Radio Flyer, a 90-year old toy company based in Chicago, is using SolidWorks’ 3D CAD software and COSMOSWorks Designer analysis software to develop both new and better versions of its time-honoured products.
The software was recently used to design a stable, juvenile scooter (My First Scooter). This new, foldable toy has two wide-set front wheels for stability and a tapered platform that, unlike other scooters, ensures the child’s foot clears the back wheel with each kick. COSMOSWorks Designer helped the company determine the optimum design of the blow-moulded platform for strength and rider comfort.
“We couldn’t imagine doing our work without SolidWorks, which lets us quickly develop, prototype, and optimise sophisticated designs - like the shape of the handlebars or the action of the ‘bounce-and-go’ - then rapidly complete them,” explains Tom Schlegel, Radio Flyer’s vice president of product development.
Radio Flyer also makes use of SolidWorks’ powerful surfacing capabilities to design shapely parts - a tricycle saddle, for example - that in the past would be painstakingly hand-carved and patterned prior to moulding.