By Damian McKnight
Designschools.com Contributing Writer

It can be argued that no design career is sexier than that of the Automotive Designer. Today’s designers embody the styles and culture of today while contouring the style of tomorrow. They utilize product design principles and emerging technology to create commercial, yet innovative, designs for new automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches, and vans. Often working in tandom with a large team of engineers, designers work to ensure that their concepts are appealing to consumers, can actually lead to functioning automobiles, and are environmentally friendly and affordable. Not to mention…..sexy.

History

In the United States, automotive design reached a critical juncture in 1924 when the American national automobile market began reaching saturation. To maintain sales, General Motors pioneer Alfred P. Sloan Jr. suggested annual model-year design changes in the hope that car owners would want to buy a new replacement each year. His strategy succeeded and was later adapted by rest of the industry.

The most celebrated American auto designer is probably Harley Earl,who brought the tailfin and other aeronautical design references to auto design in the 1950s. Earl is joined among legendary auto designers by Gordon Buehrig, responsible for the Auburn 851 and iconic Cord 810 and 812. Another notable designer who had a markedly different style was Chrysler group’s designer Virgil Exner, an early pioneer of Cab forward (a.k.a.Forward look) design in mid-1950s. Exner is also credited with introducing the pointed tail fins in the 1956 Plymouth Belvedere later adapted by all other Detroit studios.

The Work

The tasks of a car design team are usually split into three main aspects: exterior design, interior design, and color and trim design. Graphic design is also an important aspect of automotive design; this is generally shared amongst the design team as the lead designer sees fit. Design focuses not only on the isolated outer shape of automobile parts, but concentrates on the combination of form and function, starting from the vehicle package. Here is a breakdown of the design elements:

Exterior Design: The stylist responsible for the design of the exterior of the vehicle is the one who develops the proportions, shape, and surfaces of the vehicle. Exterior design is first done by a series of digital or manual drawings, and clay (industrial plasticine) models are developed from those drawings. 3 and 5 CNC Milling Machines are utilized in creating the clay model of the final design.Even in modern times with 3d software and virtual models on powerwalls, the clay model is still the most important tool in evaluating the design of a car and therefore used throughout the industry. The data from these models are then used to create a further mockups of the final design.
Interior Design: The stylist responsible for the interior design of the vehicle develops the proportions, shape, placement, and surfaces for the instrument panel, seats, door trim panels, headliner, pillar trims, etc. With the interior, the emphasis is on ergonomics and the ultimate comfort of the passengers. The design process with the interior design of the car is the same as with exterior design (sketch, digital model and clay model).The aesthetic value of the interior will need to correspond to ergonomic functionality and utility features as well. In particular, vehicular electronic components and parts will give more challenges to automotive designers who are required to update designs based on the latest information and knowledge associated with emerging vehicular gadgetry, particularly dashtop mobile devices, like GPS navigation, satellite radio, HD radio, mobile TV, MP3 players, video playback and smartphone interfaces.
Color and Trim Design: The color and trim (or color and materials) designer is responsible for the research, design, and development of all interior and exterior colors and materials used on a vehicle. These include paints, plastics, fabric designs, leather, grains, carpet, headliner, wood trim, and so on. Designers work closely with the exterior and interior designers and draw inspiration from other design disciplines such as: industrial design, fashion, home furnishing, architecture and sometimes product design.
Graphic Design: The design team also develop graphics for items such as: badges, decals, dials, switches, kick or tread strips, liveries. Concept sketching
Clay modeling
Class A surfaces
Scale model creation
Prototype development
Computer-aided design
Computer modeling
Powertrain engineering
Manufacturing process design

The Development Process

Includes the following steps:

Education

Automotive design is practiced by designers who have art backgrounds and degrees in industrial design or transportation design. Careers related to Auto Design include product design, automotive engineering, and electrical engineering. Successful designers need to be creative and should have strong math, drawing, and science skills. They must also have strong skills in computer-aided draftingand communication.

Since Automotive Design is a very competitive field, a high level of academic achievement is beneficial when looking for an entry-level job. Courses such as industrial design, electrical engineering, mathematics, environmental science and computer-aided drafting are often required for designers looking to break into the industry. An automotive engineering degree program can provide simulation training and hands-on experience in the field. An internship or work study program is often a necessary component of many automotive engineering colleges, and this can provide immediate job placement after graduation.

The following schools of higher education are recommended:

Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA
Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA
The Art Institutes
College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI
Humber College Toronto, Canada
Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI
Pratt Institute New York, NY
Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, GA
University of Cincinnati – School of Design Cincinnati, OH

Outlook

Despite the stagnant growth of the automotive manufacturing industry, careers in automotive design is still projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. There is still a high demand for skilled engineers who specialize in technology and computer-aided processes and a focus on an increasing fuel-efficient economy offer valuable opportunities for a successful automotive engineering career.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that starting offers averaged $48,585 for those with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. However, salaries for car designers varies greatly depending on experience, employer and location.

Article also available at http://www.designschools.com/careers-jobs/automotive-designer.html

With that in mind, we’ll answer the most common questions people ask about their vehicles’ valves. The following should give you a better understanding regarding why they’re important, the issues that affect them, and the best approach toward resolving problems.

“What Causes Valves To Fail?”

Like all components, valves suffer wear and tear over tens of thousands of miles. If you drive your car far enough, they’ll eventually need to be replaced. However, they can fail long before they wear down due to burning or breaking.

Valves perform their jobs under extremely high temperatures. Exhaust valves run exceptionally hot (up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit) because they are exposed to the vapors that result from the combustion process. These high temperatures make them especially susceptible to burning.

When the valves burn, the metal become less sturdy. It’s not uncommon for them to suffer fatigue, causing pieces to break off. When this occurs, a compression leak develops.

“What Happens During A Valve Job?”

This type of repair work involves removing the cylinder head to expose the failing valves and guides. The more thorough repair shops will completely dismantle the cylinder head so the individual components can be cleaned and inspected. If cracks are identified, the entire head is either fixed or replaced (cracks are serious because they allow coolant to seep into the combustion chamber).

Next, the guides are replaced since they are usually worn past the point of effectiveness. The valves are either refaced if they’re still usable, or replaced.

“How Much Does This Type Of Work Cost?”

The repair bill can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. A lot depends on the type of engine in your vehicle and the type of repairs needed. For example, fixing a single valve in a standard 4-cylinder might cost under $400, including the labor. On the other hand, replacing multiple valves, fixing a crack head, and performing related repairs on an import can drive the bill upward.

“What Is A Leakdown Test?”

A leakdown test is used to find compression leaks from your cylinders’ combustion chambers. It identifies whether your cylinders are sealing properly and if they’re not, measures the percentage leakage. It’s worth noting that all engines suffer a degree of compression leakage. Even the best engines leak up to 10 percent of their compression. If a leakdown shows a compression loss of 30 percent or more, have a mechanic check your intake and exhaust valves.

“What Other Problems Can Affect Valves?”

Besides burning, breaking, and suffering normal wear and tear, your engine’s valves can also become bent. This can occur for several reasons, but often happens due to a broken timing belt. The belt breaks and sends the cylinder’s piston crashing into the valve. If a significant amount of damage results, the valve will need to be replaced. If the damage is minor, it can be refaced and reinstalled.

Engine valves receive far less attention than they deserve. They fill a role without which your vehicle could not operate efficiently. By sealing the combustion chamber, and opening at the precise moment to allow fuel to enter and gases to exit, your intake and exhaust valves perform a critical function. As such, when problems occur, they should be addressed quickly.

Repairing these components can be expensive, and becomes more so with the extent of the damage (i.e. cracks, breaks, etc.). However, neglecting the problem practically ensures it will be more costly to fix down the road.

While you dry your vehicle regularly, you are quite familiar with the term ‘Fuse’. As the name suggests, this is a key part of your car or automobiles electronics system. A fuse is typically a small piece of equipment that is associated with the electronics system and is placed to blow out or fuse when something in the system goes wrong. This part is designed in such a way that it does not create a crisis when it blows out or fuses but will make something on the automobile no longer working. Although the part of your automobile to quit working will be relatively minor, like for instance, it can be the turn indicators, the radio, or even the interior lights. Whatever the condition, if a fuse blows, the device in question will no longer function.

If ever, you encounter, any malfunction in your vehicle the fuse is the first place to check. For most of us, locating the fuse box in the vehicle might be relatively easy, whereas, still some may have problem locating the error might be difficult. However, correcting the problem is relatively easy and you will get a feeling of satisfaction knowing you were able to troubleshoot on your own. We will certainly help to brush you up for the task in hand. Lets start with the automobile fuses. Generally, there are two type of fuses found in most of the automobiles. The first type of the fuse is a glass, cylinder-shaped with stainless steel on the ends and glass in the middle. The other type is a plastic housing with the fusible link encased in the housing. The fuse box is generally located behind a cover, under the dashboard, or below the steering wheel.

For checking the fuse by yourself you will need to take help from the user manual that accompanies your vehicle. The vehicles manual will help you to identify and position the fuse box a guide on how to access it. Check the cover, with most of the vehicles you can remove with your hand and with the rest follow what the user manual suggests. Once you find the fuse box carefully go through the owners manual to locate the exact fuse number, which might not be functional. For instance, if the turn indicators are not working find the fuse for it through the numerical chart.

When you are able to locate the exact fuse for the task, remove it as suggested in the owner’s manual. With most of the vehicles you can remove it with your hands. Take out the particular fuse and determine if it’s blown. If the metal coil inside the fuse is separated, the fuse is blown and no longer working and will need replacement. While you look for the replacement of the fuse, look exactly for the amperage rating as the blown fuse. Using a fuse with different amperage rating may risk either blowing the fuse again, or damaging the equipment the fuse is designed to protect. Once you lay your hands on the exact replacement, you can easily replace it back into the slot given. So identifying and replacing a blown fuse is relatively easy and can be done at home.

The automotive directory is very important nowadays, especially for individuals who venture in buying and selling cars. If there is one thing that needs to be checked by persons who have interest in vehicles, it is the auto directory. This helpful auto guide has a lot to offer – from the look to the different function of the automotive parts as well related news and information about it. Aside from that, this guide also gives details regarding cleaning, maintenance, repair and even replacement of automotive supplies.

This directory is regarded as the inclusive encyclopedia of automotive. In it, vehicle owners and enthusiasts can acquire all the significant information about vehicles in an easier and more convenient way. Utilized both by home users and professionals, the auto directory supplies comprehensive information regarding automotive parts, automotive repair, selling options, buying information and a lot more. Nowadays, the automotive guide is greatly accessible through the internet which makes searching for important automotive information more convenient. Thus, finding and ordering auto parts and supplies as well as selling car, truck or vehicle parts and supplies has never been this easy with the automotive directory.

Whether it is a Mercedes Benz, Ford, Chevrolet, Volkswagen or any other vehicle make, the automotive directory is where vehicle enthusiasts and owners can locate the information that will serve their concern at the most. By means of the auto parts directory, even the amateur users are able to get hold of the most important understanding of auto repair, maintenance or replacement. The ultimate purpose of the automotive guide is to give the accurate information first hand. Being an automotive enthusiast or a vehicle owner, getting all the information that needs to be known regarding automotive parts comes easier. Whether it is electrical system, brake system, cooling system, engine system, A/C-heat system, exhaust system, steering and suspension system, body and exterior, drive train, and fuel system, the auto directory serves to the fullest.

For individuals who makes use of the internet more often or for those who go online on a regular basis, looking for the information about automotive parts and supplies becomes even more practical. More and more websites provide all-inclusive repair, maintenance and replacement guides for the interested ones out there. Browse anytime through various automotive articles or blogs which bring information. In this way, enthusiasts are able to know more and better techniques through which the most reliable service can be acquired. Getting information from the auto directory is the answer to your need for best automotive service.

Flex-a-lite 31148 Green Illuminated Manual On/Off Rocker Switch

It’s always a pleasure to enjoy the fall of cool air on our body especially during hot summers. So you can attend marriage or any other personal functions or meetings with your face radiating beams of freshness. A powerful car air conditioner could greatly bring down the weariness caused by long drives especially automotive air conditioners in many cars which would be the dream cars of today’s youngsters.

However, automotive air conditioning is always not a standard addition provided in a car. Cars manufactured before 1940 lacked the feature as it was not invented by then. Gradually several enhancements were done to the system. The repair requires a trained professional’s help. People curious to get to know the bottom of things may attempt to do some repairs by themselves exercising caution.

In small air conditioned cars, there may be a slight drop in pick up of the vehicle but this will not be the case with big cars.

The Standard Parts of Automotive Air Conditioning

The automotive air conditioning system comprises seven major parts.

These parts are:

1) Compressor – As heart is to the human body, so is compressor to the AC system. It is basically a pump connected to the engine whose chief function is to compress the refrigerant from the evaporator coils and the compressor, or “the heart of the system,” is a pump that is attached to the engine. Its purpose is to compress and transfer refrigerant gas. The compressor has both an intake and a discharge side.

2) Condenser – It functions very much like the radiator and will most often have a similar appearance. The purpose of the condenser is to radiate or to give away heat, so whenever the AC is switched on condenser must have good supply of air for cooling purposes.

3) Evaporator – Its chief duty is to absorb heat. Besides getting rid of heat from inside your vehicle, it is also responsible for dehumidifying the car. In order to regulate the temperature of the evaporator, pressure introducing pressure regulating devices like orifice tube is necessary

4) The receiver is used in automotive air conditioning systems that employ thermal expansion valves as pressure regulating devices to ensure that this pressure regulating device receives the liquid refrigerant that it needs in order to function. In order to do so, it must separate gas and liquid.

5) The accumulator is used only on automotive air conditioning systems that have the orifice tube as the pressure regulating device, and its main function is to store surplus liquid refrigerant. In doing so, it prevents any liquid from entering the compressor, which could be detrimental to the system.

In spite of the modern advancements that have been made in the automotive field since the introduction of automotive air conditioning, it is still possible to maintain your own system even if it is an olden day style.

Many car enthusiasts are becoming more and more aware of the beauty of automotive art. Such car lovers are the ones who drive the car art market. The automotive sculptural and painterly elements can be found somewhere between the necessities and luxuries of everyday life. Car enthusiasts appreciate the automotive splendor in terms of its form and shape, composition and line, texture and color, which had led them to appreciating automotive art as well, that is the work of those who can express such splendor in bronze, through a lens or on canvas. The appreciation has reached such an extent, that car art has been identified as its own genre, through the work of established artists. Other car art enthusiasts have established automotive art societies, to show that their passion goes beyond a mere hobby.

But automotive art appreciation to such an extent is relatively new. Only in the early eighties ahs car art become recognized as a field an d we can say that up to those days it didn’t even exist. The only form of automotive art back then was the individual work of a few artists who were so passionate about the subject that they started painting cars. The first form of an automotive art society was an alliance of relatively few artists, who wanted to be able to keep to date with what was new in this field and exchange ideas.

However, if we refer to automotive art as a means for automotive advertising, than its history goes way beyond the 1980s, all the way to the beginning of the twentieth century when ads and brochures for cars were paintings made by artists. This is the reason why the painting s of a car was associated to nothing more than a marketing illustration back then, whereas now automotive art is a genre in itself. What was then nothing but a mere form of advertising has now grown into an actual movement, as artists from all over the world get together regularly at select shows. All those involved in such events consider that cars are a very artistic subject and that they have evolved as an organization far beyond what they had expected, turning car art from painting for advertising into painting for art.

Car art has evolved so much that there are now quite a lot of collectors to whom the automobile is a state of art. And although most artists would be tempted to give a personal touch to their work by painting their own interpretations of the subject, they still keep in mind that the final goal is to please the art collector rather than themselves. And since for most of these automotive art collectors the function of the car still precedes its form, or, in other words, they just want to see the car, the artist’s creative and innovative possibilities are rather limited.

Most of these car artists have a tendency to identify with the genre, but there are some who state that to them automotive art is a form of art like any other, only that their paintings contain cars, instead of flowers, for instance. Still, most of those artists who are now representative for the automotive art have a lot of knowledge about cars, as they didn’t just switch from painting landscapes to painting automobiles. They do it out of passion for this subject. Therefore, we can say that automotive art will exist as long as automobiles do, and it doesn’t seem that their era is fading any time soon.

For more resources about car art or even about automotive art please review this website http://www.cartech49.com

New product development and innovation is much more difficult and time consuming than most other business activities. Automotive rapid prototyping greatly enhances learning speed and reduces the risk of new automotive parts development.

Historically, the automotive industry has been using rapid prototyping as an important tool in the automotive parts design process. The extremely fast-paced automotive design cycles require an extremely fast prototyping system which can produce car parts fast and inexpensively.

The main objective of automotive prototyping is to learn quickly: how a new automotive product behaves in its natural working environment, before transferring the prototype to the production line. Many times, mistakes are learned only after a new automotive part is launched. This is the main explanation for poor automotive parts design, from product mismatch, poor engineering and function or finish, and overpriced production. In order to accelerate the learning curve, before these costly automotive prototyping mistakes are made, one must accelerate and facilitate feedback loops from tests in the lab and market trials.

Automotive Manufacturing Technologies

Working with an assortment of rapid prototyping equipment, automotive prototyping engineers utilize the most advanced 3D printers, in their quest for perfect form, function and utility. Working in advanced manufacturing centers, the automotive engineers use the technology to verify what they are doing, and, equally important, to save tremendous amounts of time, and money.

Automotive Rapid Prototyping Compresses Development Time

The advantages of using 3D rapid prototyping model creation versus viewing a cad/cam model on a computer screen are palpable. Automotive parts engineers get together discuss the pros and cons of a rapidly produced automotive parts model and discuss the pros and cons of the design, as they pass it around, twisting and viewing the prototype, and decide if that is what they had in mind. This way, problems get solved up front, before going to the assembly line! Once determined that the automotive prototype design is a go, the model can then be sent to a die maker.

Automotive Prototyping and the Die Maker Process

The die maker cannot use model to make the die, but because they have it in their hand and can look at it and feel it, they can determine where the parting lines will be and exactly how much steel they will need to produce it. The timing of the die process is greatly compressed.

Examples of Automotive Rapid Prototype Parts

· Car Engine parts

· Engine castings and parts

· Auto Body Components

· Auto Mechanical parts

· Car Dashboards

· Car Handles and Knobs

· Car Trim parts

Fail first Paradox in Automotive Rapid Prototyping

The automotive rapid prototyping paradox is to fail earlier rather than later. By failing earlier, the design engineers surprisingly succeed in accelerating the project; this greatly reduces development cost risk. By considering all automotive prototype failures as learning experiments, the engineer has much less stress, knowing that they are practicing the old adage, that success comes from ninety-nine percent failure and introspection.

Browsing through an automotive directory is very practical for anyone who is ardently looking for a vehicle to purchase. This kind of directory, also called as automotive guide, allows individuals to view different type of vehicles, SUVs, cars, trucks or vans. They can be new, old or used only to some extent. Furthermore, an auto directory is a comprehensive auto guide which offers everything an individual has to know about automotive, meaning the essential information about automotive parts and so much more.

The automotive directory is very important nowadays, especially for individuals who venture in buying and selling cars. If there is one thing that needs to be checked by persons who have interest in vehicles, it is the auto directory. This helpful auto guide has a lot to offer – from the look to the different function of the automotive parts as well related news and information about it. Aside from that, this guide also gives details regarding cleaning, maintenance, repair and even replacement of automotive supplies.

This directory is regarded as the inclusive encyclopedia of automotive. In it, vehicle owners and enthusiasts can acquire all the significant information about vehicles in an easier and more convenient way. Utilized both by home users and professionals, the auto directory supplies comprehensive information regarding automotive parts, automotive repair, selling options, buying information and a lot more. Nowadays, the automotive guide is greatly accessible through the internet which makes searching for important automotive information more convenient. Thus, finding and ordering auto parts and supplies as well as selling car, truck or vehicle parts and supplies has never been this easy with the automotive directory.

Whether it is a Mercedes Benz, Ford, Chevrolet, Volkswagen or any other vehicle make, the automotive directory is where vehicle enthusiasts and owners can locate the information that will serve their concern at the most. By means of the auto parts directory, even the amateur users are able to get hold of the most important understanding of auto repair, maintenance or replacement. The ultimate purpose of the automotive guide is to give the accurate information first hand. Being an automotive enthusiast or a vehicle owner, getting all the information that needs to be known regarding automotive parts comes easier. Whether it is electrical system, brake system, cooling system, engine system, A/C-heat system, exhaust system, steering and suspension system, body and exterior, drive train, and fuel system, the auto directory serves to the fullest.

For individuals who makes use of the internet more often or for those who go online on a regular basis, looking for the information about automotive parts and supplies becomes even more practical. More and more websites provide all-inclusive repair, maintenance and replacement guides for the interested ones out there. Browse anytime through various automotive articles or blogs which bring information. In this way, enthusiasts are able to know more and better techniques through which the most reliable service can be acquired. Getting information from the auto directory is the answer to your need for best automotive service.