3D Engineering Workstation and Connected Engineering
Abstract
The purpose of this Phase I research project was to determine the feasibility for developing a 3D Engineering Workstation for designing custom precision forgings. An industrial advisory board was formed to guide the research, and it consisted of members from USCAR corporations, national laboratories and the parts supplier industry. Rules were developed for designing a graphical user interface (GUI) for non analyst designers, and emphasis was placed on linking discreet simulations of different processes, e.g., forging, quenching and heat treatments, which are needed for producing a finished part. Gleeble testing was done, and the results show that thermal gradients can have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of aluminum alloy 7050. The inverse FEM was evaluated for determining surface heat transfer coefficients, and the feasibility for using thermal probes with important geometrical features of the part was shown to be a viable way for handling complex 3D geometries. The results of this work can be used to develop a design system for making custom netshape forgings more affordable for the DoD. The precision forging of netshape aerospace and automotive parts is of prime interest, because netshape forgings save energy, materials and reduce overall part cost.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA346109
Entities
People
- Harold L. Gegel
Organizations
- Universal Energy Systems