Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F30/00—Computer-aided design [CAD]
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2111/00—Details relating to CAD techniques
  • G06F2111/04—Constraint-based CAD
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2119/00—Details relating to the type or aim of the analysis or the optimisation
  • G06F2119/18—Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P90/00—Enabling technologies with a potential contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
  • Y02P90/02—Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of three-dimensional graphical modeling methods, and more particularly to three-dimensional graphical modeling methods of an interface, either between two phases of the manufacturing process, or between a mechanical part and a manufacturing process phase.
• responsibility for the design of a mechanical part lies with a mechanical part designer, while responsibility for the design of a manufacturing process phase rests with a process design engineer. manufacturing.
• different designers intervene at the level of an interface.
• it is known to perform a three-dimensional graphical modeling of an interface between two mechanical parts and to display it at the level of a software resource.
• This prior art has the disadvantage of not allowing consideration of constraints related to the manufacturing process phases that apply to mechanical parts.
• the invention proposes in a first embodiment to display a three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interaction between a mechanical part and a manufacturing process phase and in a second embodiment to display a three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interaction between two phases of the process.
• method of manufacture in a manner similar to the display according to the prior art of a three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interface between two mechanical parts, by treating a manufacturing process phase as a mechanical part, that is, to say like an element of an interface.
• a modification proposal from a manufacturing process phase designer will allow convergence to a stabilized interface faster than in the past.
• a method for three-dimensional graphical modeling of an interface between several elements comprising at least: for at least two elements, a step of determining one or more parameters of the element relating to the interface; a step of displaying, at the level of a software resource, a three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interface using the determined parameters; characterized in that at least one of the elements is a manufacturing process phase of which at least one determined parameter used for the display step corresponds to a constraint imposed by the manufacturing process phase.
• the first case being one in which only the interactions between phases of the manufacturing process are taken into account
• the second being the case where the interactions between the mechanical part and the phase are taken into consideration. process, that eventually the interactions between manufacturing process phases and the interfaces between mechanical parts.
• the second case includes complex interactions that may involve one or more manufacturing process phases at one or more mechanical parts.
• at least two elements are manufacturing process phases for which at least one determined parameter used for the display step corresponds to a constraint imposed by the manufacturing process phase and no element whose specific parameter is used for the display step is a mechanical part.
• at least one of the elements is a mechanical part of which at least one determined parameter used for the display step is a geometrical datum relative to the part.
• all the parameters determined for a mechanical part and used for the display step are geometric data relating to the part.
• all the parameters determined for a manufacturing process phase and used for the display step are constraints imposed by the manufacturing process phase.
• the second case will be described, but the detailed teaching of the invention which follows may also be applied to the first case.
• the three-dimensional graphical modeling method comprises a step of sending, to a target software resource under the control of a user, an alert information relating to the modification, a process step to the interface level, performed at the level of another software resource under the control of another user, and the step of displaying, at the level of the target software resource, the three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interface may be incorporate the said amendment.
• a three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interface incorporating said modification is displayed, upon activation, at the level of the target software resource, of an alert graphic element representing the alert information.
• This fluidity of circulation of information between the members of the same design team allows, when one of the members envisages a modification of their manufacturing process phase at the level of the interface with at least one mechanical part, an automatic warning of the other interested members, allows for a predetermined project development time to significantly improve the robustness of the interface considered, avoiding or at least greatly reducing the risk, a delayed challenge of the various parameters of the interface, which can then result in significant additional costs.
• the possibility of visualizing in real time the state of an interface, and in particular the modification proposal (s) envisaged by one or more phase designers of manufacturing process at an interface and not yet accepted by all speakers in this interface allows interface animation, including an interface facilitator, which is more efficient and faster.
• this possibility is accompanied by the possibility of being able to exchange directly and in real time information relating to the interface, to the extent that any counter-proposal to the proposed modification will be reported in the same way to the designer who made the proposed change.
• the graphic warning element is any graphic element that will be able to symbolize for a user an alert signaling that a modification of a manufacturing process phase at the interface in question is requested by the designer of the process phase of manufacture to be modified.
• This graphic element can be an element added to the existing one or a modification of the existing one or a combination of both.
• the graphic warning element is an icon in addition to the existing information.
• the graphic element is a modification of the formatting of existing information.
• the display of the warning graphic element is representative of the modified manufacturing process phase. Indeed, it is interesting not only to be alerted to a modification proposal, but to be able to immediately visualize at the level of the situation of the graphic warning element, which phase of the interface manufacturing process is concerned. by the proposed amendment.
• the display of the graphic warning element is representative of the software resource at which the modification was made or of the user controlling said software resource. Indeed, in fairly large or complex projects, where more than one designer can work on a manufacturing process phase, it is also interesting to know which of the designers working on the relevant manufacturing process phase proposes the modification of the manufacturing process phase.
• the modeling process can provide that only certain modifications, deemed important enough to have an impact vis-à-vis other stakeholders at the interface level, will be published, that is, sent to the software resource. another user. However, to avoid drift, it is better to report any change in the manufacturing process phase at the interface, whatever the order. Thus, preferably, any modification of a manufacturing process phase at the interface leads to sending at least one alert information to a target software resource.
• At least one modification of the manufacturing process phase at the interface causes the sending of alert information to several target software resources.
• many stakeholders at the interface level may be interested in knowing as early as possible a proposal to modify a manufacturing process phase at the level of the project. interface. It is for example the designers of the other phases of the manufacturing process or the designers of the mechanical part or parts to which the manufacturing process phase or phases are applied, provided that all these phases of the manufacturing process and all these mechanical parts are involved. at the same interface. It will also be for example an interface facilitator to monitor and harmonize the evolution of an interface.
• the graphic warning elements corresponding to several interfaces can be displayed simultaneously.
• This feature is interesting especially for the interface facilitator, but it can also be interesting for a designer whose manufacturing process phase or whose mechanical part has several interfaces with the manufacturing process phase or the mechanical part of the process. another designer.
• a modification proposal will be signaled to other stakeholders only if it appears sufficiently mature and advanced at least to his own author.
• the alert information is sent as soon as the modification is validated by its author.
• one or more graphical elements references respectively corresponding to one or more stabilized versions of the interface associated with the graphic element of alert can be displayed simultaneously with the graphic element of alert, the activation of a reference graphic element displaying the three-dimensional graphical modeling of the corresponding stabilized version of the interface.
• the possible direct comparison between the most recent stabilized version and the modification proposal makes it easier to estimate the impact of said modification.
• This advantageous feature keeping the history of the evolution of an interface also allows a clearer view of the evolution of the interface and a return back easier if one has reached a dead end. It allows you to find the state of interfaces at any time at any stage of the design process.
• the three-dimensional graphical modeling is accompanied by a textual commentary.
• the textual commentary may have a role of precision and / or explanation, or even justification by conveying the reason for the proposed amendment.
• the display of a warning graphic element is accompanied by the display of a warning graphic element when the modification of the manufacturing process phase at the origin of the graphic warning element. transgress one or more programmable rules in the three-dimensional graphical modeling process. This immediately makes it possible to realize the more or less difficult and / or dangerous nature of the actual implementation of the proposed modification.
• the interface facilitator may quickly reject as inadmissible a modification proposal significantly violating an imperative rule, thus preventing another designer from wasting time on an adaptation test to a modification that has not no chance of being retained in the end.
• This crazy guard imposes the respect of a minimum of business rules at all stages of the design or at least signaling the drifts makes it possible to improve or at least to evaluate the robustness of the interface.
• These business rules advantageously programmable at the discretion of the user, can be for example design rules or rules of manufacture, or a mixture of both.
• the manufacturing process phase or phases are process phases for manufacturing mechanical parts of a motor vehicle.
• a vehicle project requires the processing of many interfaces.
• a tool such as the modeling method according to the invention is particularly beneficial and interesting in the automotive field.
• a graphic warning element is displayed at the level of a catpart or catproduct file of a software of the catia family.
• This software is advantageously catia v 5 or a later version.
• the method then comprises a step of sending, to a target software resource under the control of a user, an alert information relating to the modification, of a mechanical part at interface level, performed at the level of another software resource under the control of another user, and the step of displaying, at the level of the target software resource, the three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interface may be incorporate the said amendment.
• a three-dimensional graphical modeling of the interface incorporating said modification is displayed, on activation, at the level of the target software resource, of an alert graphic element representing the alert information.
• the display of the warning graphic element is representative of the modified mechanical part.
• the display of a graphic warning element is advantageously accompanied by the display of a warning graphic element when the mechanical part modification at the origin of the graphic warning element transgresses one or more rules. programmable in the three-dimensional graphical modeling method.
• FIG. 1 shows schematically an example of a view of a mechanical part of a designer mechanical part
• FIG. 2 diagrammatically represents an example of a view of a manufacturing process phase belonging to a manufacturing process phase designer
• FIGS. 3 to 5 show schematically an example of several evolutions of an interface between a mechanical part belonging to a mechanical part designer and a manufacturing process stage belonging to a manufacturing process phase designer;
• FIG. 6 diagrammatically represents an example of visualization of a warning graphic element in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the three-dimensional graphical modeling method according to the invention;
• FIG. 7 schematically represents an example of visualization of the display step of the three-dimensional graphical modeling method according to the invention.
• the interface at which are located, on the one hand a mechanical part and secondly a manufacturing process phase intended to apply to said mechanical part will include both information necessary for the design of the mechanical part itself and information necessary to comply with the constraints imposed by the manufacturing process of said mechanical part.
• the constraints imposed by the manufacturing process of a mechanical part can be of different types. Non-exhaustive examples are now listed. First of all, there are the business rules whose respect is necessary to guarantee the very feasibility of the mechanical part, they are consequently imperative rules. Then there are the business rules whose respect reduces the costs, whether in the investment tooling or the cost of the mechanical part.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents an example of a view of a mechanical part belonging to a mechanical part designer. This mechanical part can be broken down into three main parts, part 1, part 2 and part 3.
• FIG. 2 schematically represents an example of a view of a manufacturing process phase belonging to a manufacturing process phase designer.
• a punching phase is performed following a certain punching direction for reasons of feasibility and cost.
• Direction 4 is represented by a line.
• this direction 4 is desired as shown in Figure 2; for other reasons of feasibility and cost, it must also remain perpendicular to the plane of the part 2 of the mechanical part punching.
• FIGS. 3 to 5 show schematically an example of an evolution of an interface between a mechanical part belonging to a mechanical part designer and a manufacturing process stage belonging to a manufacturing process phase designer.
• FIG. 3 represents the interface between the mechanical part and the punching phase at the level of a stabilized version No. 1.
• Part 2 is split into two parts by the punching operation.
• Figure 4 represents a modification proposal.
• the designer of the punching phase wants an evolution of the punching direction he wants to see evolve from the direction 4 towards a direction 6.
• the designer of the mechanical part will be displayed, in three dimensions, when he activates a visible graphic element of warning on his screen. The graphic warning element is explained later in detail in FIG. 6.
• Figure 5 again shows a stabilized version of the interface, for example version # 2.
• FIG. 6 schematically represents an example of visualization of a warning graphic element according to the three-dimensional graphical modeling method according to the invention.
• a file 60 interfaces is manipulated by an interface facilitator who is responsible for a number of interfaces at a set of interaction zones between automotive mechanical parts and associated manufacturing process phases.
• the manufacturing process phases may relate for example stamping operations, forging, sheet metal, assembly.
• the interface facilitator can be an external participant to the consulting firms involved in the interfaces, or one of the designers working directly on the interfaces.
• the interface host software resource that houses and displays the file 60 is a target software resource.
• This type of file in a version generally containing fewer interfaces or even a single interface, can also be found on the software resource of a manufacturing process phase designer whose manufacturing process phase has one or more interfaces. with a mechanical part or with several mechanical parts. In the same way, this type of file can also be found on the software resource of the mechanical part designer.
• the file 60 is advantageously structured in the following manner when it is displayed.
• the interface includes two subdirectories, VS and P.
• the subdirectory VS includes stabilized versions of the interface, that is to say versions that at a given moment have been accepted by all members of the team intervening at this interface or have been imposed by the interface facilitator or more generally have been stabilized by a manager because all the objections had been overcome or all the modifications taken into account.
• two previous versions are shown, an older VN version and a newer VN + 1 version. This history of the stabilized versions of the interface makes it possible to follow the evolution of the interface over time.
• the subdirectory P includes possible modification proposals from different designers.
• the interface is an interface between a manufacturing process phase and a mechanical part to which said manufacturing process phase is intended to apply. Therefore, it is on the one hand the CPR1 designer of the manufacturing process phase and, on the other hand, the CPM designer of the mechanical part, who will be able to propose modifications, respectively to the manufacturing process phase and to the mechanical piece.
• the designer CPR1 proposed a modification which is indicated by the graphic warning element 61 which is here a triangular icon adding to the mention CPR1 while being displayed in the vicinity of the mention CPR1; it could be CPR1 itself even displayed in another color. No graphical element of alert is displayed at the level of the mention CPM, the designer CPM thus did not propose modification.
• the modification proposed by the designer CPR1 violates a programmable rule, here a manufacturing rule associated with the manufacturing process phase of the designer CPR1, which is automatically indicated by the display of a graphic element of warning 62, here in the form of a red light.
• a programmable rule here a manufacturing rule associated with the manufacturing process phase of the designer CPR1
• An activation of the warning graphic element 61 makes it possible to display, at the level of the software resource displaying the file 60, a three-dimensional modeling of the interface 11 which integrates the modification proposed by the designer CPR1 at the level of the associated manufacturing process phase.
• the animator of the interface 11 and / or the designer CPM of the associated mechanical part can immediately realize a visual account of the modification proposed by the designer CPR1 at the associated manufacturing process phase, which modification can of course cause a need for modification at the mechanical part of the designer CPM.
• An activation of the warning graphic element 62 makes it possible to display, at the level of the target software resource displaying the file 60, the programmable rule that would be violated by the proposed modification, or even information explaining why this modification constitutes a violation and / or what constitutes that breach.
• the interface i2 includes the same two subdirectories, VS and P.
• the VS subdirectory is identical to that of the interface it. Depending on the status of the design project, however, it may include fewer or more stabilized versions.
• the subdirectory P similarly, includes possible modification proposals from different designers.
• the i2 interface is an interface similar to the interface it. In FIG. 6, only the designer CPI2 of a mechanical part has proposed a modification which is indicated by the graphic warning element 61. No graphic warning element is displayed at the level of the mention CPR2, the designer CPR2 of the manufacturing process phase intended to apply at the level of the mechanical part has therefore not proposed modification.
• the modification proposed by the designer CPI2 does not violate any programmable rule, which would be for example here a rule of design of the mechanical part of the designer CPI2, that can be noticed by the absence of display of a graphic element of warning 62.
• An activation of the graphic warning element 61 allows the display, at the software resource displaying the file 60, of a three-dimensional modeling of the interface i2 which incorporates the modification proposed by the designer CPI2 of the mechanical part at said mechanical part.
• the facilitator of the interface i2 and / or the designer CPR2 of the manufacturing process phase intended to be applied to the mechanical part can immediately realize visually the modification proposed by the designer.
• alert information relating to said proposed modification is sent to the interfaces file.
• These information feeds are established at the beginning of the project and are retained, although it is not impossible to modify them during the project. This is because it was expected that a modification of the manufacturing process phase at the interface it from the designer CPR1 would generate the sending of an alert information to the file 60, an alert graphic element 61 is displayed in the subdirectory P of the interface 11 in the vicinity of the mention CPR1, at the level of the display of the file 60.
• FIG. 7 schematically represents an example of visualization of the display step of the three-dimensional graphical modeling method according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 represents the example of a three-dimensional graphical modeling of a vehicle door lining with lock reinforcement.
• Six support zones, numbered from 11 to 16, are represented with the following convention: for each of the support zones, the support point corresponds to a small square while the support direction is indicated by a dashed line connecting two little circles.
• each bearing zone 11 to 16 thus represents an interface characterized by a point and a line that must be respected by both the designer of the mechanical part, here the door liner, and the designer of the phase manufacturing method, here the application of an assembly means.

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• 2006
  • 2006-08-17 FR FR0653388A patent/FR2905018B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-07-27 US US12/377,742 patent/US20100234972A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-07-27 CN CN2007800305224A patent/CN101517577B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-07-27 JP JP2009524218A patent/JP2010501094A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-07-27 WO PCT/FR2007/051740 patent/WO2008020142A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2007-07-27 EP EP07823655A patent/EP2054827A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-07-27 BR BRPI0714471-7A patent/BRPI0714471A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation

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