CUPRA, an unconventional challenger brand with racing in its DNA, has been working with the IoT specialist for more than two decades and continues to invest heavily in embracing the full functionality of PTC’s Creo (CAD) and Windchill PLM solutions.
This approach is translating into improved performance across 70 races last year and, importantly, is providing a production blueprint to support the firm’s electrification strategy and the development of its Extreme E and FIA ETCR.
“We started using PTC solutions in 1998; it was ground-breaking then and continues to be today,” explained Jaume Tarroja, Head of Full Vehicle Design at CUPRA Racing.
“We used to design the components in 2D and then they were sent to be manufactured – with the consequent errors that could occur. Now we can view the car in 3D with all the components assembled. In fact, we can visualise the whole car on the computer screen.”
The CUPRA Racing Team, who also use PTC’s PLM Windchill solution as its main information management system, has taken full advantage of Creo software, starting with top-down design providing a skeleton model to define the general structure of the vehicles.
Engineers can now design and assemble components with the additional benefit that, if a redesign or variation of the skeleton model takes places, these changes are automatically implemented to all components.
Other benefits of the PTC technology include Finite element parts simulation (allows the engineer to simulate the stress on the components in a real-world environment), streamlining the creation of metal components and now being able to simulate the piping and cabling so they know that everything works well at the first attempt.
All these design improvements have helped CUPRA Racing achieve lighter parts, better results, and economic savings - all whilst achieving higher performance from its vehicles.
CUPRA’s Jaume Tarroja continued: “In the racing world, you have to improve the car you made the previous year. There is a need for constant improvement with the dual aim of reducing manufacturing costs."
