Industry: Automotive
“We now use VNCK every day. It’s been an excellent tool, not just for manufacturing and improving programs, but also as a teaching tool to help us learn the controller.”
— Michael Tummond, Engine Engineering Manager, Hendrick Motorsports
Faster, More Powerful Engines
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the most successful team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s top level, the organization holds all-time records in every major category: championships, points-paying wins, and laps led. With over 100 team members, its engine department supports more than 500 racing events per year, supplying horsepower for teams in both the Xfinity Series and the top-tier Cup Series. Hendrick engines have powered more than 500 wins across NASCAR’s three national touring series.
In a sport where performance relies heavily on engine power, having efficient, powerful, and durable engines is non-negotiable. That means embracing cutting-edge technology and constantly finding innovative ways to stay ahead of the pack.
Driving Innovation with Siemens and Swoosh Technologies
To stay at the forefront of engine innovation, Hendrick Motorsports partnered with Swoosh Technologies—a Siemens Digital Industries Software partner—and adopted NX™ and VNCK (Virtual Numerical Control Kernel), both part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software, hardware, and services.
Prioritizing Accuracy and Repeatability
The team’s goal was clear: build better engines. But they had reached the limits of their old equipment and needed more accurate and repeatable results. After a careful evaluation, they invested in higher-precision machines equipped with Siemens controllers.
“We’ve always been a Siemens-driven company,” explains Tummond.
“All of our product lifecycle management runs through Siemens software, but we’d never used Siemens numerical controllers for manufacturing. This was our first time, so we reached out to Swoosh Technologies for support.”
The Value of the Digital Twin
Once the new equipment was in place, a new challenge emerged: learning how to use it. With support from Swoosh and Siemens, the team quickly got up to speed and discovered how VNCK and the digital twin could help them improve part production.
“All of our product data was already managed through Siemens software, but it stopped there. We used Siemens for programming, but now that our machines run Siemens controllers, the integration and connectivity between the two has been great,” says Tummond.
A More Efficient Engine Design Process
Along with the new machines, Hendrick Motorsports invested in a machine simulation kit and postprocessor to bring everything together.
“The one piece of software I took a gamble on was VNCK. At first, I thought it just gave digital readouts from the desktop—which would be useful for training—but it turned out to be a full-blown digital twin.”
With VNCK, the team can analyze any machine parameter directly from their desks, revolutionizing how they program and simulate.
“VNCK allows us to write and test programs away from the machine. Programming itself might be simple, but the tolerances we’re chasing are incredibly tight. VNCK lets us prove part alignment before we make any cuts.”
Standout Results:
- Zero scrap rate thanks to pre-validation with simulation.
- 10x improvement in precision, achieving ten-thousandths of an inch vs. thousandths.
- 50% reduction in setup time, cutting engine block setup from one hour to just minutes.
- Faster diagnosis of errors in production.
- Full simulation of all processes—moving beyond basic toolpath verification in NX.
A New Simulation-First Culture
Before this shift, the engine department didn’t use simulation in manufacturing. Today, everything is simulated.
“We weren’t taking advantage of the digital twin or even machine simulation before—just the out-of-the-box toolpath verification in NX. Now, with these Siemens solutions, we’re more confident in our programming, especially as our part alignments grow more complex,” says Tummond.
Thanks to NX, VNCK, and Siemens controllers, Hendrick Motorsports has reached a new level of precision.
“We used to be happy with a few thousandths of an inch. Now, we’re working with ten-thousandths. We’ve improved our accuracy tenfold.”
Racing Toward the Future
Currently, only 3 out of 50 machines on the Hendrick Motorsports campus have VNCK capabilities. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand its use of digital twin technology and bring more high-precision machines into their workflow.
“We need to flip the script. This experience has opened our eyes to what’s possible—and what we need to build faster race cars,” concludes Tummond.
Curious about how simulation and digital twins can transform your manufacturing process? Discover what Siemens and its partners can do for your team.
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