23,046 research outputs found
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Hybrid Prototypes to Assist Modeling Automotive Seats
The development of new modular seats is an important issue in the automotive industry.
However, is very time consuming and costly. Virtual models and hybrid prototypes could
accelerate the car seats development process. The hybrid prototypes are mainly manufactured by
rapid prototyping with multi materials. The objective of this paper is to establish a methodology
to develop innovative lightweight multi-functional, modular car seats to be used in Multi-Purpose
Vehicles (MPV), by means of FEA simulation and rapid prototyping additive/subtractive
technologies utilizing multi materials. A case study is presented to validate the developed
methodology. The manufactured hybrid prototype’s reproduces the main functionalities of the
MPV modular seat, namely its three key positions: normal, stored and table.Mechanical Engineerin
Low-fi skin vision: A case study in rapid prototyping a sensory substitution system
We describe the design process we have used to develop a minimal, twenty vibration motor Tactile Vision Sensory Substitution (TVSS) system which enables blind-folded subjects to successfully track and bat a rolling ball and thereby experience 'skin vision'. We have employed a low-fi rapid prototyping approach to build this system and argue that this methodology is particularly effective for building embedded interactive systems. We support this argument in two ways. First, by drawing on theoretical insights from robotics, a discipline that also has to deal with the challenge of building complex embedded systems that interact with their environments; second, by using the development of our TVSS as a case study: describing the series of prototypes that led to our successful design and highlighting what we learnt at each stage
Initial thoughts on rapid prototyping techniques
This paper sets some context, raises issues, and provides our initial thinking on the characteristics of effective rapid prototyping techniques.After discussing the role rapid prototyping techniques can play in the software lifecycle, the paper looks at possible technical approaches including: heavily parameterized models, reusable software, rapid prototyping languages, prefabrication techniques for system generation, and reconfigurable test harnesses.The paper concludes that a multi-faceted approach to rapid prototyping techniques is needed if we are to address a broad range of applications successfully -- no single technical approach suffices for all potentially desirable applications
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A Process Planning Method and Data Format for Achieving Tolerances in Stereolithography
When building parts in a stereolithography apparatus (SLA), the user is faced with many decis!ons
regarding the setting of process variables. To 'achieve a set of tolera~ces as closely as pOSSIble,
relationships between part geometry, tolerances, and process v~nables ~ust be understood
quantitatively. This paper presents a method for SLA process plannIng that IS based on response
surface methodology and multi-objective optimization, where the response surfaces capture these
relationships. These response surfaces were generated by extensive design-of-experiment studies
for a variety of geometries. An annotated STL data format is also presented that enables the
inclusion of tolerance and surface information in fatetted representations. Application of the data
format and process planning method is illustrated on one part.Mechanical Engineerin
The potential of additive manufacturing in the smart factory industrial 4.0: A review
Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D) printing has introduced a novel production method in design, manufacturing, and distribution to end-users. This technology has provided great freedom in design for creating complex components, highly customizable products, and efficient waste minimization. The last industrial revolution, namely industry 4.0, employs the integration of smart manufacturing systems and developed information technologies. Accordingly, AM plays a principal role in industry 4.0 thanks to numerous benefits, such as time and material saving, rapid prototyping, high efficiency, and decentralized production methods. This review paper is to organize a comprehensive study on AM technology and present the latest achievements and industrial applications. Besides that, this paper investigates the sustainability dimensions of the AM process and the added values in economic, social, and environment sections. Finally, the paper concludes by pointing out the future trend of AM in technology, applications, and materials aspects that have the potential to come up with new ideas for the future of AM explorations
Haptic Hybrid Prototyping (HHP): An AR Application for Texture Evaluation with Semantic Content in Product Design
The manufacture of prototypes is costly in economic and temporal terms and in order to carry this out it is necessary to accept certain deviations with respect to the final finishes. This article proposes haptic hybrid prototyping, a haptic-visual product prototyping method created to help product design teams evaluate and select semantic information conveyed between product and user through texturing and ribs of a product in early stages of conceptualization. For the evaluation of this tool, an experiment was realized in which the haptic experience was compared during the interaction with final products and through the HHP. As a result, it was observed that the answers of the interviewees coincided in both situations in 81% of the cases. It was concluded that the HHP enables us to know the semantic information transmitted through haptic-visual means between product and user as well as being able to quantify the clarity with which this information is transmitted. Therefore, this new tool makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing lead time of prototypes as well as the conceptualization phase of the product, providing information on the future success of the product in the market and its economic return
Virtual bloXing - assembly rapid prototyping for near net shapes
Virtual reality (VR) provides another dimension to many engineering applications. Its immersive and interactive nature allows an intuitive approach to study both cognitive activities and performance evaluation. Market competitiveness means having products meet form, fit and function quickly. Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (RP&M) technologies are increasingly being applied to produce functional prototypes and the direct manufacturing of small components. Despite its flexibility, these systems have common drawbacks such as slow build rates, a limited number of build axes (typically one) and the need for post processing. This paper presents a Virtual Assembly Rapid Prototyping (VARP) project which involves evaluating cognitive activities in assembly tasks based on the adoption of immersive virtual reality along with a novel nonlayered rapid prototyping for near net shape (NNS) manufacturing of components. It is envisaged that this integrated project will facilitate a better understanding of design for manufacture and assembly by utilising equivalent scale digital and physical prototyping in one rapid prototyping system. The state of the art of the VARP project is also presented in this paper
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Process Planning Based on User Preferences
Typical approaches to adaptive slicing in previous literature have typically used surface finish
requirements to control the slicing process. As a result, slice schemes improve the part's surface
quality, but do not enable explicit trade-offs between finish and build time. The purpose of this
article is to present a process planning method that enables the preferences of the user for surface
finish, build time, and accuracy to control how trade-offs are made in a process plan. A multiobjective goal formulation is used by this method to evaluate how well user preferences are met by
a process plan. This method consists of three modules, for determining part orientation, for slicing
the part, and for determining other parameter values. An example with several scenarios
representing different user preferences is provided to illustrate the process planning method.Mechanical Engineerin
Virtual assembly rapid prototyping of near net shapes
Virtual reality (VR) provides another dimension to many engineering applications. Its immersive and interactive nature allows an intuitive approach to study both cognitive activities and performance evaluation. Market competitiveness means having products meet form, fit and function quickly. Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (RP&M) technologies are increasingly being applied to produce functional prototypes and the direct manufacturing of small components. Despite its flexibility, these systems have common drawbacks such as slow build rates, a limited number of build axes (typically one) and the need for post processing. This paper presents a Virtual Assembly Rapid Prototyping (VARP) project which involves evaluating cognitive activities in assembly tasks based on the adoption of immersive virtual reality along with a novel non-layered rapid prototyping for near net shape (NNS) manufacturing of components. It is envisaged that this integrated project will facilitate a better understanding of design for manufacture and assembly by utilising equivalent scale digital and physical prototyping in one rapid prototyping system. The state of the art of the VARP project is also presented in this paper
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