Using Simulation Based Process Modeling to Reduce New Product Development Time

Using Simulation Based Process Modeling to Reduce New Product Development Time Category: Process Simulation The use of simulation-based process modeling tools (ANSYS and DANTE) with the intent of reducing iterative physical component testing and process development work when designing new components was investigated. Several heat treatment processes were simulated to generate stress, microstructural, and distortion data which could then be compared against how physical components put through the same processes reacted (with respect to microstructure, hardness, quench cracking, and distortion). These comparisons were repeated over several trials with varying component geometries and heat treatment recipes. A good correlation between simulation and physical component response was found, and that iterative simulations could reliably be used in place of iterative physical component testing.