Topology-based Lightweight Design for Machine Tools｜Inspire

【 Background 】

       Machine tools are a key industry in the machinery sector and serve as essential manufacturing equipment for both basic and precision machining. With the sharp rise in raw material prices in recent years, machine tools face the challenge of continuous cost increases, making structural lightweighting necessary to reduce production costs.
       In this case, the client’s machine must withstand forming forces of several hundred tons, with internal support structures closely linked to each other. To meet both strength and lightweight requirements, the Richin team used CAE optimization design to help the client overcome this challenge and successfully meet all design specifications.

【 Solution 】

       This project utilized Altair Inspire to quickly achieve topology optimization design. Altair Inspire provides an exclusive and fast process-driven workflow that allows CAE engineers to complete structural topology design step by step.

【 Project Results 】

1. Achieved 10% lightweighting

2. Met structural strength requirements

3. R&D schedule reduced by 70%

4. Material cost reduced by 10%

【 Highlights 】

1. An intuitive interface for load and boundary condition setup, allowing direct application of external forces and constraints on the CAD model.

2. Powered by strong modeling and solver engines, Inspire integrates SimLab modeling and OptiStruct solving, ensuring automated modeling, solving, and high analysis accuracy.

3. Topology analysis can consider various symmetry and manufacturing constraints, making the results more aligned with real production requirements.

4. Topology results can be converted into 3D CAD (PolyNURBS) with one click, or quickly built and edited using Inspire sketching tools.

【Tips Inspire #6 】Topology Optimization & Shape Control