Indonesian powerhouse accelerates automotive inspection with Artec Leo

Anyone working in automotive will tell you that inspection is vital to production quality. During initial assembly, raw materials and insourced parts are checked for compliance, molds are assessed for dimensional accuracy, and weldings are examined to ensure integrity.

The same can be said for aftermarket part manufacturing – where service providers offer to customize and repair clients’ cars on-demand. Failure to properly measure an existing surface can lead to misfitting parts that require adaptation or need to be scrapped altogether. Speed is also of the essence, as automotive customization is a fiercely competitive marketplace.

Working from its HQ in Bekasi, Indonesia, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti has found a way of accelerating this process and staying ahead of its competitors. Instead of disassembling the molds it uses to make aftermarket parts and measuring them with a static, inflexible CMM machine, the company now captures accurate 3D data with the faster, more versatile Artec Leo.

Taking things up a gear with Artec Leo

In a vast automotive industry, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti has carved itself a niche in the world of interior and exterior aftermarket parts and accessories. The company primarily inspects tooling molds and fixtures to ensure accuracy and avoid issues during final product assembly.

Artec Leo being used to measure the underside of a wheel arch. Image courtesy of AppliCAD, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti

Until recently, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti found that parts like bumpers took a particularly long time to design and manufacture. That’s why they reached out to Artec’s trusted reseller AppliCAD Indonesia, who helped them find the ideal technology to accelerate their workflow. In the past, the company’s engineers had tried switching from CMMs to a target-dependent 3D scanner.

When the team found this device cumbersome to use, AppliCAD offered to demo Leo – an all-in-one 3D scanner with a built-in battery, display, and processor. Operating without the need for scanning targets reduced time spent on preparation and cleanup. Capturing data faster also accelerates their wider design workflow in a way that boosts customer satisfaction.

“The challenge is speed,” said Mr. Hardi Praptomo, Head of the Research and Development Department at PT Brilliant Jaya. “Before we acquired Artec Leo, our competitors couldn’t carry out these tasks as fast as us. Now they’re even further behind. Another challenge is capturing an OEM bumper at speed. This usually takes a long time, but with 3D scan data, we can start on these projects earlier, accelerating our workflow.”

Ensuring accurate “checking fixtures”

The company’s workflow now revolves around Artec Studio. Using the industry-leading software, captured scan data is turned into 3D meshes, which can be analyzed or sent for manufacturing. Artec Studio comes with analysis tools like deviation mapping, allowing users to make scan-to-CAD comparisons and check if parts will meet tolerances prior to production.

3D scanning a car’s front grille with Artec Leo. Image courtesy of AppliCAD, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti

In the case of PT Brilliant Jaya Inti, it’s more useful to create checking fixtures: precision tools that act as a reference platform for detecting errors and ensuring perfect fit. Once tooling has been tested and used to make prototype parts, these go through trials until they meet quality standards before undergoing a part-fitting evaluation at the final manufacturing stage.

“This approach has huge potential for the mold industry,” said Mr. Hardi Praptomo, Head of the Research and Development Department at PT Brilliant Jaya. “Using a CMM machine means disassembling a mold, measuring a few points, then reassembling it – this isn’t easy! Artec 3D scanning allows us to measure on the spot, which is more efficient and applicable to any mold size. 3D scans are also more representative and easier to understand, as they provide capture context and aren’t restricted to point-by-point measurement.”

Not just for automotive analysis

Beyond inspection, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti also utilizes Artec Leo for reverse engineering. Rather than attempting to replace a tried and tested clay modeling workflow, 3D scans are utilized as a reference – e.g. clay models and real bumpers can be scanned and used for product design.

Artec Leo is highly maneuverable, allowing users to scan anywhere without cables. Image courtesy of AppliCAD, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti

That’s not to say that 3D data can’t be exported directly to design software for modeling. When captured with high geometric accuracy and resolution, it’s more than sufficient for the job. It’s just that in this case, PT Brilliant Jaya Inti found a unique way of combining technologies old and new to slash inspection lead times and bring products to customers at a much faster rate.

For now, the company remains focused on automotive interiors and exteriors, but eventually it’d also like to work more directly with OEMs. The groundwork has already been laid elsewhere in automotive, as virtual design, simulation, and 3D printing take hold. Now, in the hands of PT Brilliant Jaya Inti, 3D technology is ready to revolutionize the industry in Indonesia as well.