Prefix Corporation, a Michigan based company, is the premier source for one-off models and prototypes of all varieties.

Prefix has been serving the transportation industry since 1978 and has become the industry leader in creating innovative solutions combining engineering, software development, fabrication and assembly with final fit, finish and trim.

Prefix's unique ability to integrate these disciplines as a single source has resulted in numerous patents and benchmark products.



Clearly, the Programmable Vehicle Model (PVM) is one of many outstanding products developed by the Prefix engineering and design team.

The Programmable Vehicle Model is revolutionary test cell which integrates motion control expertise with knowledge of vehicle models.

This PVM is a PC controlled articulated buck (get a layman's definition here) of specific vehicle dimensions which moves in seconds from one model configuration to another (within 1 mm).

This ability allows Prefix customers to benchmark their concepts against competitor models without having to build or manage multiple properties.

Utilized as a market research, engineering, validation, or design development tool, PVM's help users be assured that they are bringing the right ideas to the market at the right time.

Recently, Prefix engineers and designers contacted Scott Kilpatrick at item Michigan in Shelby Township MI to question the most effective and efficient use of item's structural aluminum and modular components.

Engineers from Prefix, item Michigan and item North America (Akron Ohio) worked together to refine generation 3 of the PVM, resulting in a final design which takes complete advantage of the flexibility and adaptability of the item machine building system.





Prefix's PVM shown here incorporates 35 axis of motion into an open design framework. Other generations of the PVM can contain as many as 96 different axis of motion, depending upon the design parameters set by the end user.

Prefix design generation 3 uses over 20 different item profiles ranging from lighter weight line 5 to heavy duty Line 12. Conduit profiles in multiple sizes was used to run cable, electrical lines and drive belts, creating a clean and aesthetically pleasing finished test cell.

The 35 different axis of motion were created using line 8 bearing units, D14 hardened steel shafts and linear guide rails PS 4-25.

The Prefix Programmable Vehicle Model is a perfect example of cooperation between customer engineering and design, our item Michigan distributor and in-house engineering at item's Akron Ohio headquarters.

item Michigan is a division of GTA Group.
www.gtagroup.net

And also Prefix's website. www.prefix.com