Altair Case Studies Standardization of Model Building Process with Meshing and Weld Creation Automation at F.tech R&D North America

	Standardization of Model Building Process with Meshing and Weld Creation Automation at F.tech R&D North America Altair

Standardization of Model Building Process with Meshing and Weld Creation Automation at F.tech R&D North America

Altair

Technology Category	Robots - Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGV)
Applicable Industries	Automotive Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Leasing Finance Automation Material Handling Automation
Services	Testing & Certification
Challenge	F.tech R&D North America, a Tier-1 automotive systems supplier, was facing challenges in standardizing their model building process with meshing and different types of weld creation automation. The complexities in vehicle design and development, including the cost of prototypes, compliance with safety standards, and emissions, posed many challenges for the engineers. The Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) team at F.tech R&D North America was struggling with tedious tasks related to model build and geometry preparation for weld creation. The need for a solution that could streamline these processes, eliminate human errors, increase the accuracy of analysis data, and save valuable development time was evident. Read More
About Customer	F.tech R&D North America, headquartered in Japan with international locations, is a Tier-1 automotive systems supplier. The company provides a variety of automotive components such as subframes, suspension control arms, and pedals to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). F.tech R&D North America based in Troy, OH, has full in-house research and development capabilities for Design, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), prototyping and testing. This team embraces virtual design validation, making extensive use of simulation tools, including Altair’s HyperWorks™ software suite. Read More
Solution	Altair developed a customized solution for F.tech R&D North America, known as F.tech–PAS (F.tech -Pre-processing Automation Solution). This solution was developed using Altair’s Model Mesher Director (MMD) PSO (Packaged Solution Offering). The F.tech-PAS is a streamlined toolset which aids F.tech engineers in CAE meshing and assembly from CAD to solver deck. It includes key features such as launching the tool from Altair HyperMesh™, capturing best model building practices, and automating the different steps in the meshing and welding processes. Once the model file is imported, it is simplified by geometry clean-up and meshing, creating welds and washers. The engineers are now able to efficiently simplify and de-feature the geometry, accelerate the meshing and weld creation process, and automatically assign materials & properties. After the model is complete it is ready for analysis with Altair OptiStruct™ or an alternate solver. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Robots - Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGV)

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Equipment & Machinery

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Leasing Finance Automation

Material Handling Automation

Services

Testing & Certification

Challenge

F.tech R&D North America, a Tier-1 automotive systems supplier, was facing challenges in standardizing their model building process with meshing and different types of weld creation automation. The complexities in vehicle design and development, including the cost of prototypes, compliance with safety standards, and emissions, posed many challenges for the engineers. The Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) team at F.tech R&D North America was struggling with tedious tasks related to model build and geometry preparation for weld creation. The need for a solution that could streamline these processes, eliminate human errors, increase the accuracy of analysis data, and save valuable development time was evident.

About Customer

F.tech R&D North America, headquartered in Japan with international locations, is a Tier-1 automotive systems supplier. The company provides a variety of automotive components such as subframes, suspension control arms, and pedals to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). F.tech R&D North America based in Troy, OH, has full in-house research and development capabilities for Design, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), prototyping and testing. This team embraces virtual design validation, making extensive use of simulation tools, including Altair’s HyperWorks™ software suite.

Solution

Altair developed a customized solution for F.tech R&D North America, known as F.tech–PAS (F.tech -Pre-processing Automation Solution). This solution was developed using Altair’s Model Mesher Director (MMD) PSO (Packaged Solution Offering). The F.tech-PAS is a streamlined toolset which aids F.tech engineers in CAE meshing and assembly from CAD to solver deck. It includes key features such as launching the tool from Altair HyperMesh™, capturing best model building practices, and automating the different steps in the meshing and welding processes. Once the model file is imported, it is simplified by geometry clean-up and meshing, creating welds and washers. The engineers are now able to efficiently simplify and de-feature the geometry, accelerate the meshing and weld creation process, and automatically assign materials & properties. After the model is complete it is ready for analysis with Altair OptiStruct™ or an alternate solver.

Impact #1	The implementation of the F.tech-PAS solution has greatly assisted F.tech engineers in streamlining the model-build process. Auto-splitting the surfaces, as a part of the geometry cleanup task, is very important for automatic weld creation and a significant contributor to the overall efficiency improvement. The F.tech-PAS tool has allowed automation and standardization of model pre-processing at F.tech, which eliminates likelihood of human errors, increases the accuracy of analysis data, while saving valuable development time. The flexibility afforded by the customized solution allows application to all vehicle components engineered by F.tech R&D North America.

Impact #1

The implementation of the F.tech-PAS solution has greatly assisted F.tech engineers in streamlining the model-build process. Auto-splitting the surfaces, as a part of the geometry cleanup task, is very important for automatic weld creation and a significant contributor to the overall efficiency improvement. The F.tech-PAS tool has allowed automation and standardization of model pre-processing at F.tech, which eliminates likelihood of human errors, increases the accuracy of analysis data, while saving valuable development time. The flexibility afforded by the customized solution allows application to all vehicle components engineered by F.tech R&D North America.

Benefit #1	Reduction by 20-25% in pre-processing time in the model-build process

Benefit #1

Reduction by 20-25% in pre-processing time in the model-build process

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Overview

Standardization of Model Building Process with Meshing and Weld Creation Automation at F.tech R&D North America

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit