Digital mock-up-modelling methodologies and tools for product conception and downstream processes

Objective

Objectives and content

Current industrial practice in automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing industries involves the creation of physical product models (physical mock-ups) as a hip to designers, manufacturing planners, etc. The objective of the(se) project(s) is to depart from this practice and develop the technology that allows designers, manufacturing planners and even the management to work on Virtual Products /Digital Mock-Ups (DMU). They can make decisions related to the concept, design and all downstream processes. This technology will allow companies to work in a concurrent engineering environment independent of their size and product configuration. To achieve this goal a cluster of projects including modelling methodologies, simulation, visualisation, etc. (see figure below) is proposed.

Within this cluster of projects the objectives of the Digital Mock-Up Modelling Methodologies and Tools (DMU-MM) project is to develop methodologies and tools which allows the designer to model, evaluate, and geometrically represent the product design from initial concept stage through to downstream processes within the software (without having to build expensive physical mock-ups) and to have only one final verification in hardware.
Furthermore, to introduce these methodologies and tools in an innovative use within the business process enabling the designer to geometrically design and model assembly parts and subassemblies covering the total product cycle-design, prototyping, production, maintenance and recycling.
The-benefits of this technology will include: Potential reduction in design lead times of between 20-30%.
The DMU-MM will be available much earlier in the design process, offering different views and alternative designs and will model many more aspects of the final product's behaviour. The result will be a major increase in the efficiency of the design process, increased opportunities for concurrent engineering, improved interface with downstream processes and the availability of much better design and management information.

This, in turn will have an important impact on product design costs and turn-round time, thus reducing time to market and development costs. It is expected that the DMU-MM technology will benefit not only automotive and aerospace industry but other industrial manufacturing sectors such as domestic appliances, machine building industry, ship building, process industries, etc. The composition of this consortium includes end users, technology vendors and universities and guarantees the successful performance and results of this project.

Programme(s)

• FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0202 - New methodologies for product design and manufacture

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (9)