Custom car pioneer Hackrod is using Lightworks’ visualization technology Slipstream, part of the Siemens PLM Software Digital Innovation platform, to design their concept speedster ‘La Bandita’ in virtual reality (VR). Slipstream enables designers to automatically prepare CAD data for stunning high-quality VR, allowing design teams to spend less time on arduous data prep tasks and more time on making design decisions that matter the most.
 
Hackrod’s mission is to enable consumers to design and manufacture their dream car using the latest developments in virtual reality, product engineering, artificial intelligence and industrial 3D printing. Siemens PLM Software, which recently acquired Lightworks, is supplying Hackrod with additional tools in support of their mission, including NX software for product engineering.
 
For the past four years Hackrod has been developing the use of VR, AI and industrial 3D printing as part of their mission to change transport design. Through the gamification of engineering, consumers will be able to design ready-to-order vehicles in stunning high-quality VR, powered by the Unreal Engine.

One of the significant challenges in realizing this vision is the ability to reduce data prep time for design teams. Slipstream enables designers to automatically prepare all of their CAD data for design reviews in less time. Instead of spending one day every week manually preparing data for every design review, Slipstream does it automatically. 

This allows Hackrod to spend more hours every day focusing on the important things like interating faster, CAD modelling and the ability to be more responsive to customers.

“The Hackrod vision is based on the democratization of design and manufacturing, the idea that it will be as easy to configure the mobility solution of your dreams as easily as playing a video game. One of our greatest challenges is to manipulate heavy manufacturing data in a lightweight consumer facing environment. Slipstream helps us to do this beautifully and clears one of our final hurdles as we follow our mantra of ‘game to garage’....on our quest to make the consumer creator in the automotive space," said Felix Holst, chief product officer at Hackrod.