1,721,027 research outputs found
Parametric virtual concept design of heavy machinery: a case study application
No full textVirtual prototyping enables the validation and optimization of machinery equivalent to physical testing, saving time and costs in the product development, especially in case of heavy machines with complex motions. However, virtual prototyping is usually deployed only at the end of the design process, when product architecture is already developed. The present paper discusses the introduction of virtual prototypes since conceptual design stage as Virtual Concepts in which coarse models of machinery design variants are simulated obtaining useful information, sometimes fundamental to support best design choices. Virtual Concept modeling and preliminary validation and its later integration to a Virtual Prototype are expressly investigated using Multi Body Dynamics software. A verification case study on a large vibrating screen demonstrates that dynamic Virtual Concepts enable easier and effective evaluations on the design variants and increase the design process predictability
ANOVA OF 3D VARIATIONAL MODELS FOR COMPUTER AIDED TOLERANCING WITH RESPECT TO THE MODELING FACTORS
No full textSheet metal assemblies are subjected to errors as deformations due to material, thickness, geometries and process variations. Advanced simulations enable the optimization of product features, GD&T scheme and assembly process. The 3D error propagation due to the different contributors can be studied with Variational Models of the product and assembly system. However, the practical application of these methods is limited by the high number of factors in the models, which makes the operator experience fundamental to achieve their trustworthiness. Guidelines for modeling the sheet metal assemblies are needed. The present work aims at analysing the variations in the model with a Design of Computer Experiments (DoCE) plan. A case study on an automotive fender is discussed. The results demonstrate that the modeling strategy of clamping operation have the major effects, while the modeling of locators scheme, spot joints and FEM meshing are less important
REDESIGN FOR ENVIRONMENT OF WOODEN PACKAGING FOR BULK RECYCLING AND RECOVERY. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences VOL. 11, NO. 1, JANUARY 2016.
No full textSociety increasingly demands for effective waste management policies to make industries more environmentally
sustainable. Organizations are even issuing directives to drive choices about these policies. In particular, modern industries
produce a lot of packaging, which soon become waste, even before product usage. Research can face the problem with
improvements in recycling and recovery processes. However, even if recycling and recovery would enable waste to have
still a value, most costs and benefits are determined at the design stage. Therefore, Design for Environment criteria must be
adopted in the design tasks, from the early conceptual design when the main design solutions are defined. The design
criteria to assess possible design choices must consider all the environmental impacts of packaging over its lifecycle. The
present work focuses on Redesign for Environment of packaging solutions. Following a systematic design process, we use
different criteria to evaluate the effects of design solutions on packaging, since waste can be seen just as one of the main
phases of packaging life. To this purpose, we adopt the stages of the waste hierarchy set by the EU Waste Framework
Directive 2008/98/EC as design evaluation criteria. The waste hierarchy sets a priority order for five life cycle stages that a
packaging can go through. The stages of the hierarchy can be differently weighted according to the costs and benefits they
involve. The proposed Design for Environment method based on the waste hierarchy criteria is finally applied in the
redesign of an industrial case study. The packaging solution as foldable wooden crates were chosen for their capability to
already comply with the first stages of the hierarchy, that is reducing waste with high customization to customer
requirements and crate reuse. Hence, the case study improved the next stages with easing the wood recycle and recovery
processe
Parametric virtual concepts in the early design of mechanical systems: a case study application
No full textVirtual prototyping enables the validation and optimization of mechanical devices similar to physical testing, saving time and costs in the product development, especially in case of heavy machines with complex motions. However, virtual prototyping is usually deployed only at the end of the design process, when the product architecture has already been developed. The present paper discusses the introduction of virtual prototypes since the conceptual design stage as “Virtual Concepts”, in which coarse models of machinery design variants are simulated obtaining useful information, sometimes fundamental to support best design choices. Virtual Concept modeling and preliminary validation, along with its later integration into a Virtual Prototype, are expressly investigated using Multi Body Dynamics software. A verification case study concerning a large vibrating screen is presented, in order to demonstrate that dynamic Virtual Concepts can enable an easier and effective evaluation of the design variants, thus increasing the design process predictability. Finally, current challenges to be solved for the practical adoption of Virtual Concept simulations as an integral part of the industrial design process are critically discussed
DESIGN ARCHETYPE OF TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES FOR KNOWLEDGE BASED ENGINEERING
No full textThe management of technical knowledge in engineering
design is a key target for nowadays industry. Accessibility to
knowledge by designers and standardization of models are still
open issues to be fixed with integrated solutions. The present
paper proposes a methodological support for keeping the value
of designers’ experience in the company with Knowledge Based
Engineering. A Design Archetype (DA) is developed to simply
store and reuse the knowledge during the execution of the design
tasks. The DA drives designers in selecting the most suitable
working principles to address the project requirements and in
dimensioning the subsystems, providing an embodiment CAD
model. The applicability of the proposed methodology in
industry is demonstrated for the design of clutches of agricultural
tractor transmissions
Interactive simulation-based-training tools for manufacturing systems operators: an industrial case study
Full text linkIndustrial process plants are increasingly becoming complex structures with high level of automation. Nonetheless, the final plant productivity and the overall equipment efficiency does not solely depend on an optimized engineering design/installation practice, but also on human operators supervision. In parallel, along with the classic demand to minimize costs and time-to-market during the design phases, issues concerning human safety and failure prevention play a crucial role, one of the highest target being the avoidance of dangerous process states. Within this context, Simulation-Based-Training (SBT) allows plant operators to learn how to command complex automated machineries within a secure virtual environment. Similar to its usage in medical, aerospace, naval and military fields, SBT for manufacturing systems can be employed in order to involve the user within a realistic scenario, thus providing an effective, lifelike, interactive training experience under the supervision of experienced personnel. In addition, also according to previous literature, industry-driven SBT may be effectively envisaged as a natural extension of the plant life-cycle simulation practice, comprising Design Simulation & Optimization, Virtual Commissioning, Operator Training, up to Plant Maintenance. In this context, since the overall system behavior depends both on manufacturing process dynamics and Control Logics, the main challenge for an effective SBT is related with the development of a real-time environment where control system responsiveness is fully reproduced. Owing to this consideration, this paper reports a successful industrial case study, concerning a novel SBT workbench used for steel plants operator training, discussing both the virtual prototyping phase and the development of a real-time simulation architecture. In particular, a hybrid process simulation is employed, where a virtual process model is coupled with physical PLC and Human–Machine Interface, thus achieving an accurate reproduction of the real plant/operator interaction
Graphical control interface for dextrous hands in industrial robotics
No full textIndustrial research in robotics is particularly focused in enhancing system flexibility andreconfigurability. Grippers and manipulation end effectors play a key role to achievesuch goals, evolving to complex mechatronic systems, whose capabilities appear as notyet fully exploited. Recent research studies investigate new generations of dextrous endeffectors, designed to emulate human hand architecture and behavior. Such systemsopen the way for innovative solutions in Industry but their use is still limited to researchlab or to service robotics. Despite that, dextrous hands seem to be mature enough to beused in industrial applications, usually more demanding in robustness and lifetimereliability within adverse environments. Thanks to the high number of degrees offreedom and to the advanced control electronics, dextrous hands could accomplishadvanced handling tasks as adaptive compliant assembly and could adopt intelligentbehaviors, sensitive to the operating scenario. To fully exploit the potentialities ofdexterous hands in Industry is necessary to develop specific interfaces to connect suchcomplex devices with anthropomorphic industrial robots. Dextrous hands programmingand control appear as key tasks in order to fully exploit their potentialities andperformances. The present work proposes a novel method, based on graphicalprogramming techniques, to create a clear and usable interface to introduce dextroushands in industrial robotics. The experimental results, obtained connecting a SDH-2(Schunk Dextrous Hand, Schunk GmbH & Co. KG) and a FANUC LR Mate 200iC robot, arefinally discussed
Efficient Simulation of Single Degree of Freedom Servomechanisms for Automatic Machines
No full textAn automatic manufacturing system design must be optimized with a simulation including all the interacting devices. The simulation should be controlled by the real control system with a hardware in the loop approach. So the techniques for modeling the mechanisms must be effective for the model to be run without violating the real-time protocol. This paper reports a method to model the motor load by means of a reduced moment of inertia, where all the part downstream from the motor output shaft is transformed in function of the only one mechanism degree of freedom. The resulting model behaves as the real nonlinear mechanism, but it is computationally efficient since it is not ruled by the multibody 3D CAD mathematics
Design for Additive Manufacturing of Lattice Structures for Functional Integration of Thermal Management and Shock Absorption
Full text linkDesign optimization through the integration of multiple functions into a single part is a highly effective strategy to reduce costs, simplify assembly, improve performance, and reduce weight. Additive manufacturing facilitates the production of complex structures by allowing parts consolidation, resulting in optimized designs, where multiple functions are integrated into a single component. This study presents a design for additive manufacturing method for integrating multiple lattice structures to achieve thermal management and shock absorption functions. The method follows modeling and simulation phases for dimensioning and optimizing solutions to deliver the design functions at different macro- and mesoscale levels. Hierarchical complexity was leveraged to design the two-levels structure in a single part, each delivering a specific function. Specifically, the external layer addresses energy absorption and thermal insulation, while the internal layer acts as a thermal battery by incorporating a phase change material. The design of a container carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle for the transport of healthcare and biological materials is presented. The container is shock-resistant and can maintain the content at 4 ± 2 °C for at least 1 h. As it operates passively without the need for additional energy-consuming devices, it is easy to operate and contributes to increased flight autonomy. A flight mission experiment for urgent transport of blood bags confirmed the capability of the container to preserve blood integrity. This case study demonstrates that the two-layer lattice structure design represents a highly efficient approach to multifunctional design optimization. © 2025 by the authors
Mechatronic design of adaptive manufacturing systems
No full textAdaptive manufacturing systems achieve intelligence and adaptation capabilities through the close interaction between mechanics, electronics, control and software engineering. Mechatronic design of intelligent manufacturing behaviours is of paramount importance for the final performances of complex systems and requires deep integration between mechanical and control engineering. Virtual Commissioning environments offer engineers new opportunities for the design of complex intelligent behaviours and for the enhancement of the performance of adaptive manufacturing systems. This paper discloses a systematic design method focused on interdisciplinary behavioural simulations: Virtual Commissioning tools are used to virtually explore new solution spaces for an effective mechatronic optimization. The results, achieved by applying the method in reengineering a module of an automotive sensor manufacturing line, are finally presented
- …
