Simco Automotive Trim, Inc.

Simco Industries, Inc.

Scott M Kloock

David L Simon

Vincent H-h Jones

A panel adaptable for use in automotive trim applications has a laminate of a support layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth. The support layer is made of a thermoformable material such as foam, felt or polypropylene. The laminate is thermoformed to impart the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The support layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. The panel may have a shirred appearance imparted thereto by the inclusion of a plurality of gathers therm.

Automotive trim panel having a shirred appearance

A trim panel for use in automotive trim applications is made from a laminate of a thermoformable support layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth or similar material. The laminate is thermoformed to impart permanently the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The support layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. Process controls are applied allowing thermoforming of parts to automotive precision.

Method of thermoforming an automotive trim panel

A panel adaptable for use in automotive trim applications has a laminate of a support layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth. The support layer is made of a thermoformable material such as foam, felt or polypropylene. The laminate is thermoformed to impart the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The support layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. The panel may have a shirred appearance imparted thereto by the inclusion of a plurality of gathers thermoformed into the support layer.

A checking fixture for checking the accuracy of manufactured parts has a base with origin surfaces or tooling balls defining an orthogonal plane system. A series of net pads, clamps and pins formed on or in the base supports a manufactured part to be checked in a known position relative to the plane system. A plurality of data collection device holders are attached to the base. Each holder has a datum element such as a bushing or the like. The exact positions of the datum elements relative to the plane system are measured and stored in a data storage device. A computer is programmed to accept data from the data collection devices and compensate for variations of the known datum element positions from theoretically perfect positions.

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Washington, MI, United States of America

Scott M Kloock