Product Data Netshape Forming Machine

A UES, Inc. research team will develop and commercialize a Product Data Driven Netshape Forming Machine. It will be designed using fast and flexible design practices, call Lean Principles, and will operate in a digital environment. The research will be done in collaboration with an Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) whose companies have a strong interest in net shape processing methods and equipment. The products will be a Product Data Netshape Forming Machine and a STEP/ISO compliant, Object-Oriented, feature-based CAD/CAM/CAE system required for the product development process. The Netshape forming machine will support a wide range of Netshape processes such as semi-solid metalforming, squeeze casting, pressure die casting, plastic injection molding, and permanent mold casting. The modeling system will be a feature-based adaptive modeling system to automate design, manufacturing planning, mold pattern generation, and simulation of custom net shape parts. The system key functionality will include a parametric feature-based design environment, a mixed dimensional solid/surface modeler supporting non-manifold topology, and a geometrical reasoning kernel for automating net shape planning. Additional integrated technologies will include an automated mesh generation coupled to a multi-physics FEA solver incorporating material characteristics for metal forming simulation.