MECAmaster Assembly

Description :  

MECAmaster Assembly software is a Design oriented tool, for 3D tolerances analysis (and in a lesser way for 3D Loads Analysis) for loads calculation on connections (can be used as input for FEA, … ) and Mobility/Hyperstatism analysis) and the calculation of 3D tolerance Stack-up integrated to the DMU. Aerospace and Automotive markets and related suppliers / sub-contractors are today the main users of this tool, but it is applied in many other engineering fields (rail, naval, energy, high tech, household appliances, …).

 

MECAmaster main purpose is to optimize the assembly (Product and Process) to fit the required geometrical targets (or key characteristics) at lower cost by a calculation completely integrated to DMU. There are two main solutions to reduce cost and ensure a good geometrical behaviour :

- optimize the assembly architecture and assembly process to reduce sensitivities

- optimize the tolerancing of parts

 

Thanks to an innovative way of modelling using interfaces and not directly surfaces and to a very high speed of calculation and modelization, MECAmaster can be used from very early design phases (even when parts are not defined yet, on a simple scheme or volume allocation, … ) to optimize assembly architecture. This step is the most important step in cost savings possibility in the geometrical process ! Then, thanks to a strong integration of MECAmaster in CATIA V5 (associativity to DMU, compatibility with the kinematics, … ) and a connection to FTA module, the associative model will be used to optimize parts and assemblies final tolerancing with worst cases and statistical simulations.

Customer benefits :   Using MECAmaster all along the product development will help the customer to :
- integrate to the design process (from the concept study phase to manufacturing phase) the respect of geometrical key characteristics. “think quality” from preliminary design
- Save physical adjustments with a mastered design
- Reduce the number of prototypes with a 3D numerical simulation
- Save on non necessary expensive processes (“just necessary” design)
- Save on non necessary expensive tolerances (“just necessary” design)
- Reduce significantly tolerances study, analysis and updates times thanks to associativity (automatical updates, compatibility with kinematics, … )
- …

Most of the cost savings of our customers are made thanks to a good reflection on assembly architecture design. A mastered and “well thought” basis helps on next steps to save significantly on processes, tolerances, …

Available since :     MECAmaster Assembly for CATIA V5 software Version 7.1

DS prerequisite products :   For the last version (7.1) of MECAmaster :
- CATIA V5 for windows R16, R17, R18, R19. MD2
- FTA module recommended but not strictly necessary (to link calculation to FTA annotations)
- Microsoft VISIO recommended but not strictly necessary (to display several graphical exploitations).

Product languages :   MECAmaster Assembly for CATIA V5 is provided in English language.
Main functions and results pages can be displayed as well in French.

Does the customer want to improve Cost/Quality/Time on its project ?

 

Does the customer have regular geometrical quality problems creating adjustments, late modifications, retouching, … ?

MECAmaster main purpose is to be able to anticipate major geometrical quality problems before they appear and to adjust the design at the right time !

 

Does the customer generally do its chain of dimensions outside of CATIA ?

 MECAmaster is completely integrated and associative to the DMU. The tolerancing calculation model is then always up to date, and the calculations are much more accurate since they are completely 3D.

 

Does the customer want to justify the need in expensive processes and tolerances on its product ?

Thanks to a very powerful and quick calculation (from seconds), MECAmaster can easily and very quickly simulate a high number of assembly sequences involving different processes (using tools, using direct positioning, … ) and help the designer to quantify on key characteristics the advantages/disadvantages of each scenario. Expensive and very accurate processes are often chosen by the design “to be sure” to fit the requirements when no precise calculation is done, even when they are not necessary …

 

Does the customer wants to reduce prototypes and physical tests ?

 

Does the customer wants to define tolerances on its parts and assemblies to fit the required targets ?

The finality of a MECAmaster study, is to define all necessary tolerances (and only necessary tolerances !!) to satisfy the requirements. These tolerances can be defined using a real worst case analysis, or doing multiple statistical simulations, all in 3 dimensions of course.

Target markets are:

• aerospace
• architecture & construction
• automotive
• consumer goods
• high-tech
• industrial equipment
• power, process & petroleum
• shipbuilding

In those fields all customers involved in mechanical assemblies (Structure (car, plane, ship, household, watch structure … ) or mechanics (engines, gearboxes, hinges, mechanisms with kinematics, … ) can be interested in MECAmaster Assembly for questions related to tolerancing.

Today MECAmaster is mainly used in :

- Aerospace industry: Airbus, Dassault Aviation, EADS Sogerma, Aerolia, Altran, Akka

- Automotive industry: PSA, AB Volvo, …

- Rail industry

- Watch industry

 

Profiles in industry interested in MECAmaster are mainly from Design offices, and Engineers :

- Design Manager / Project Leader

- Technical Engineer

- Quality Engineer

- Process Engineer (from manufacturing [assembly process management, tools, …]) - …

 

But also people interested in cost savings and exchanges/negotiation with Partners (negociating the tolerancing drawings, … )

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