Rhodia,
a French producer of polyamide, says it can improve materials' performance
predictions by 40 percent with a simulation technology called MMI that teams
enhanced property data with multi-scale modeling software.
The first major outcome of the approach is a pedal and
adjustable pedal module developed for the Citroen C5 by Trelleborg Automotive
Carbody, which is based in Sweden.
Weight of the pedal and module were cut 20 percent compared to metal without
compromising rigidity.
"Previously design (with engineering resins) had to be based
on an ‘ignorance coefficient' because previous mechanical experience was with
metals," François Belet, Rhodia's global product manager for polyamide
(nylon) said in an interview with Design News. "This safety factor resulted in an over dimensioning."
The simulation technology targets improved prediction of
nylon 6/6 using glass reinforcements at levels of 30 percent and higher. There
are three important aspects to Rhodia's MMI, according to Olivier Moulinjeune,
the company's CAE global coordinator:
Data
inputs. Rhodia has developed a database of strain rate curves for nylon
6/6 that provide more robust data than single point data for impact and
other tests offered by data services such as CAMPUS.
Advanced
calculation. Digimat-MF
software supplied by e-Xstram Engineering combines the data from Rhodia
with glass fiber orientation distribution determined by Moldflow software.
This non-linear, semi-analytical approach analyzes the relationship of the
matrix resin with the glass fiber after injection molding, providing a
prediction of part behavior without reverse engineering molded parts.
Mechanical
evaluation. The Digimat-MF software works in conjunction with mechanical
calculation software, such as ANSYS or LS-Dyna. The digital collaboration
identifies the microstructrue changes that arise from stress, important
because of the nonlinear behavior of plastic.
The biggest new development is the availability of strain
rate data for polyamide 6/6. That database will be available to users of
Digimat MF through a special license from Rhodia, says Belet. So far the data
only exists for polyamide 6/6, but could be extended later to polyamide 6 or
polyamide blends.
UK-based Plastic Logic and French company ISORG have created what the pair tout as a first in flexible printed electronics: a large area, conformable, organic image sensor printed on plastic.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
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