An old video of Tamiya HQ and factory in Japan (and screen grabs)

[Mechanic AH 598]

I've always been curious about what it looks like inside the Tamiya HQ/factory in Japan and I haven't seen a true insider video. I came across this one, quite old probably from very late 80s to early 90s (since the Avante, Vanquish, and early Astute development/TRF beginnings are briefly seen in the video). Anyway, quite interesting. I wish there's a present day video Japan tour (not the museum or one open to the public) to see how things have changed. Posting some images for those interested, and also a link to the video (it's in Japanese and about 16 minutes long). 

Late 80s early 90s? video of Tamiya Japan factory and HQ

[Mechanic AH 598]

More pics 

 

[mtbkym01 4154]

Amazing

[MadInventor 3886]

Check out the huge CRTs and 5.25inch floppy drives in the computers. How technology has moved on..............

[Willy iine 18823]

I have always been fascinated by Tamiya’s illustrated instructions.  

I remember my buddy’s dad showing me RC10 instructions with a bunch of text and little to no diagrams.   Place this silver screw in that hole over there..  over where?   

[OnTheTrail 1161]

11 hours ago, Mechanic AH said:

I've always been curious about what it looks like inside the Tamiya HQ/factory in Japan and I haven't seen a true insider video. I came across this one,.....

 

That's fascinating.  Thanks for sharing.  I'd love to learn how making the molds have changed over the years.   Back then, they had to mill each mold out by machine and tool makers.   I'm guessing today, they're done or a least started with 3D printing.  

[Gebbly 760]

Interesting to see them carving the body prototype out of wood with a chisel rather than the clay(?) I've seen pictures of in 1:1 car design.

[Ferruz 12544]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[HonkSolo 21]

Pretty standard engineering office space - at least mid 90ies I would guess from the use of 3D CAD.

[bRIBEGuy 3321]

4 hours ago, OnTheTrail said:

That's fascinating.  Thanks for sharing.  I'd love to learn how making the molds have changed over the years.   Back then, they had to mill each mold out by machine and tool makers.   I'm guessing today, they're done or a least started with 3D printing.  

Injection molding technology has changed very little (at least for the molds themselves).  Molds are rarely 3d printed (occasionally for prototyping), as the technology has poor strength and finish compared to CNC.  Most production molds are still created (CNC/EDM) from steel, though other metals will be used on occasion as well.

[OnTheTrail 1161]

33 minutes ago, bRIBEGuy said:

Injection molding technology has changed very little (at least for the molds themselves).  Molds are rarely 3d printed (occasionally for prototyping), as the technology has poor strength and finish compared to CNC.  Most production molds are still created (CNC/EDM) from steel, though other metals will be used on occasion as well.

Thanks!   I guess the same data you'd put into a 3D printer could also be used to program a multi axis CNC so I guess a CNC mold would be fairly quick compared to years ago.   

Little off topic but I watched YT video about a year ago, and the narrator mention that creating the molds for a 1/24th scale plastic car was about a $100,000 cost.   Can't recall if that was today's costs or from years ago before the molds were made with a CNC.   

[bRIBEGuy 3321]

1 minute ago, OnTheTrail said:

Thanks!   I guess the same data you'd put into a 3D printer could also be used to program a multi axis CNC so I guess a CNC mold would be fairly quick compared to years ago.   

Little off topic but I watched YT video about a year ago, and the narrator mention that creating the molds for a 1/24th scale plastic car was about a $100,000 cost.   Not sure if that was today's costs of from years ago before the molds were made with a CNC.   

The data and design work is essentially the same, yes.  When I create a product (professionally), it is designed fully in 3D.  When it is is time for prototyping/production, the model is tweaked for the particular production type (i.e. 3D printing is inaccurate, so details are removed... injection molding requires drafts on edges perpendicular to the mold, etc...), but essentially the same "design model" can be used for multiple production types.  I can use one model to quote and explore CNC milling, 3D Printing, compression molding, and injection molding.

Production-level injection molds are VERY expensive, yes.  I have dealt with mold quotes in the $30k-$125kusd range, and those only make one part.  The cost feasibility of injection molding is based on project scale.  Parts are VERY cheap to produce, but the upfront cost is horrific.

[mtbkym01 4154]

7 hours ago, Gebbly said:

Interesting to see them carving the body prototype out of wood with a chisel rather than the clay(?) I've seen pictures of in 1:1 car design.

There’s some clay body work in the video as well, Vanquish body i think it was near the start