Ford combines virtual reality, 3D scanning, and milling with clay models

Ford has integrated virtual reality headsets, 3D scanning and milling into its clay vehicle modeling process, with sculptor John "Rex" Allen—a roughly 40-year clay modeling veteran who has spent 24 years at Ford—scanning a hand-shaped clay form for about 20 minutes to create a digital version, then adjusting it in VR before the changes are applied back to the physical model and finished through milling and hand detailing. The hybrid workflow matters because it lets designers iterate in digital space while preserving the tactile surface quality of traditional clay, potentially shortening development cycles for future Ford ($F) vehicles. What to watch next is whether Ford extends the VR-plus-milling approach across more of its design studios and how quickly it translates into faster vehicle launches.