In the present work, virtual product development and applications in part manufacturing processes will be described. The main objective is to understand and emulate the behaviour and error effects of a particular manufacturing system on a computer environment.
Virtual manufacturing systems are applying computers and different types of software in manufacturing and production in order to simulate and model errors of a real environment in virtual reality systems. The objective of simulating manufacturing technologies in virtual reality systems is to design a completely digital factory. The part is modelled and produced in a computer simulation environment with predicted errors in order to achieve the best accuracy in the produced part by choosing optimized process parameters.
This paper will present an advanced virtual manufacturing system in order to increase quality as well as efficiency of part production. It will be argued that virtual simulation provides a strong tool for producing and analysing parts in digital environments in order to decrease cost and time of accurate production.
About the author: Mohsen Soori (Persian:محسن سوری; born on May 06, 1980 in Qom, Iran) is an Iranian researcher in Mechanical Engineering. His research works apply virtual environments to manufacturing processes and products in order to be analyzed and modified. Mohsen Soori was born in Qom, Iran. He educated in Iran and received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mechancial Engineering from Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University and Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) in 2007 and 2012 respectively. He is currently Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Cyprus. His research interests are Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Virtual Manufacturing and Applied Mathematics.
Abstract: Processes of part manufacturing are modeled by mathematical concepts and simulated in virtual environments to be analyzed and modified. Thus, optimization methods can be applied to the simulated manufacturing process in virtual environments in order to improve efficiency of part production. Also, errors of simulated manufacturing processes in virtual environments can be predicted and analyzed in order to increase accuracy of produced parts. Moreover, more added value in part production can be achieved by developing manufacturing processes in virtual environments. As a result, an advanced production system can be presented by applying digital environments to manufacturing processes.
Keywords: Virtual manufacturing, Production optimization, Efficiency of part production, Accuracy of produced part
1. Introduction
Virtual manufacturing systems are applying computers and different types of software in manufacturing and production in order to simulate and model errors of real environment in virtual reality systems. The objective of simulating manufacturing technologies in virtual reality systems is to design a completely digital factory. The part is modeled and produced in a computer simulation environment with predicted errors in order to achieve the best accuracy in the produced part by choosing optimized process parameters. Virtual simulation provides a strong tool for producing and analyzing parts in digital environments in order to decrease cost and time of accurate production. The main objective is to understand and emulate the behavior and error effects of a particular manufacturing system on a computer environment. As a result, a reduction of testing and experiments on the shop floor production can be achieved.
2. Virtual analysis and modification of manufacturing processes
To analyze and modify manufacturing process in virtual environments, mathematical modeling can be used. Effects and behavior of the system are simulated by mathematical concepts in order to be analyzed and modified. So, different parameters of the process can be analyzed in order to be optimized. Thus, efficiency of part production can be increased by applying optimization methods to the simulated manufacturing process in virtual environments.
Modification can also be presented to the simulated system in virtual environments by analyzing and decreasing errors of manufacturing process. Therefore, accuracy of produced parts can be increased in order to improve efficiency of part production.
Machine tools Elements as well as production processes can also be simulated, analyzed and modified by using virtual manufacturing systems. So, stress, strain as well as deformation of machine tool elements can be analyzed in order to increase accuracy of part production.
In the CAPP application, the most suitable methods of part production can be selected by applying process planning methodologies to the simulated manufacturing processes in the virtual environments.
In order to provide the error effects analysis in virtual environments, the parts can be analyzed using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Moreover, residual stresses in machining operations can be analyzed and decreased by using virtual machining systems to increase safety level in produced parts.
Modified version of machining strategies can be obtained by analyzing cutting tool paths in machining operations of free form surfaces using 5-axis CNC machine tools.
IT-related problems in different production processes can be developed to new technologies, processes and methods by using virtual manufacturing systems. As a result, knowledge as well as capabilities of different virtual manufacturing systems can be shared in the web to increase efficiency of part production.
Figure 1 shows procedure of virtual product development in part manufacturing processes (Author’s own work).
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Figure 1. Procedure of virtual product development in part manufacturing (Author’s own work).
3. Benefits
Some benefits and advantages of the research work are presented as:
1- More added value
2- Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP)
3- Increasing efficiency of part production
4- Increasing accuracy of produced parts
5- Increasing reliability of produced parts by error effect analysis using Finite Element Method (FEM)
6- Advanced geometry of cutting tools to decrease cutting forces as well as generated heat in machining operations
7- Virtual prediction of process capabilities
8- Virtual prediction of material behavior in actual working conditions
9- Virtual inspection systems
10- Dynamic manufacturing networks can be connected via web
11- Advanced manufacturing systems by designing for manufacturing and designing for assembly
12- Production planning for automated manufacturing processes
13- Production planning for expensive materials, new alloys, large workpieces, complex and free form surfaces
4. Applications of virtual simulation and analysis to part production
Figure 2 shows some applications of virtual simulation and analysis to part production process (Author’s own work).
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Figure 2. Application of virtual simulation and analysis to part production (Author’s own work).
Jet engine turbine blades can be analyzed and modified by using virtual product development. Application of virtual simulation and analysis to finite element analysis of jet engine turbine blades is described in the Figure 3 (Author’s own work).
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Figure 3. Application of virtual simulation and analysis to finite element analysis of jet engine turbine blades (Author’s own work).
Jet engine shaft can also be analyzed and modified by using finite element analysis in the virtual product development. It is presented in the Figure 4 (Author’s own work).
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Figure 4. Application of virtual simulation and analysis to finite element analysis of jet engine shaft (Author’s own work).
Metal temperature of jet engine turbine blades can also be predicted in order to be analyzed using virtual simulation. The process is described in the Figure 5 (Author’s own work).
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- Quote paper
- Mohsen Soori (Author), 2018, Virtual product development, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/454246