Title: Virtual and rapid prototyping for rapid die-casting development

Authors: J.C. Ferreira, P.J.S. Bartolo, N.M. Fernandes Alves, Jose Marques

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. ' School of Technology and Management, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Polymers and Composites, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal. ' School of Technology and Management, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Polymers and Composites, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract: An integrated virtual and rapid prototyping methodology is proposed for advanced die-casting manufacturing using a hot-chamber process. This methodology involves virtual prototyping, rapid prototyping, P-Q² analysis and a Numerical Control (NC) connected to transducers to control in real-time the die-casting manufacturing parameters. This approach optimises the die-casting manufacturing technology parameters reducing the lead-time of die-casting designs. A case study is presented to validate the proposed methodology.

Keywords: die casting; P-Q² analysis; rapid prototyping; virtual prototyping; transducers; numerical control; NC systems; optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2007.015715

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2007 Vol.30 No.3, pp.176 - 183

Published online: 10 Nov 2007 *

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