Method and apparatus for designing a manufacturing process for sheet metal parts
US6353768B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2113/24
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An exemplary method of designing a manufacturing process comprises the steps of representing a workpiece as a plurality of triangular finite elements, representing the forming tools with mathematical equations which typically include cubic polynomials, simulating a deformation of the workpiece by the forming tools with a finite element model, wherein the finite element model is integrated with explicit integration. The method may be carried out with an apparatus which includes a memory device which stores a program including computer readable instructions, and a processor which executes the instructions. After the deformation of the workpiece has been simulated by the finite element model, the characteristics of the workpiece and forming tools can be modified to improve the final shape of the workpiece. After the finite element simulation produces an acceptable final workpiece shape, an actual workpiece can be formed with actual tools based on the simulation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.