Altair Case Studies Mabe’s Continual Performance Improvement of Washing Machines with a Multi-Disciplinary Approach

	Mabe’s Continual Performance Improvement of Washing Machines with a Multi-Disciplinary Approach Altair

Mabe’s Continual Performance Improvement of Washing Machines with a Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Altair

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation Sensors - Infrared Sensors
Applicable Industries	Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions	Procurement
Use Cases	Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing Virtual Reality
Services	System Integration Testing & Certification
Challenge	Mabe, a Mexico-based international appliance company, was faced with the challenge of improving the performance of their washing machines by simulating subsystem interactions. The company aimed to increase the capacity and spin speed of their washing machines while reducing the cost per cubic foot. They also sought to improve the energy and water factors of their machines and reduce the product development cycle time. Mabe had been using Altair technology since 2006 for structural analysis and impact and drop-testing simulations. However, they saw an opportunity for increased value from Altair’s multi-disciplinary approach and aimed to leverage the benefits derived from simulations of ever-increasing fidelity and scope. Read More
About Customer	Mabe is a Mexico-based international appliance company that was founded in 1946. The company designs, produces, and distributes a wide spectrum of home appliances such as washing machines, dryers, cooking ranges, refrigerators, air-conditioners, microwaves, etc. Mabe has been using Altair technology since 2006 to develop better products, faster. The company has been able to increase the capacity of their washing machines by 35%, and the spin speed by 24% while reducing the cost per cubic foot by 10%. They have also improved the energy factor by 24%, and the water factor by 52%, while reducing the product development cycle time by 25%. Read More
Solution	To meet the rising demands and evolving engineering requirements of vertical axis machines, Mabe began using Altair MotionSolve to simulate the motion dynamics of the washer drum, including the balance ring and the suspension system. An idealized motor model was used to define the various spin speeds of the washing machine during agitation and spin cycles. Mabe then removed this motor idealization and began using Altair Activate for detailed one-dimensional (1D) motor control modeling based on a block diagram approach and as an integration platform for multi-disciplinary system-level simulation through coupling to Altair MotionSolve. Mabe also started to model the motion dynamics related to springs in the suspension system. The company used modern system simulation technology like Altair Activate to simulate the washing machine basket spinning at idealized speeds regardless of the load weight, torque and power required from the motor. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation

Sensors - Infrared Sensors

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery

Applicable Functions

Procurement

Use Cases

Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing

Virtual Reality

Services

System Integration

Testing & Certification

Challenge

Mabe, a Mexico-based international appliance company, was faced with the challenge of improving the performance of their washing machines by simulating subsystem interactions. The company aimed to increase the capacity and spin speed of their washing machines while reducing the cost per cubic foot. They also sought to improve the energy and water factors of their machines and reduce the product development cycle time. Mabe had been using Altair technology since 2006 for structural analysis and impact and drop-testing simulations. However, they saw an opportunity for increased value from Altair’s multi-disciplinary approach and aimed to leverage the benefits derived from simulations of ever-increasing fidelity and scope.

About Customer

Mabe is a Mexico-based international appliance company that was founded in 1946. The company designs, produces, and distributes a wide spectrum of home appliances such as washing machines, dryers, cooking ranges, refrigerators, air-conditioners, microwaves, etc. Mabe has been using Altair technology since 2006 to develop better products, faster. The company has been able to increase the capacity of their washing machines by 35%, and the spin speed by 24% while reducing the cost per cubic foot by 10%. They have also improved the energy factor by 24%, and the water factor by 52%, while reducing the product development cycle time by 25%.

Solution

To meet the rising demands and evolving engineering requirements of vertical axis machines, Mabe began using Altair MotionSolve to simulate the motion dynamics of the washer drum, including the balance ring and the suspension system. An idealized motor model was used to define the various spin speeds of the washing machine during agitation and spin cycles. Mabe then removed this motor idealization and began using Altair Activate for detailed one-dimensional (1D) motor control modeling based on a block diagram approach and as an integration platform for multi-disciplinary system-level simulation through coupling to Altair MotionSolve. Mabe also started to model the motion dynamics related to springs in the suspension system. The company used modern system simulation technology like Altair Activate to simulate the washing machine basket spinning at idealized speeds regardless of the load weight, torque and power required from the motor.

Impact #1	The use of Altair technology has significantly improved Mabe's ability to compete against other appliance manufacturers. The company has been able to achieve often-competing goals of improved performance, reduced cost, and accelerated time-to-market with new designs. The use of Altair MotionSolve and Altair Activate has allowed Mabe to simulate the motion dynamics of the washer drum, including the balance ring and the suspension system, and to model the motion dynamics related to springs in the suspension system. This has resulted in more realistic, rather than idealized interactions between the motor and washing machine. Looking to the future, Mabe engineers have also started to use Altair Flux for more detailed motor thermal analyses to minimize risk of overheating during complete wash cycles, and to better understand the low-frequency electromagnetics.

Impact #1

The use of Altair technology has significantly improved Mabe's ability to compete against other appliance manufacturers. The company has been able to achieve often-competing goals of improved performance, reduced cost, and accelerated time-to-market with new designs. The use of Altair MotionSolve and Altair Activate has allowed Mabe to simulate the motion dynamics of the washer drum, including the balance ring and the suspension system, and to model the motion dynamics related to springs in the suspension system. This has resulted in more realistic, rather than idealized interactions between the motor and washing machine. Looking to the future, Mabe engineers have also started to use Altair Flux for more detailed motor thermal analyses to minimize risk of overheating during complete wash cycles, and to better understand the low-frequency electromagnetics.

Benefit #1	Energy factor improved 24%
Benefit #2	PD cycle time reduced 25%
Benefit #3	Market leadership in Latin America

Benefit #1

Energy factor improved 24%

Benefit #2

PD cycle time reduced 25%

Benefit #3

Market leadership in Latin America

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Overview

Mabe’s Continual Performance Improvement of Washing Machines with a Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit