Tolerance management: Digital twin reduces product lifecycle costs

CENIT named DCS Master Reseller

Published 03/15/2017

US software vendor Dimensional Control Systems, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, has selected CENIT to act as its master reseller for its 3DCS tolerance analysis software in central and northern Europe. CENIT, a long-standing DCS partner, will be responsible for marketing the product in Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, several eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia), and Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland).

Tolerance management: Digital twin reduces product lifecycle costs

3DCS and its add-ons – such as Mechanical Modeler and FEA Compliant Modeler – enable the analysis and simulation of virtual prototypes, also known as digital twins.

The software provides answers to key efficiency questions throughout the lifecycle, from the initial product idea to after-sales services. For example: what impact do component and manufacturing variations have on product quality? Which tolerances and processes are the most critical? How can companies optimize tolerance strategies, and production and assembly processes? With 3DCS, a product’s function and proposed method of manufacture can be validated before making the first physical prototype.

As a result, the software generates a rapid return on investment. Comprehensive tolerance management significantly reduces product lifecycle costs, ensuring fast payback. According to some estimates, savings can exceed expenditure on 3DCS by a factor of ten.

A major benefit of effective tolerance management is accelerated time-to-market. Armin Schöne, responsible for simulation, tolerance and structural analysis at CENIT, stresses its role in competitiveness: “Virtual prototypes are exactly what we need for agile, integrated development. Enterprises need to plan faster and more reliably.” Efficient internal collaboration is essential, Schöne emphasizes but: “An external perspective is often helpful in building bridges between all of the organizational units involved. In this regard, we bring extensive project, technology, and industry experience to the table.”

Schöne states that current users of the software include automotive OEMs and component suppliers, general and plant engineering companies, and brand manufacturers of white goods. CENIT has more than 100 customers in these areas.

3DCS has been licensed by CENIT’s partner, DASSAULT SYSTÈMES , and fully incorporated into CATIA V5 and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It can also be integrated into Siemens NX and PTC Creo. In addition, 3DCS is available as a multi-CAD (stand-alone) solution.

More information on tolerance management software and services from CENIT is provided here.

 

The 3DCS tolerance analysis software can be used to validate the function and the proposed manufacturing process for mechanical products, such as suspension systems. Examples include analysis of the manufacturing process for welded structures, and functional validation of complete products.

Customers can employ 3DCS for functional validation of highly complex mechanical assemblies, such as gear mechanisms with intermeshing tooth flanks.

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