Rudo Enserink uses ThinkDesign to design Ocean Rodeo’s new 2010 Kite Control System

To design the new Ocean Rodeo 2010 Kite Control System Ocean Rodeo started a collaboration with Rudo Enserink, a multi-skilled Computer-Aided designer.

Ocean Rodeo Sports Inc. (Canada), founded in 2001 by Richard Myerscough and Ross Harrington, manufactures and designs kiteboarding equipment, drysuits and clothing for all levels of riders.

To design a totally renewed kite control system Rudo Enserink chose think3’s CAD solution, ThinkDesign. Rudo Enserink has been working with ThinkDesign for over 10 years. He took the opportunity to build this new product in the later Beta-version of v2009.1 and contributed to the final release of ThinkDesign.

The kite control system is the arrangement of control elements that make the kite fly, sheet in and out, steer, launch, re-launch and land and incorporates a number of trimming and safety systems. As the kite performance is largely defined by rider input the control system is a truly integrated part of the total kite setup. For the 2010 model year Rudo Enserink worked with Ocean Rodeo kite-designers on a totally renewed kite control system: the new requirements included improved ergonomics, wear resistance, reliability, comfort, styling and a good price.

“I chose think3’s CAD software – states Rudo Enserink - for its integrated solid and surface approach and the proprietary 3D kernel. ThinkDesign is the best program for the demanding industrial designer, combining speed, power, precision, edit-ability and a vast array of styling tools. One thing I really love from ThinkDesign is the flexibility to parameterize or not. Constraints can be helpful but can also be a pain: ThinkDesign offers many ways to switch back and forth between constrained designing and a more free creative style”.

He further adds “Whether it was a swept fluent shape or a fastener, turning surfaces into skins or solids, keeping the relation to their creating curves intact, or deciding whether it is needed to make a local or x-ref component, it can all be done at any stage of the modeling process and allows you to speed through the many choices a designer needs to make”.

During the design cycle tentative designs changed into serious concepts with the help of many cool styling tools like GSM (think3’s Global Shape Modeling technology) and weighed curvature continuous fillets inside robust parametric modeling. ThinkDesign v2009.1 improved shading and live cross-sections provided quick and effective collaboration between Rudo and Ocean Rodeo, allowing for simple screen shots of the model to be included inside e-mails.

“One of the features I find myself using a lot is the ‘connect curve’ with killer options like G2 or G3 to create the most stunning blends. Another set of features that I discovered were the ‘interactive modeling’ tools, they turned out to be true time savers for late design changes. Even though they lack the styling power of GSM they come in handy when minor details need fixing and they are fully integrated with the history tree” adds Rudo Enserink.

ThinkDesign kept playing a reliable role as ideas and changes were updated continuously throughout the process. With this new kite control system Ocean Rodeo Sports has managed to place itself on the front line of innovation one more time.