DEVELOPING AN INTELLIGENT DIGITAL MOCK UP TO INTEGRATE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DISCIPLINES

This paper presents an approach to develop an intelligent digital mock-up (DMU) through integration of design and manufacturing disciplines to enable a better understanding of assembly related issues during design evolution. The intelligent DMU will contain tolerance information related to manufacturing capabilities so it can be used as a source for assembly simulations of realistic models to support the manufacturing decision making process within the design domain related to tolerance build ups. A literature review of the contributing research areas is presented, from which identification of the need for an intelligent DMU has been developed. The proposed methodology including the applications of cellular modelling and potential features of the intelligent DMU are presented and explained. Finally a conclusion examines the work to date and the future work to achieve an intelligent DMU.

Proposal for the Conceptual Design of Aeronautical Final Assembly Lines Based on the Industrial Digital Mock-Up Concept

The design of a Final Assembly Line (FAL) is carry out in the product industrialization activity. The phase dealing with the definition of conceptual solutions is characterized by depending heavily on the personnel experience and being time-consuming. To enhance such process, it is proposed a development of a knowledge based software application to assist designers in the definition of scenarios and to generate conceptual FAL alternatives. Both the scenario and the generated FAL solution are part of the industrialization digital mock-up (IDMU). A commercial software application used in the aircraft programmes and supporting the IDMU concepts of: Product, Process and Resource; was selected to implement a software prototype. This communication presents the adopted methodological approach and the architecture of the developed application.

An Automated Design Framework for Assembly Task Simulation

This paper presents an automated design framework for the development of individual part forming tools for a composite stiffener. The framework uses parametrically developed design geometries for both the part and its layup tool. The framework has been developed with a functioning user interface where part / tool combinations are passed to a virtual environment for utility based assessment of their features and assemblability characteristics. The work demonstrates clear benefits in process design methods with conventional design timelines reduced from hours and days to minutes and seconds. The methods developed here were able to produce a digital mock up of a component with its associated layup tool in less than 3 minutes. The virtual environment presenting the design to the designer for interactive assembly planning was generated in 20 seconds. Challenges still exist in determining the level of reality required to provide an effective learning environment in the virtual world. Full representation of physical phenomena such as gravity, part clashes and the representation of standard build functions require further work to represent real physical phenomena more accurately.

Personal processes interface mock up

Situated on Youtube, and shown in various locations. In this video we show a 3D mock up of a personal house purchasing process. A path traversal metaphor is used to give a sense of progression along the process stages. The intention is to be able to use console devices like an Xbox to consume business processes. This is so businesses can expose their internal processes to consumers using sophisticated user interfaces. The demonstrator was developed using Microsoft XNA, with assistance from the Suncorp Bank and the Smart Services CRC. More information at: www.bpmve.org

Digital-Analog Quantum Simulation of Spin Systems in Trapped Ions

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Imaging properties of scanning equalization digital radiography: A simulation study

We have developed an empirically based simulation system to create images equivalent in SNR and SPR to those that would be acquired with various possible SEDR configurations. This system uses a collection of spot collimated full-field images (SCFFIs) of an anthropomorphic chest phantom, taken at high exposure levels and rescaled in noise and intensity, then digitally collimated and combined to produce the simulated SEDR images. This system allows for the study of design trade-offs between different equalization feedback schemes and scatter rejection geometries in addition to estimating the clinical benefits of SEDR over traditional imaging techniques. Data from this simulation system has demonstrated that SEDR techniques offer potential significant improvements over currently used digital radiography techniques for chest imaging. ^

Mock-ups in design : the implications of utlizing [sic] a mock-up review process in professional practice

The purpose of this research is to examine the use of a mock-up review process in interior design projects to better understand the implications of using such a process within the standard professional practice model. The research consisted of interviewing design professionals who utilize mock-ups as part of their standard of practice. These interviews were centered around two groups - those working in shipbuilding, where mock-ups have a long history, and those working in land-based projects, where mock-up use is rare. Analysis of the interviews indicated a positive relationship between mock-up use and collaboration, innovation, and problem solving. The interviews also brought to light concerns on behalf of all the professionals surveyed about the current practice model in land-based building design and construction projects within the United States. The positive relationships shown in the thesis support further research to explore how mock-ups can be best utilized in interior design.

Improving MTM-UAS to predetermine automotive maintenance times

The preventive knowledge of serviceability times is a critical factor for the quantification of after-sales services costs of a vehicle. Predetermined motion time system are frequently used to set labor rates in industry by quantifying the amount of time required to perform specific tasks. The first such system is known as Methods-time measurement (MTM). Several variants of MTM have been developed differing from each other on their level of focus. Among them MTM-UAS is suitable for processes that average around 1-3 min. However experimental tests carried out by the authors in Elasis (Research Center of FIAT Group) demonstrate that MTM-UAS is not the optimal approach to measure serviceability times. The reason is that it doesn't take into account ergonomic factors. In the present paper the authors propose to correct the MTM-UAS method including in the task analysis the study of human postures and efforts. The proposed approach allows to estimate with an "acceptable" error the time needed to perform maintenance tasks since the first phases of product design, by working on Digital Mock-up and human models in virtual environment. As a byproduct of that analysis, it is possible to obtain a list of maintenance times in order to preventively set after-sales service costs. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Defining Simulation Intent

Defining Simulation Intent involves capturing high level modelling and idealisation decisions in order to create an efficient and fit-for-purpose analysis. These decisions are recorded as attributes of the decomposed design space.

An approach to defining Simulation Intent is described utilising three known technologies: Cellular Modelling, the subdivision of space into volumes of simulation significance (structures, gas paths, internal and external airflows etc.); Equivalencing, maintaining a consistent and coherent description
of the equivalent representations of the spatial cells in different analysis models; and Virtual Topology, which offers tools for partitioning and de-partitioning the model without disturbing the manufacturing oriented design geometry. The end result is a convenient framework to which high level analysis attributes can be applied, and from which detailed analysis models can be generated
with a high degree of controllability, repeatability and automation. There are multiple novel aspects to the approach, including its reusability, robustness to changes in model topology and the inherent links created between analysis models at different levels of fidelity and physics.

By utilising Simulation Intent, CAD modelling for simulation can be fully exploited and simulation work-flows can be more readily automated, reducing many repetitive manual tasks (e.g. the definition of appropriate coupling between elements of different types and the application of boundary conditions). The approach has been implemented and tested with practical examples, and
significant benefits are demonstrated.

Implementation of the iDMU for an Aerostructure Industrialization in AIRBUS

AIRBUS Military has undertaken a project to implement the industrial Digital Mock-Up (iDMU) concept to support the industrialization process of a medium size aerostructure. Within the framework of a collaborative engineering strategy, such project is part of the efforts to deploy Digital Manufacturing as a key technology for the industrialization of aircrafts assembly lines. The project has confirmed the potential of the iDMU to improve the industrial design process in a collaborative engineering environment. This communication presents the main project objectives, the key methodological points, the main project achievements and the next additional developments to increase the scope and benefits of the iDMU concept.

Collaborative Engineering Paradigm Applied to the Aerospace Industry

Airbus designs and industrializes aircrafts using Concurrent Engineering techniques since decades. The introduction of new PLM methods, procedures and tools, and the need to reduce time-to-market, led Airbus Military to pursue new working methods. Traditional Engineering works sequentially. Concurrent Engineering basically overlaps tasks between teams. Collaborative Engineering promotes teamwork to develop product, processes and resources from the conceptual phase to the start of the serial production. The CALIPSO-neo pilot project was launched to support the industrialization process of a medium size aerostructure. The aim is to implement the industrial Digital Mock-Up (iDMU) concept and its exploitation to create shop floor documentation. In a framework of a collaborative engineering strategy, the project is part of the efforts to deploy Digital Manufacturing as a key technology for the industrialization of aircraft assembly lines. This paper presents the context, the conceptual approach and the methodology adopted.

Intelligent DMU creation: Nominal CAD model preparation for automated tolerance allocation

This paper examines the integration of a tolerance design process within the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) environment having identified the potential to create an intelligent Digital Mock-Up [1]. The tolerancing process is complex in nature and as such reliance on Computer-Aided Tolerancing (CAT) software and domain experts can create a disconnect between the design and manufacturing disciplines It is necessary to implement the tolerance design procedure at the earliest opportunity to integrate both disciplines and to reduce workload in tolerance analysis and allocation at critical stages in product development when production is imminent.
The work seeks to develop a methodology that will allow for a preliminary tolerance allocation procedure within CAD. An approach to tolerance allocation based on sensitivity analysis is implemented on a simple assembly to review its contribution to an intelligent DMU. The procedure is developed using Python scripting for CATIA V5, with analysis results aligning with those in literature. A review of its implementation and requirements is presented.