CAD-CAM Software ARTIST STUDIO

PATCH ARTIST is the patch laminate design module. Its user interface is designed to define patch zones easily on imported CAD surfaces, as well as layer size, layer orientations, layer thickness, tape width and patch length.
The patch zone boundaries and layer orientations can be constructed as splines within a CAD-system and afterwards imported directly in PATCH ARTIST.

• Interface: Import of STEP, IGES, STL, CATPart with basic FiberSim support
• Laminate: Layer definition with specific material properties and constraints
• Boundary: Different lay-up strategies at boundaries (reducing scrap, constant layer thickness)
• Fiber orientation definition:
  • Multiple methods to best suit your design specifications (reference curve, plane intersection, reference orientation, geodesic curve)
  • Patch-shape definition: rectangular or trapezoid
• Optimization:
  • Patch overlap optimization along and across fiber orientation
  • Local patch length optimization: faster production and improved mechanical performance
• Accurate placement results:
  • Patch shape prediction on highly curved surfaces based on a kinematic draping approach
  • Support for thick laminates using intermediate offset surfaces
• Visualization:
  • Mold, laminate, surface normal, fiber orientation deviation
  • Patches and patch normals
  • Individual patch overlap quality and length
  • Laminate thickness distribution
• Manual fine-tuning: Position adjustment for individual patches
• Upcoming features:
  • Enhanced support for large patches
  • Patch-overlap measurement and visualization
  • Robotic cells focusing on pressure-vessel production

MOTION ARTIST enables you to program the SAMBA robots offline in a fully automated way. With that, the preparation time for production is significantly shortened, and the built-in collision detection as well as the visual process simulation increase the safety on your shop floor.

• Robot kinematics:
  • Digital twin of 4 and 6 axis robots, robot on linear axis
  • Robot-to-robot interaction logic
• Tool kinematics: Robot-assisted, linear axis, rotational axis
• Mold mount point: Coordinate-based position and orientation
• Calibration: Robot to robot positioning, tool positioning
  Robot movement: Point-to-Point (PTP), linear
• Optimization: Robot movements with consideration of axis limits, robot range,
  singularities, collision detection, rolling movements for large patches
• Visualization: Production cell, robot movements, collisions, laminate
• Analyses: Material consumption, production time
• Interface/Input: Laminate design from PATCH ARTIST
• Output: Machine data program for SAMBA systems

ARTIST STUDIO support for FE-modeling (FEA) automatically generates a detailed FE-model of the patch laminate based on the data defined in PATCH ARTIST regarding geometry, position and orientation of the patches. The only additional input required is an existing FE mesh. The contour of each individual patch is used to model fiber orientations and overlap areas.

• Availability: FE-modelling support in ARTIST STUDIO (currently supported formats: OptiStruct, PCOMPP/G and Nastran POMPG)
• Interface: Expects an existing FEA solver input deck and enhances it with additional FPP laminate properties and requires an existing mesh
• Properties:
  • Automated modeling of patches, fiber orientation, thickness, patch overlaps
  • Various element selection methods and multiple patch merging strategies available
  • Additional solver support possible upon request.