Festo: Designcenter NX case study

This four-page case study, originally published in 2017, describes how a maker of industrial automation components uses Mechatronics Concept Designer, a module built on Designcenter NX, to design flexible transport systems for packaging machines in the cosmetics industry. The transport system uses small carriers driven by linear motors that move containers between filling, labelling and packing stations, so different products and formats can run on one line.

What the document covers

• What Mechatronics Concept Designer does: modelling kinematic and physical motion sequences and virtual commissioning of machines with motors, actuators and sensors
• Interdisciplinary work, with mechanical, electrical, software and automation engineers working on one shared model
• Adding physical and kinematic properties to NX components and storing them in a reusable library
• Feeding customer parameters such as cycle times and acceleration into a generic kinematic template
• Physics simulation with the Bullet engine, motion defined through virtual cam profiles, and connection to real control software
• Using 3D animation and exported simulation data, such as motor segment loads, during the quotation phase

It also notes that modelling a complete system takes more preparation than single components.

Who it is for

Relevant to machine builders, mechatronics and automation engineers, and engineering managers looking at virtual commissioning and concept validation for packaging or assembly lines.