Title: A virtual prototyping framework to facilitate fluid power systems realisation

Authors: S.C. Fok

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute, P.O. Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abstract: The cumbersome tasks of finding suitable commercial hydraulic components and determining the static and dynamic characteristics of the system resulting from the assembly of these parts can often slow down the realisation of fluid power systems. This paper presents the framework and an internet-enabled virtual prototyping workbench to facilitate the acceleration of these systems development. The workbench can assist the designer to search for appropriate components from different suppliers, retrieve electronic data of needed components from vendors, generate virtual components from the retrieved data, assemble the virtual components, and analyse the layout, cost, weight, dimensions, assemblability as well as dynamic performances of the resulting system. These facilities would allow designers to develop fluid power systems in less time using the latest and most suitable components available in the market.

Keywords: virtual prototyping; CAD; computer-aided design; fluid power systems; internet; hydraulic components; virtual components; system design; commercial components; component selection; component assembly.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIMS.2008.019628

International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.104 - 117

Published online: 17 Jul 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article