Reverse-engineered parts hit the highway

END USER: Misfit Industries, (877) 647-3489, www.misfitindustries.net.
CHALLENGE: Ensure custom motorcycle parts still seamlessly interface with OEM models after converting them from composites to metal.
SOLUTION: Scanning and CAD modeling services.
SOLUTION PROVIDER: NVision Inc., (972) 393-8000, www.nvision3d.com.

To reduce labor costs and production lead time, Misfit Industries converted many of its custom motorcycle parts from composites to die cast aluminum and steel. The Plano, Texas, company provides parts for custom Harley-Davidson touring models known as “baggers.” According to the company, it engineers its products for an ideal fit that are used to create “radical” machines that turn heads.

In the past, Misfit built most of its parts by manually laying composite fibers on a mold and spreading resin over the fibers. This was a labor-intensive process that consumed 6 to 8 weeks, and many customers did not want to wait that long for parts.

Images courtesy Misfit Industries