Siemens PLM Software Announces Mechatronics Concept Designer

By DE Editors

Siemens PLM Software has announced a new integrated machine design solution aimed at creating value for companies that develop and market machine tools and production machines. Mechatronics Concept Designer takes a systems engineering approach to machine design that captures customer input, manages early requirements and facilitates the simultaneous definition and simulation of the mechanical, electrical and automation software in machine tools.  

With an interactive simulation capability based on gaming technology, Siemens PLM Software says Mechatronics Concept Designer can help reduce development time and improve product quality for the global machine design industry.

Mechatronics Concept Designer, which is based on Siemens PLM Software’s flagship computer-aided design application NX software and works in conjunction with its Teamcenter software, was announced at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago. Siemens PLM Software’s Mechatronics Concept Designer enables mechanical, electrical, and software/automation disciplines to work in parallel. It includes the mechanical design features of NX while enabling the user to develop a list of sensors and actuators that can be selected and positioned, laying the foundation for the electrical engineers to create the layout plan. At the beginning of the development cycle, designers can use the Teamcenter requirements management and systems engineering capabilities to build a functional model that helps ensure customer requirements are incorporated into the design.

“Siemens PLM Software’s Mechatronics Concept Designer solution enables our entire development team to collaborate more effectively from the beginning to the end of the machine design process, thereby allowing us to catch and easily correct issues early, before they become costly manufacturing or customer related problems,” saysa Dr. Ing. Siegfried Schmalzried, managing director MAG Switzerland, MAG Industrial Automation Systems. “In addition, its ability to capture and support requirements, coupled with its outstanding physics simulation, gives us the confidence we are producing a very high quality design that will meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. And that’s a strong competitive edge.”

Mechatronics Concept Designer also includes a modeling and simulation capability based on NVIDIA PhysX technology. This physics engine, developed with the PhysX SDK from NVIDIA, is similar to the software technology used in many of today’s video games. This approach to simulation makes it easy to quickly create and interactively validate alternative design concepts, according to the company. In addition, the user is able to interact with the digital machine model while the simulation is running, providing the ability to test the effects of different inputs in real time.

“Siemens PLM Software is constantly looking for ways to create value for our customers by focusing on their specific needs and developing unique solutions to meet those needs,” said Joan Hirsch, vice president of Product Design Solutions, Siemens PLM Software. “Mechatronics Concept Designer is an excellent example of this commitment and focus and its integration with NX and Teamcenter creates the industry’s most complete machine design solution. By providing the ability to simulate and validate complete concepts in a virtual environment we are not only helping our customers develop machines faster, we are also helping them design with more confidence and with a higher degree of quality.”

For more information, visit Siemens PLM Software.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.