When you have a “toy” that tests your motor skills, exercise is more rewarding both physically and mentally. Sbyke USA, LLC co-founders Steve and Bart Wilson had an idea for a rear-steer kick scooter. The two designers turned to Laser Design and GKS, leading providers of precise 3D scanning systems and measurement services for over 30 years, for the technologies needed to design, test, and build their innovative and fun product.
Since it was to be a children’s toy, safety was also a big concern. They first contacted GKS Services Corp. to perform high-accuracy 3D laser scanning on the hand-built one-of-a-kind prototype and create a 3D digital model necessary for further development and manufacture.
The 3D laser system scanned the rudimentary prototype completely and accurately in less than an hour. Design issues were easily addressed in the CAD solid model GKS created from the scan data. Because laser scanning is an efficient method to obtain accurate 3D data of complex shapes, the whole design and development process took only a couple of months to complete, versus many months with traditional manual measurement methods and 2D design drawings.
The company was so satisfied with the scanning results that they contracted with GKS for a more complex process to further develop the sbyke product and bring it to market: Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the metal frame to assure mechanical fidelity and safety of the vehicle. Results of the virtual FEA analyses allowed the company to choose the optimal material to meet required strength, resilience, and safety standards.
Test riders determined that the sbyke’s competitors were “no match in maneuverability” and that the sbyke was superior when riders executed five-foot turns. The novel rear-steer™ system enables such precision carving maneuvers. Steve Wilson describes the sbyke experience: “The thrill of riding a sbyke is like the unforgettable sensation of skiing down freshly-powdered slopes.”
Sbyke USA, LLC, has won awards for its patented sbyke® from both Popular Science and Parenting magazines. Receiving top honors in Popular Science’s “Wheel Wars” competition and Parenting’s “Best in Play,” the sbyke® was also a hit at the 2011 American International Toy Fair in New York.
The full spectrum of GKS’s engineering service saved the company time and money in the product development phase and in the manufacturing process. The speed of laser scanning plus the expertise of GKS engineers resulted in fast, continuous service from professionals who had a deep multi-layered understanding and experience with the breadth of the entire project.
Laser Design Inc. / GKS Services Corp.
www.laserdesign.com/contact_a.php
Sbyke USA, LLC
www.sbyke.com
Filed Under: Make Parts Fast