Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
- Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Additive Manufacturing
- Rapid Prototyping
About The Customer
HardMarque is a digital design and manufacturing studio based in Australia. The company is focused on creating 'Future Factories', additive-manufacturing facilities that concentrate on just-in-time production and delivery of custom, made-to-order parts ordered through the Internet. HardMarque believes that this type of innovation is crucial to the future of manufacturing in Australia, helping the country break into new markets by emerging from the constraints of traditional manufacturing. The company's director, Nicholas Hardman, is a long-time CAD user who has found great value in the use of solidThinking Inspire and Evolve for concept generation and design refinement.
The Challenge
HardMarque, a digital design and manufacturing studio, was faced with the challenge of reimagining the current piston design process. The goal was to manufacture a piston that was not only lighter than the current versions but also equally as strong. This was a significant challenge as it required a balance between weight reduction and strength maintenance, which is a critical factor in the performance and efficiency of automotive engines. The challenge also extended to the integration of the new design with additive manufacturing equipment, a process that required precision and compatibility with the chosen material, titanium.
The Solution
HardMarque incorporated a process that utilized both solidThinking Inspire and Evolve for concept development and design refinement. The design process began with an existing piston for benchmarking. The measurements of the piston were used to create an initial design space in Evolve. After the design space was created, the model was exported to Inspire for concept generation. Accurate loading conditions were applied to the piston design, considering forces from expanding combustion gas and lateral force from oil pressure against the cylinder wall. The ideal shape for the piston was generated based on these loading scenarios. The shape was then imported back into Evolve for interpretation into the final piston design, which was manufactured using titanium additive manufacturing.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
Case Study missing?
Start adding your own!
Register with your work email and create a new case study profile for your business.
Related Case Studies.
Case Study
Smart Water Filtration Systems
Before working with Ayla Networks, Ozner was already using cloud connectivity to identify and solve water-filtration system malfunctions as well as to monitor filter cartridges for replacements.But, in June 2015, Ozner executives talked with Ayla about how the company might further improve its water systems with IoT technology. They liked what they heard from Ayla, but the executives needed to be sure that Ayla’s Agile IoT Platform provided the security and reliability Ozner required.
Case Study
IoT enabled Fleet Management with MindSphere
In view of growing competition, Gämmerler had a strong need to remain competitive via process optimization, reliability and gentle handling of printed products, even at highest press speeds. In addition, a digitalization initiative also included developing a key differentiation via data-driven services offers.
Case Study
Predictive Maintenance for Industrial Chillers
For global leaders in the industrial chiller manufacturing, reliability of the entire production process is of the utmost importance. Chillers are refrigeration systems that produce ice water to provide cooling for a process or industrial application. One of those leaders sought a way to respond to asset performance issues, even before they occur. The intelligence to guarantee maximum reliability of cooling devices is embedded (pre-alarming). A pre-alarming phase means that the cooling device still works, but symptoms may appear, telling manufacturers that a failure is likely to occur in the near future. Chillers who are not internet connected at that moment, provide little insight in this pre-alarming phase.
Case Study
Premium Appliance Producer Innovates with Internet of Everything
Sub-Zero faced the largest product launch in the company’s history:It wanted to launch 60 new products as scheduled while simultaneously opening a new “greenfield” production facility, yet still adhering to stringent quality requirements and manage issues from new supply-chain partners. A the same time, it wanted to increase staff productivity time and collaboration while reducing travel and costs.
Case Study
Integration of PLC with IoT for Bosch Rexroth
The application arises from the need to monitor and anticipate the problems of one or more machines managed by a PLC. These problems, often resulting from the accumulation over time of small discrepancies, require, when they occur, ex post technical operations maintenance.
Case Study
Robot Saves Money and Time for US Custom Molding Company
Injection Technology (Itech) is a custom molder for a variety of clients that require precision plastic parts for such products as electric meter covers, dental appliance cases and spools. With 95 employees operating 23 molding machines in a 30,000 square foot plant, Itech wanted to reduce man hours and increase efficiency.