Gilbarco Seeking to Optimize Fluid Flow

Situation
Gilbarco, a leading global supplier of fuel dispensing equipment, needed to optimize fluid flow through a complicated cast part. Gilbarco wanted to use computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis in order to quickly optimize the shape for fluid flow but no CAD data of the cast part existed.

I’m very pleased with the work, and the great communication and service, and plan to use 3DScanco for any work of this type in the future.”

Solution
Gilbarco contracted 3DScanCo – a division of Laser Design Inc. – to reverse engineer the cast part. This part presented a unique challenge to 3DScanCo because of the complicated internal and external features.

3DScanCo used a technique called digital assembly to capture the internal and external features. The high resolution 3D scan data was then used to create a Catia model for Gilbarco. This part also had free form cast surfaces in combination with machined faces and bores, these features were identified and analyzed for original design intent during the modeling process.

Results
This project resulted in a successful computational fluid dynamic analysis and optimization. Gilbarco was able to optimize the shape resulting in the most efficient fluid flow possible for this part. 3DScanCo also demonstrated the ability to scan and model complicated engine castings internals with high accuracy 3D laser scanning.