MICHIGAN-BASED ADVANCED CAM TURNS TO ESI GROUP’S PAM-STAMP 2G SIMULATION SOFTWARE FOR ‘RIGHT-THE-FIRST-TIME’ AUTO PARTS DESIGN



Chicago, December 5, 2005 (word count: 305 )

Springback in metal stamping is a major problem, particularly for those manufacturing automotive parts from high-strength steel. To prevent this problem, which is time-consuming and expensive to correct, American die production design company Advanced Cam has relied on the PAM-STAMP 2G virtual simulation to predict design problems. Developed by ESI Group, the software’s latest update is the capability to accurately predict springback, allowing for effective tooling modifications during the design phase to correct it before production.



For more than five years, Advanced Cam has relied on ESI Group’s stamping simulations to provide customers with “right-the-first-time” tool designs for automotive components. Thanks to the software’s accurate calculations and precise graphical results, the Michigan-based company has been able to run its production with a minimum of manufacturing risks, says Eric Wilhelm, Advanced Cam owner. The new PAM-STAMP 2G version of the software runs faster than the previous version, he says. “A simulation that once took 10 hours to process now only takes half the time. Springback calculations [now] run in minutes instead of hours.”



With PAM-STAMP 2G Advanced Cam has been able to reduce time spent on the design cycle while increasing component quality and accurately predicting wrinkles, splits, and springback. By using the Massively Parallel Processing version of the simulation, the company has been able to minimize manufacturing risks, reduce engineering changes and downstream problems, and cut back on processing time.



A part after experiencing springback poses a major problem for stamping manufacturers as the part shape may not be within tolerance, therefore unsuitable for the intended application, says Dave Ling, stamping product manager at ESI Group. To ensure accurate, successful design, this cost-efficient sheet metal stamping simulation tool covers the entire tooling process from quotation and die design to formability and try-out validation. Its modules include PAM-DIEMAKER for rapid die creation, PAM-QUIKSTAMP for rapid stamping evaluation, and PAM-AUTOSTAMP for forming process validation, quality, and tolerance control.



Other stamping solutions include a parallel version of the software for time-critical computation, part feasibility check, PAM-TUBE for design and simulations of tube hydroforming dies, and a rapid die creation integrated in the PLM environment with PAM-TFA and with PAM-DIEMAKER for CATIA V5.




About Advanced Cam:


Advanced cam, inc. Is a CAD/CAM/CAE facility with years of experience developing and engineering manufacturing solutions for the automotive and aircraft industries nationwide. Their customers are involved in line-die, progressive die stamping and tool making for parts such as inner reinforcements, rails, inner doors and deck lids. They gather a uniquely qualified staff experienced in pre-construction engineering, die-build and try-out, mold machining, tooling and fixtures. This varied experience allows them to understand the personality of customers’ projects and develop a regulated plan, foreseeing and eliminating problems and meeting expectations of each projects individual needs.





About ESI Group:


ESI Group is a world-leading supplier and pioneer of digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes that take into account the physics of materials. Its extensive suite of coherent, industry-oriented applications realistically simulate a product’s behavior during testing to fine-tune manufacturing processes for desired product performance and evaluate the environment’s impact on it. The products have a proven track record in manufacturing and represent a virtual engineering solution known as the Virtual Try-Out Space (VTOS), enabling virtual prototypes to be improved in a continuous and collaborative manner. This allows the company’s solutions to work together and with other independently developed applications. By reducing costs and development lead times and enabling product/process synergies, VTOS solutions offer a competitive advantage by lessening the need for physical prototypes during product development. The company employs almost 500 high-level specialists worldwide covering more than 30 countries.



Virtual Try-Out Space® and VTOS® are registered trademarks of ESI Group. All other products, names or companies are the brands or registered trademarks of their respective owners.



For further information, please contact:



ESI GROUP

Nathalie David-Franc

Press Relations

99, rue des Solets

Parc d’Affaires Silic BP

68801 RUNGIS

France

Tel: +33 (0) 1 41 73 58 35

Fax: +33 (0) 1 46 87 72 02

E-mail : Email Contact

Web site: www.esi-group.com < http://www.esi-group.com/>



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