Clarkson University is a private national research university in upstate New York and a leader in technological education. As one of the many Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED), the Clarkson University Clean Snowmobile Team is a student-led initiative driven by a passion for sustainable product development. The team’s goal is to create cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient snowmobiles for consumers. The group works together to tackle complex design challenges each season, focusing on everything from emissions reduction to noise control. 

“We constantly try to push the boundaries of snowmobile technology—all while preparing team members with hands-on experience in advanced engineering practices,” says Joshua Segal, rules manager for the team.

Each year, the team participates in the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, an engineering design competition organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). University teams from across the globe participate by designing and building snowmobiles that meet performance and sustainability objectives while also competing in a variety of events that test their vehicle engineering prowess. 

The challenge: Manual 3D measurements compromised design cycle efficiency

As the students worked on enhancing a snowmobile’s chassis, they encountered several challenges that slowed their design and testing processes. The intricate surfaces within the chassis made it difficult to capture accurate 3D measurements. Without precise digital models, the team had to resort to physically mocking up parts, a process that was both time-consuming and prone to errors. “Some areas we wanted to design in and around were hard to get to without taking apart the snowmobile completely,” Segal says.

This manual approach increased the risk of damaging vital parts and delayed the entire design cycle, consuming resources that could have been better allocated to other areas of the project. In addition, frequent disassembly of the snowmobile increased the likelihood of part failures that could compromise the snowmobile’s performance.

The turning point came when the team realized it could no longer afford to rely on manual methods. “We had used 3D modeling in SolidWorks for past projects—and we quickly saw that our new chassis design would benefit immensely from accurate 3D scans,” Segal says. “We decided it was time to look for a metrology solution that could help us with complex parts and accelerate our design and prototyping processes.

“We wanted to invest in a 3D scanning technology that would provide highly accurate scans of parts that couldn’t move within the chassis. Another big draw was the speed and simplicity of the 3D scanner.”

Creaform’s easy-to-use 3D scanning tech eliminates design obstacles 

After evaluating various technologies, the team opted for Creaform and the company’s HandySCAN MAX|Elite metrology-grade 3D scanner for large parts, MetraSCAN 3D scanner and portable CMM, and VXmodel scan-to-CAD software module.

Implementing the new technologies involved the team traveling to Creaform’s headquarters in Quebec City, where it received a comprehensive introduction to each 3D scanning solution. Creaform’s application engineers worked closely with the team, offering hands-on guidance and detailed instructions for a smooth onboarding process. “Creaform’s engineers were phenomenal, talking us through the entire 3D scanning workflow with expertise and patience,” Segal says. 

Creaform’s engineers demonstrated various 3D scanning techniques during this session and explained how to troubleshoot common issues. Larger parts of the chassis were scanned with the HandySCAN MAX|Elite, while the MetraSCAN 3D was used for more-detailed components. VXmodel generated SolidWorks-compatible files.

What’s more, the collaboration extended beyond the technical aspects. Creaform’s team went out of their way to make the Clarkson team feel welcome, even introducing them to local culture, including a taste of Quebec’s famous poutine. “Their generosity and professionalism were remarkable,” Joshua says, describing Creaform’s support on both a technical and personal level.

The results: Transforming snowmobile design and prototyping approaches

Thanks to Creaform’s 3D scanning solutions, the Clarkson team saved an impressive amount of time that would have otherwise been spent repeatedly dismantling the snowmobile and constantly retaking 3D measurements manually. “Creaform’s 3D scanners and team members transformed our design process, saving us countless hours,” Segal says.

Generating accurate digital models of intricate parts helped the students make more-informed design decisions and prevent costly errors early in the development phase.

The Clarkson University Clean Snowmobile Team used the HandySCAN MAX|Elite to capture 3D measurements of large snowmobile components. Image: Creaform

The effect of Creaform’s technology extended to the overall project timeline. With the time saved on each design iteration, the team could allocate more resources toward testing and refining its final product. This efficiency boost was instrumental in helping the team keep pace with the competition while advancing the snowmobile’s performance. The streamlined workflow also gave rise to new opportunities for the students to experiment with advanced components like turbochargers and power steering motors, pushing the envelope of snowmobile engineering.

Students used the MetraSCAN 3D optical CMM 3D scanner to capture 3D measurements of complex snowmobile assemblies. Image: Creaform

Looking ahead, the Clarkson Clean Snowmobile Team envisions Creaform’s technologies playing a central role in future projects. The 3D measurement solutions will be essential for quickly converting physical parts into 3D models as the students test gas-electric hybrid snowmobiles and add increasingly complex components.

“Creaform has undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for the future of our design and modeling work," Segal says. “The Clarkson Clean Snowmobile Team thanks Creaform/Ametek for this great opportunity and looks forward to continuing our great relationship.”

Published March 18, 2025, by Creaform.