Tesla styled screen setup
 

Hey All,

I like so many other Z owners on here have complained about the compartment above the stock head unit. So I have decided to design and build an In-Car PC with a larger than average Tesla styled screen. Granted there have been many threads on here for tablet conversions but in my opinion that is simply putting a band-aid one a severed limb.

So what I plan on implementing is a complete redesign the center removable dash piece. I will fill the entire space with a large wide screen monitor laid in portrait style. To do this I will be 3d scaning the interior dash piece to fit the screen exactly. I intend on integrating wifi, hd radio, radio, bluetooth, navigation, OBD-II controls, custom gauges, and dvd. With many other possible options still on the table, such as adding a driver facing camera to record your driving experience or with a wifi hotspot you could skype. I am also throwing around the idea of integrating the climate controls in to be controlled on-screen.

Here is a picture of the stock Z dash and one of the Tesla dash design. This is similar to the design I will be making as a reference.

I would love to hear from the community on this, and keep an eye on this thread. I will keep it updated with pictures and the process on the build.

-Anthony

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...nspiration.jpg

After doing some research I found that a cheap solution to do some 3d scanning is a windows 8 pc with a Kinect for windows. Or Xbox one Kinect with windows adapter. So I will be hitting up the closest Windows Store to pick one up. Check back for details.

Make it happen!

Have you tried to scan with the kinect? It is very hard to get details on the scan. If anything, see if you can remove the trim and have it scanned at a local shop. The kinect is a pain in the ***.

Great in theory, but not so great in application IMO. Give it a shot and see how it models it out for you!
Edit: how would you control A/C with the tablet and what tablet would you be using? Custom touch-screen running some OS?

I'm going to try my hand at scanning it first. And honestly if it can come close that's what I'm looking for. Because I will be reforming the piece to fit the screen anyway. As far as the climate controls, I won't be using a tablet I will be building a car pc instead. And I have found an adapter to connect them and software to control it. It is just deciding whether it is worth the extra hassle.

I run an ATOS scanner at work.
ATOS Triple Scan: GOM

I could give you full 3D scans of the parts if you send me them. I am not willing to take my car apart for this. I would have to do this after hours at work so it could take me a week or two to get it done. The files can be put into solidworks or other 3D drafting software. let me know if you are interested. I live in Indianapolis, so you would have to send me the parts or find someone who has their car apart and does not mind letting me use them. If it was winter I woudnt mind using mine but I drive my car in the summer.

That would be great! I will see if I can find the piece on eBay or a local salvage yard for a reasonable price. Unfortunately I can't have my car apart that long. would you be willing or able to do a scan of the interior assembled? Like the Z picture I posted? If so that would tremendously help for fitment.

You guys should post the scan outputs somewhere on the board to be sticky'd - could help the community with a lot of projects like this going forward!

I am not able to take the equipment out of the lab I work in or I wouldnt mind. Also my car has the Nav screen so my parts are slightly different.

I am looking for an upper and lower intake manifold to scan as well for a little side project that I've been toying with.

I would be glad to post the files for sure. Just need the parts! I am willing to really scan any parts in.


Some parts I will have to spray with a water based paint that will wash right off in order for the scanner to pick them up though. I think that may be the case with the interior parts becasue the scanner can not pick up reflective or black items. So most likely would need to spray the parts.

This is going to be EPIC! Looking forward to an end product! Good luck guys :)

Dang that sucks, but I may be able to find another source for the 3d interior. I came across a file on Turbosquid that was supposed to have been 3d scanned. So it may be accurate enough to us for placement of my modified dash piece.

Subbed

I picked up a Kinect to test how it is going to scan! I'll post some pictures later on the process!

cool, interested to see how well a kinect does with scanning.

Subbed.
DO IT

Doooo iiittt

Alright Guys,

Sorry I'm a little behind on the posts. I finally got to unbox my Kinect and hook it up and scan some stuff. Super exciting... then... nothing. After a lot of research and digging I found that my AMD motherboard is incompatible with kinect. So I had to rush an Intel motherboard replacement in for my computer from Newegg. Going to be rebuilding my desktop tonight so I may be able to scan tomorrow.

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...ct-windows.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...k-properly.jpg

So I tried the Kinect for scanning and you were definitely right. It just won't produce the high quality scan that I need. So I have been looking on eBay and other sources to find that dash piece for a reasonable price. Unfortunately the cheapest I have found is over $400. So I did some research into local scanning companies and found one that will scan it and sell me the cloud point file for $200 or a polygon mesh for $400.

I wish I could send it to Venom13132 for scanning but I will be able to get it done locally cheaper than it will cost to buy and ship. Next step, off to Direct Dimensions for a scan!!! I will post a few images of what the Kinect was able to scan tonight.

hope that works out. interested to see how it turns out compared to what I would be able to do.

Sounds like progress is being made

Good luck and keep us all informed!

Subbed

Sub'd fo sho.

Alright everyone,

I have made some unsuccessful attempts to scan simple things with the Kinect. But they did not work out well. So I have made an appointment with Jeff at Direct Dimensions in Baltimore tomorrow for a professional scan and model.

I'm having to dish out some dough but hopefully it will be worthwhile. I'll be posting more pictures soon!

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...er-quality.jpg

I have been talking with some vendors lately trying to get a feel for cost of a few items. Specifically the case I will be designing to fit all the PC parts. I found the screen that I will be using if it fits into the custom dash. It is a 15.6in wide screen monitor! Supporting 1080P graphics.

If it ends up fitting, the screen will lay portrait style with split screen. The upper will mainly control GPS and video, while the lower will control the radio, custom gauges, and climate controls (pending on abilities)!

Check out tomorrow for new pics of the scans and of Direct Dimensions site!

Subd

Alright everyone,

I'm about to do a photo dump on you guys. I just got finished with Jeff out at Direct Dimensions in north Baltimore. I strongly advise these guys in the Mid-Atlantic if you need some scanning done. Very awesome and professional guys out there!

I got the dash pulled apart with the cubby, vents, and switches removed.

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...ct-windows.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...ash-facing.jpg

We got a couple of shots as Jeff was using the Faro ScanArm to scan in all the heavy contours of the interior. Man there is so much more detail on these scans than a Kinect will ever get FTW!

I had to get the guy covered in foot powder to get a good scan. At least I know its going to be smelling fresh for a while lol!

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...t-complete.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...anarm-work.jpg

Alright here's the final pic for a bit. The scan is done and now its time for me to get it back to the house and start tearing apart this model. Keep an eye out for the updates on the design!

Also, I am still pretty new to the forums here I would like to upload the point cloud that I bought from Direct Dimensions. So that if you guys from the community can use it will be available. But the file is way too large, if you guys have any workarounds hit me up. And happy modding everyone!

http://www.the370z.com/members/asorg...widescreen.jpg

subscribed to see this :tup:

Nice work. Definitely interested in the results :tup:

If you have a Dropbox account with enough space to store the file, you can share a public link to the file.

Thanks for the suggestion, this should work guys if not let me know.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t6o7p0uydh...oints.txt?dl=0

Sub'd. This is getting good.

I did a practice scan on a lower intake manifold yesterday with the system I have here at Rolls-Royce. Here are a few screen shots.

http://www.the370z.com/members/venom...20-lower03.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/venom...19-lower02.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/venom...18-lower01.jpg

Those scans are amazing man! To bad I wasn't able to get out there with you. I was still able to get some decent scans. I just can't wait to get off work to get home and start back on my models. Super stoked for what comes next!!

Thanks. I am going to scan the upper intake manifold next week. That may be a little more difficult. The system I use, uses reference points to create the model, unlike the one you went to that uses a CMM to create the model. The downside to mine is I have to paint my parts usually (washable paint) then I have to stick these little dots all over it (which is annoying) but it can scan with amazing detail. I am going to see about converting the files I have into some modeling software to play with the images.

Let me know I have access to some programs that help with that if you run into some problems.

Thanks. I am going to go with a wider lens set on monday and get a slightly less detailed scan of the upper and lower intake manifolds just to get the file size down. The ATOS file for that lower intake manifold is 19GB!!! But with the small lens i used it took me around 300 scans to get the detail that I did. The point Cloud .stl file is 3.9GB. I have it hosted in my drop box in a zip file which got it down to 1.9GB haha.

I wasnt able to get solidworks to open any of the files yet. I have a few more "save as" options on the files I am going to try.

The .obj format should let you import it into 3ds MAX and lower the resolution there. That's what I am doing with this large scan as I tear it apart.

I know soildworks will use the .stl file. I think I exported it incorrectly the other day. I just did it again and the file size is now 16GB instead of 3.9GB so I think I got all the data this time. but i forgot my 1TB USB drive today so I wont be able to mess with this till monday evening. Im camping and drinking all weekend so I wouldnt get anything done till monday anyway :tup:

Hahaha very nice, I've never dealt with Solidworks so I am very curious to see how it handles it. I typically use Inventor, but it doesn't handle complex curves well. That is why I decided to use 3ds MAX.