Page 13 - MetalForming November 2019

be developed in a fraction of the time needed with conventional software tools.
Reusable Workflows
The design workflows within nTop Plat- form are reusable, Cho says. When effec- tively leveraged, the benefits show not only on the next project, but within the current one as well if design changes are required. This greatly reduces engineering efforts, while nTop Platform’s implicit modeling functionality allows teams to evaluate multiple design iterations quickly.
“For example, think about an injection mold,” Cho says. “In a traditional manu- facturing process, the tooling engineers rely on their experience to place cooling channels around the mold cavity; if they misjudge, workpiece quality might suffer, or the mold may become damaged. With nTop Platform, we can simulate the ther- mal effects of the molding process and then generate or augment conformal- cooling channels, thus optimizing heat transfer in regions near those hotspots. The result is an optimized design. We then can apply that same workflow to the next mold so the engineering team becomes just as efficient as the products they are designing.”
Cho is quick to point out that nTop Platform is not limited to tooling applica- tions. The software has been used to design and optimize 3D-printed rocket engines, drones, tennis shoes, brake pedals for Formula 1 racecars and a host of other products for the likes of Airbus, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force.
Other opportunities involve medical- device manufacturers, companies that wish to reduce the development efforts needed for bespoke hip implants, knee replacements, spinal components and more. “Each one of the parts within these product families is similar in size and shape but, for the best results, often is customized to fit the specific patient,” Cho adds. “In this instance, nTop Platform allows you to develop a single workflow that accommodates tens or even hundreds of product variants.”
In addition to the advantages the soft- ware brings to injection and casting mold
makers, Cho says to consider something as basic as a milling fixture for a workpiece with an organic or contoured shape, some- thing that’s increasingly common given the rise of 3D printing.” “Because nTop Platform allows engineers to work with these complex geometries, any tooling we design to grip them is going to be more conformal and effective,” he says.
“Better workholding means better cut- ting-tool life, shorter cycle times, and more predictable processes, never mind the fact that tooling engineers—even those with minimal experience—now can do more work in less time. The result is that even smaller shops can use nTop Platform to realize significant productivity gains.” nTopology: www.ntopology.com
Tech Update
Control Part Quality with Helm Tonnage Monitors
2 & 4 Channel Models Automatic High and Low
Alarms
Includes Bluetooth Technology
Ethernet Ready
PTM Series
RLG Series
Embedded PC with Touch Screen
Line Supervisor and Automatic Die Change
Application
Signature Display with History and SPC Reporting
Booth D45151
KEEPING YOUR PROCESS ON COURSE SINCE 1962
Helm Instrument Co., Inc.
361 West Dussel Drive • Maumee, OH 43537
Ph: 419-893-4356 • Fax: 419-893-1371
email: sales@helminstrument.com • www.helminstrument.com
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