Smart Components™ example

The following example of a spring model highlights some of the main advantages of Enventive's Smart Components.

Complete, integrated model information

Enventive enables engineers to embed formulas computing functional properties in component models, as shown in the spring model below. Engineers can examine and modify graphical and mathematical views of their model simultaneously. Changes are automatically reflected throughout the model, in the sketch, equations, and parameters, so you never have to worry about keeping data in sync.

(Click to enlarge)

Integrated equations compute properties

The equations for computing the spring properties are an integral part of the spring. The equations shown below are contained in the Spring_mm subcomponent that is being used in the SpringBottoming_Assy assembly. We can drive the values of the parameters contained in the Spring_mm subcomponent from the assembly and vice versa. Notice that the equations contained in the Spring_mm subcomponent incude equations that set values for various parameters, such as the wire diameter, solidheight, number of turns, spring diameter, and so on.

Tolerance analysis identifies contributors

When the spring component is used in an assembly, tolerance analyses involving the spring will identify contributors from the spring equations, such as wire_diameter, as shown in the Contributor Info section of the tolerance analysis report below.

(Click to enlarge)

Matrix analysis identifies contributors common to all analyzed parameters

We can run tolerance analysis on multiple parameters in order to see a matrix of the contributors common to all the analyzed parameters. In the example shown below, we've analyzed a group of parameters, including SpringLength, stress, and solidheight. Note that the contributors shown in this report reflect the contribution to the set of parameters we analyzed, not just individual parameters.

(Click to enlarge)

Optimizing critical parameters reduces variation

Using Enventive's Excel Solver add-in, optimization may be run directly from the tolerance analysis report.

In the illustration below, the Solver has been set up to minimize variation (minimize sigma), by changing contributor values, including the wire_diameter, Freelength, Number_of_Turns and Spring_diameter. Boundaries (constraints) have been specified for these parameters to drive the Sigma value. We've also specified target values for the analyzed parameters: Spring_Length must equal 85.0; Stress must be less than or equal to 490.0, and solidheight must be less than or equal to 50.

(Click to enlarge)

As shown below, the optimization finds nominal values that meet the target performance goals while minimizing variation. Note that the Spring_Length, Stress, and solidheight parameters meet the specified target values, and variation has been reduced significantly, all without tightening tolerances.

(Click to enlarge)