that were retained, in expectation of historical significance, stored in the basement of the studio.

The CAD is no different than a 2D drawing, in terms of the technical and practical knowledge that guides it, except that it is more powerful for visualization because you can dice it and slice it and roll it around in ways you could never do with pencil and paper. It's like using a power nailer to do carpentry instead of a hammer and loose nails. Both require a skilled operator, both get the same job done.

In one case I'm standing behind a draftsman looking over his shoulder while he works on a computer, in the other case I'm standing behind a draftsman looking over his shoulder while he works on a drawing board. Or - I might be standing behind a sculptor looking over his shoulder while he peels bits of clay onto the floor. It is still me watching over the progress in any case.

So: Clay ==>CAD==>tools==>parts.

K

Going back and re-reading some of my earlier comments -

The other thing about paper drawings vs CAD is that the paper drawings were stored all over Southeast Michigan: some were in Pontiac, some were in the Tech Center in Warren, some were at small job shops in Northfield, Pioneer on Nine Mile, etc.

If you wanted to look at something, like a layout or a part detail drawing, you first had to figure out where it was and who had it. You then had to drive all over tarnation to get it, find it in some cubby hole and unroll it to have a look.

These days I can pull up the CAD from my laptop and can do it from where ever I'm sitting - even if it is at my kitchen table.

K