Design support system, design support method, and program
The design support system addresses material property considerations in CAD design by evaluating electrochemical potential and durability, ensuring corrosion resistance and strength in assembled products.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HITACHI LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-02
Smart Images
Figure JP2025039320_02072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Design Support System, Design Support Method, and Program
[0001] The present invention relates to a design support system, a design support method, and a program. The present invention claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-227195 filed on December 24, 2024, and for designated countries where incorporation by reference is permitted, the contents described in that application are incorporated into the present application by reference.
[0002] Conventionally, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) design, which uses a CAD system to design products and the like on a computer, is known. CAD design is preferably carried out in accordance with design guidelines that define various rules and guidelines related to manufacturability, such as the ease of processing, such as drilling and bending, and the ease of assembly, such as welding and screw fastening.
[0003] [[ID=⑨]] Design guidelines include rules to be considered during design, represented by the use of tools for manufacturing equipment, processing limits, and standards such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). For example, there may be tens of thousands of rules for one product. As an example of such a rule, there are the minimum and maximum dimensions of the drill hole diameter with respect to the screw nominal diameter.
[0004] There is a method for automatically checking whether the design content conforms to a rule (judgment rule) selected from among a large number of rules included in such design guidelines. In that method, for example, the feature amounts of a CAD model are obtained by a program generated by combining a plurality of functions, the parts to be checked against the judgment rule are specified from those feature amounts, and the check of the judgment rule is performed based on whether the shape and positional relationship of the specified parts satisfy preset thresholds.
[0005] It should be noted that in the original text, "⑨" in the Japanese text was misidentified as "9" in the input. It should be "⑨" which is the Japanese character for "nine" and is translated as "⑨" in the English text to maintain consistency with the original text's format. If this is not what you intended, please clarify the correct information.Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that identifies non-conforming parts that violate judgment rules based on automated checks and notifies the designer. Specifically, Patent Document 1 states that it comprises "a judgment rule definition unit for defining elements of judgment rules as design guidelines, a database unit for storing common functions which are elements of a procedure for verifying design data in association with the elements of judgment rules (hereinafter referred to as "verification procedure"), and a verification procedure generation unit which queries the database unit for the elements of judgment rules defined in the judgment rule definition unit and generates a verification procedure by combining the acquired common functions."
[0006] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-154505
[0007] Even products designed to meet the manufacturability criteria of design guidelines may experience problems such as corrosion after assembly or reduced strength at welded joints if the inherent properties and characteristics of the materials are not taken into consideration. Furthermore, to prevent corrosion and strength reduction, it is desirable to design products that take into account the usage environment, such as when the product is used near the coast or installed in a vacuum. Due to these challenges, there is a demand for technology that can automatically check the inherent properties and characteristics of materials.
[0008] Furthermore, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when performing CAD design, elements of the judgment rule are defined as design guidelines, and then program creation is supported by presenting combinations of multiple functions based on past performance. However, material-specific characteristics and physical properties are not taken into consideration. Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement regarding the above-mentioned issues.
[0009] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to support design by enabling the checking of judgment rules that take into account the inherent properties or physical characteristics of materials, and by enabling the evaluation of the corrosion resistance and durability of the product being designed at the design stage.
[0010] The present invention includes several means for solving at least part of the above problems, but an example is as follows. A design support system according to one aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems includes: a determination rule definition unit that defines determination rules regarding combinations of component materials; a model feature recognition unit that acquires feature quantities from model information of a design target using a predetermined function associated with the determination rule and recognizes adjacent components that are subject to checking the determination rule based on the feature quantities; and a rule check unit that determines whether the combination of materials of the adjacent components is suitable for the determination rule using the materials of the adjacent components and first material determination information in which predetermined theoretical values regarding combinations of materials are registered. The determination rule includes a threshold value for the electrochemical potential in the combination of materials, and the first material determination information has a theoretical value for the electrochemical potential for each combination of materials registered. The rule check unit determines whether the combination of materials in the adjacent components conforms to the determination rule by comparing the theoretical value for the electrochemical potential corresponding to the combination of materials of the adjacent components with the threshold value of the determination rule.
[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to check judgment rules that take into account the inherent properties or physical characteristics of the material, and to support the design process by enabling evaluation of the corrosion resistance and durability of the product being designed at the design stage.
[0012] Furthermore, other issues, configurations, and effects will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.
[0013] This is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a design support system. This is a flowchart showing an example of a design support process. This is a diagram showing an example of screen information for receiving execution instructions. This is a magnified view of a CAD model. This is a cross-sectional conceptual diagram for explaining the feature quantities of a CAD model. This is a diagram showing an example of material judgment information with defined electrochemical potential. This is a diagram showing an example of screen information displaying check results. This is a diagram showing an example of material judgment information based on actual results. This is a diagram showing an example of a CAD model. This is a diagram showing an example of screen information for receiving execution instructions. This is a diagram showing an example of screen information displaying check results. This is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a design support system.
[0014] The following embodiments are illustrative examples for illustrating the present invention, and have been omitted and simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation. The present invention can also be implemented in various other forms. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural.
[0015] Furthermore, the position, size, shape, and range of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, and range in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. For this reason, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, and range disclosed in the drawings.
[0016] Furthermore, while various types of information may be described using terms such as "table," "list," and "queue," these types of information may also be represented by other data structures. For example, various types of information such as "XX table," "XX list," and "XX queue" may be referred to as "XX information." When describing identification information, terms such as "identification information," "identifier," "name," "ID," and "number" are used, and these terms are interchangeable.
[0017] Furthermore, if there are multiple components with the same or similar function, they may be described using the same symbol but with different subscripts. Also, if there is no need to distinguish between these multiple components, the subscripts may be omitted in the description.
[0018] Furthermore, in the embodiments, processing performed by executing a program may be described. Here, the computer executes the program using a processor (e.g., CPU, GPU) and performs processing defined by the program using memory resources (e.g., memory) and interface devices (e.g., communication ports). Therefore, the processor may be the main entity performing the processing performed by executing the program.
[0019] Similarly, the entity performing the processing by executing the program may be a controller, device, system, computer, or node having a processor. The entity performing the processing by executing the program may be an arithmetic unit, and may include dedicated circuits that perform specific processing. Here, dedicated circuits include, for example, FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPLDs (Complex Programmable Logic Devices), etc.
[0020] The program may be installed on the computer from the program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution server or a storage medium readable by the computer. If the program source is a program distribution server, the program distribution server includes a processor and storage resources for storing the program to be distributed, and the processor of the program distribution server may distribute the program to other computers. In addition, in the embodiment, two or more programs may be implemented as one program, or one program may be implemented as two or more programs.
[0021] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0022] <First Embodiment> <Outline of Design Support System 1000> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the design support system 1000 according to this embodiment. The design support system 1000 is a system that supports product design in order to prevent problems such as corrosion and strength reduction in the future by evaluating the combination of materials for the components that make up the product (hereinafter sometimes referred to as component materials) during the design stage using 3D CAD (Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design).
[0023] Specifically, the design support system 1000 extracts rules that should be considered during the design process regarding the combination of component materials from design guidelines and defines them as judgment rules based on the user's selection.
[0024] Furthermore, the design support system 1000 acquires feature quantities of the CAD model using a predetermined function (for example, information indicating the positional relationship and interference relationship between parts, and information regarding the material of the parts), and identifies the parts to be checked (nearby parts) and their materials.
[0025] Furthermore, the design support system 1000 checks the judgment rules for the component being checked by comparing the threshold values for component material combinations defined in the judgment rules with the theoretical values stored in the database.
[0026] Furthermore, if the design support system 1000 finds a combination that does not conform to the judgment rules, it notifies the user (for example, the designer) of the problematic area by indicating the corresponding part.
[0027] This design support system 1000 allows for checking judgment rules that take into account the inherent properties or physical characteristics of materials, and enables the evaluation of corrosion resistance and durability at the design stage, thereby supporting the design process.
[0028] In this embodiment, we will explain using the example of evaluating corrosion (electrolytic corrosion) in an atmospheric environment during the design phase for screw fastening assembly.
[0029] <Design Support System 1000> As shown in Figure 1, the design support system 1000 is constructed using a computer 100, such as a cloud server or a personal computer used by a user, and includes an input receiving unit 110, a display information generation unit 120, a processing unit 130, a storage unit 140, and a communication unit 150.
[0030] The input receiving unit 110 is a functional unit that receives instructions and information input from the user. Specifically, the input receiving unit 110 receives information input via an input device used by the user (for example, a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc.).
[0031] The display information generation unit 120 is a functional unit that generates screen information to be displayed on a predetermined display device. Specifically, the display information generation unit 120 generates screen information to be displayed on a display device used by the user (for example, screen information for accepting information input or screen information for displaying a CAD model) and displays it on the display device.
[0032] Furthermore, if the design support system 1000 is built on a cloud server, the input reception unit 110 acquires input information from the user device (the device used by the user) connected via the communication unit 150. In this case, the display information generation unit 120 displays screen information on the user device.
[0033] The communication unit 150 is a functional unit that communicates information with external devices (for example, user devices or information provision servers) via the network N. Specifically, the communication unit 150 acquires information from the external device that is used for processing performed by the design support system 1000. The communication unit 150 also transmits information generated by the design support system 1000 to the external device. The network N is a predetermined communication network, such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.
[0034] Next, the processing unit 130 will be described. The processing unit 130 is a functional unit that performs processing executed by the design support system 1000. Specifically, the processing unit 130 has, as individual functional units that perform each processing, a judgment rule definition unit 131, a CAD feature recognition unit 132, and a rule check unit 133.
[0035] The judgment rule definition unit 131 is a functional unit that defines the rules used for checking. Specifically, the judgment rule definition unit 131 obtains rules regarding the combination of component materials for the product under design from the design guidelines and presents them to the user. The judgment rule definition unit 131 also defines the rules selected by the user as judgment rules, and stores the defined judgment rules in the judgment rule DB (Database) by associating them with the design classification, rule type, and identification information of the CAD model under check.
[0036] Design classifications include, for example, assembly, sheet metal processing, surface treatment, casting, and welding. Rule types include, for example, material combination, tool access, inter-part interference, and screw hole dimensions. The judgment rule definition unit 131 associates the design classification and rule type selected by the user from these candidates with judgment rules. In this embodiment, the user associates, for example, the classification "assembly" with the rule type "material combination" with the defined judgment rule.
[0037] One example of a rule for determining the compatibility of component material combinations is a rule that specifies a threshold for the electrochemical potential of adjacent component materials. Specifically, there is a rule that states, "The electrochemical potential must be 0.35V or less."
[0038] The CAD feature recognition unit 132 is a functional unit that recognizes the features of a CAD model. Specifically, the CAD feature recognition unit 132 identifies adjacent parts by specifying the distance and interference relationship between parts in the CAD model using a predetermined function linked to defined judgment rules.
[0039] The rule check unit 133 is a functional unit that checks whether the product under design conforms to the judgment rules. Specifically, the rule check unit 133 identifies adjacent parts identified by the CAD feature recognition unit 132 as parts to be checked, and obtains material information for each part from the CAD model. The rule check unit 133 also uses the judgment rules, the acquired material information of the parts to be checked, and theoretical values stored in the database (material judgment information DB) to make a comparison and determine whether the combination of part materials conforms to the judgment rules. Furthermore, the rule check unit 133 outputs screen information to notify the user that parts that do not conform to the judgment rules do not conform to the rules by highlighting them, etc., via the display information generation unit 120.
[0040] Next, the memory unit 140 will be described. The memory unit 140 is a functional unit that stores various types of information used in the processing performed by the design support system 1000. Specifically, the memory unit 140 includes a design guideline 141, a judgment rule DB 142, a CAD model DB 143, a feature recognition function DB 144, and a material judgment information DB 145.
[0041] Design Guideline 141 is information that defines principles and guidelines for ensuring consistency, efficiency, and quality in the design process of products, etc. It includes various rules that should be considered during design, such as the use of manufacturing equipment and tools, machining limits, and standards such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). Specifically, Design Guideline 141 includes rules regarding, for example, the specified diameter of pilot holes for screws, accessibility of manufacturing tools, specified dimensions for fillet radii, and combinations of component materials. In addition, Design Guideline 141 may also include rules that have been independently created (input) by the user based on past cases.
[0042] The Judgment Rule DB (Database) 142 is a database that stores the judgment rules defined by the Judgment Rule Definition Unit 131.
[0043] The CAD model DB (Database) 143 is a database that stores CAD models of three-dimensional data that digitally embody the product being designed. The CAD model DB 143 contains CAD models that are subject to checks by the judgment rules. The CAD models also contain feature quantities (annotation information) that indicate, for example, the shape and position of the parts that make up the product, as well as dimensions, surface finish methods, and types of material of the parts.
[0044] The feature recognition function DB (Database) 144 is a database that stores various types of functions used to identify parts that are subject to judgment rule checks from a CAD model. The functions stored in the database include various types of functions, such as functions for measuring the distance between parts and interference location search functions for searching for interference between parts.
[0045] Also, each function stored in the feature recognition function DB 144 is associated with a determination rule in advance. Note that the method of associating the function with the determination rule is not limited. For example, the function and the determination rule may be associated by the user selecting a plurality of functions necessary for checking the defined determination rule, or they may be associated by other methods.
[0046] The material determination information DB (Database) 145 is a database that stores material determination information in which theoretical values used for comparison with thresholds in the determination rule are registered. Specifically, the material determination information includes, for example, information defining the electrochemical potential between materials (for example, different materials) based on the JIS standard electrochemical potential table. Note that the material determination information DB 145 also stores material determination information in which the suitability of the material combination is registered based on the actual values when the product is used in a predetermined use environment (for example, near the coastline).
[0047] Also, these pieces of information possessed by the design support system 1000 do not necessarily have to be possessed by the storage unit 140 in advance, and may be acquired from an external device when each process by the design support system 1000 is executed.
[0048] <Design support process> Next, the design support process executed by the design support system 1000 will be described.
[0049] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the design support process. Note that the process is started when an execution instruction for the process is received from the user via a predetermined user interface.
[0050] When the process is started, the input reception unit 110 reads the CAD model to be checked (step S10). For example, the input reception unit 110 causes the user device to display a plurality of CAD models that are candidates for checking via the display information generation unit 120 so that they can be selected, and receives a selection input from the user. Also, the input reception unit 110 reads the CAD model selected by the user from the CAD model DB 143.
[0051] If the CAD model does not contain information regarding the type of component material, a predetermined functional unit (for example, an input receiving unit 110) will acquire and read information regarding the type of component material from an external device or external file and link it to the CAD model.
[0052] Next, the judgment rule definition unit 131 defines the judgment rules (step S20). For example, the judgment rule definition unit 131 displays screen information on the user device via the display information generation unit 120 to receive input from the user for the product name and identification information to be checked, and acquires the input information from the user via the input reception unit 110. The judgment rule definition unit 131 also extracts the acquired rules regarding the product to be checked from the design guidelines 141 and displays them on the user device in a selectable format via the display information generation unit 120. Note that the method for extracting the rules regarding the product to be checked from the design guidelines 141 is not limited. For example, a method such as searching the design guidelines 141 using the product identification information as a key may be used.
[0053] Furthermore, the judgment rule definition unit 131 defines the rules selected by the user as judgment rules and stores the design classification (e.g., "assembly") and rule type (e.g., "material combination") specified by the user in association with the judgment rules in the judgment rule DB 142.
[0054] The judgment rule definition unit 131 may, for example, obtain threshold values for the judgment rules from the user and add or redefine them in the judgment rules.
[0055] Next, the input receiving unit 110 receives an execution instruction from the user regarding the checking of the judgment rule (step S30). Specifically, the input receiving unit 110 displays screen information for receiving an execution instruction to check the judgment rule on the user device via the display information generation unit 120, and receives the execution instruction from the user.
[0056] Figure 3 shows an example of screen information for receiving execution instructions. As shown in the figure, the user device displays screen information 200 having an area 210 for displaying the CAD model 300 loaded in step S10 and an instruction reception area 220. The instruction reception area 220 also includes an area 221 for specifying the design classification, an area 222 for specifying the rule type, an area 223 for specifying the environment in which the product to be designed will be used, and an execution button 224 for receiving an instruction to perform a judgment rule check. Figure 3 also shows the case where no environment is specified. The process of checking the judgment rule by specifying an environment will be described in the second embodiment below. Note that the screen information shown may also be displayed by, for example, a CAD add-on function.
[0057] The user selects items for classification and rule type, and then presses the execute button 224. In this embodiment, the items shown are selected to check the judgment rules regarding the combination of component materials.
[0058] When the input receiving unit 110 receives an execution instruction from the user regarding the checking of the judgment rule, it proceeds to step S40.
[0059] In step S40, the CAD feature recognition unit 132 acquires features from the CAD model. Specifically, the CAD feature recognition unit 132 identifies a judgment rule from the judgment rule DB 142 that associates the design classification and rule type corresponding to the execution instruction by the user, and acquires a function associated with the identified judgment rule from the feature recognition function DB 144. The CAD feature recognition unit 132 then uses these functions to acquire features from the CAD model.
[0060] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the CAD model shown in Figure 3. As shown, the CAD model 300 consists of three parts: a screw 301, a washer 302, and a fastening component 303 having a pilot hole for the screw. The screw 301 is chrome plated, the washer 302 is made of aluminum, and the fastening component 303 is made of soft iron.
[0061] Figure 5 is a conceptual cross-sectional diagram illustrating the feature quantities of the CAD model shown in Figure 4. The CAD feature quantity recognition unit 132 recognizes that the two parts are in contact by acquiring feature quantities that indicate the screw 301 and washer 302 are in contact at position 310, based on a function for measuring the distance between the parts. Similarly, the CAD feature quantity recognition unit 132 recognizes that the two parts are in contact by acquiring feature quantities that indicate the washer 302 and fastening part 303 are in contact at position 320, based on a function for measuring the distance between the parts. Furthermore, the CAD feature quantity recognition unit 132 recognizes that the two parts are interfering with each other by acquiring feature quantities that indicate the screw 301 and fastening part 303 are interfering at position 330, based on an interference position search function.
[0062] Furthermore, the proximity between parts is not necessarily limited to being determined by the recognition of contact or interference; for example, proximity between parts may be determined by a predetermined spacing dimension. This is because water entering the gaps between parts can cause galvanic corrosion.
[0063] Next, the rule check unit 133 performs a check of the judgment rules regarding the combination of component materials (step S50). Specifically, the rule check unit 133 obtains the type of component material from a CAD model or an external device (or external file) for components that are recognized as being in close proximity (contact, interference). In this embodiment, it is assumed that chrome plating is obtained as the material for the screw 301 and aluminum is obtained as the material for the washer 302.
[0064] Furthermore, the rule check unit 133 compares the acquired part material type with the theoretical value registered in the material determination information. Specifically, the rule check unit 133 obtains material determination information from the material determination information DB 145, which contains, for example, the theoretical value of the electrochemical potential between materials, as material determination information related to the determination rule concerning the combination of part materials.
[0065] Figure 6 shows an example of material determination information that defines the electrochemical potential between materials. As shown in the figure, the material determination information is registered with corresponding values indicating the magnitude of the electrochemical potential between materials for each combination when the materials of part 1 and part 2 are chromium plating, aluminum, and soft iron, respectively. Note that the materials are not limited to the base material, but also include surface treatment materials such as chromium plating.
[0066] In this case, the rule checking unit 133 identifies that the electrochemical potential of the combination of chrome plating and aluminum corresponding to the combination of screw 301 and washer 302 is 0.4V.
[0067] Furthermore, the rule check unit 133 compares the identified theoretical value with the threshold value defined in the judgment rule. In the judgment rule exemplified above, the threshold value for electrochemical potential is defined as 0.35V or less, so the theoretical value of 0.4V does not meet the threshold requirement. Therefore, the rule check unit 133 determines that the combination of materials for the screw 301 and washer 302 does not conform to the judgment rule, and proceeds to step S60.
[0068] In step S60, the rule check unit 133 displays the check results. Specifically, the rule check unit 133 displays image information of the CAD model in which parts that do not conform to the judgment rule are highlighted (for example, image information in which non-conforming parts are highlighted) to the user device via the display information generation unit 120.
[0069] Figure 7 shows an example of screen information displaying the check results. As shown in the figure, in the area 210 that displays the aforementioned CAD model, parts that do not conform to the judgment rules are highlighted as a check result. In the example shown, the contact surfaces of parts that do not conform to the judgment rules (screw 301 and washer 302) are highlighted. As such, there are various ways of highlighting; the entire part may be highlighted, or the contact surfaces, contact points, or tangents between parts may be highlighted.
[0070] Furthermore, the rule check unit 133 may use material determination information to identify combinations of component materials that satisfy the threshold of the determination rule, and present this as know-how to the user along with the check results.
[0071] Furthermore, the rule check unit 133 terminates the flow of this process once it has displayed the check results.
[0072] This concludes the explanation of design support processing.
[0073] Such design support systems allow for the checking of judgment rules that take into account the inherent properties or physical characteristics of materials, and enable the evaluation of the corrosion resistance of the product being designed at the design stage, thereby supporting the design process. For example, when different types of metals are in contact by screw fastening, the potential difference between the two parts can cause corrosion at the contact point. With a design support system, designers can recognize the suitability of materials at the design stage, thus preventing such problems from occurring.
[0074] <Second Embodiment> The design support system 1000 of the second embodiment evaluates corrosion (electrolytic corrosion) in environments such as near coastlines and in vacuum when it comes to spot welding. Specifically, in this embodiment, the process when items such as near coastlines and in vacuum are specified in the environment specification area 223 shown in Figure 3 will be described. In this case, it is assumed that "welding" is specified in the classification specification area 221.
[0075] Coastal areas present a more severe corrosion environment compared to normal atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, electrochemical potential can vary depending on the material, as film formation can occur, resulting in phenomena that differ from theoretical values. Therefore, accurately determining the electrochemical potential between components in coastal environments is difficult. Similarly, accurately determining the electrochemical potential between components in a vacuum is also challenging.
[0076] Therefore, when a coastline vicinity or a vacuum environment is specified in the design support process, the rule check unit 133 checks the combination of component materials using material determination information generated based on actual performance. Specifically, when a coastline environment is specified, the rule check unit 133 uses material determination information generated based on the actual performance of products used near the coastline, and when a vacuum environment is specified, it uses material determination information generated based on the actual performance of products used in a vacuum to check the combination of component materials.
[0077] Figure 8 shows an example of material determination information based on actual performance. The material determination information shown includes each combination for material A, material B, and material C for part 1 and part 2, respectively. Specifically, based on actual performance, combinations of materials that are confirmed to be prone to corrosion are associated with "1", and combinations of materials that are not prone to corrosion are associated with "0". Note that "1" and "0" may also be represented by symbols such as circles and crosses.
[0078] Furthermore, while the material determination information shown in Figure 8 illustrates combinations of different materials, there is also material determination information that registers combinations of the same (same type) materials. For example, under vacuum, if parts made of the same material come into contact with each other, they may stick together due to friction and break due to metal fatigue. The design support system 1000 can also use the material determination information to evaluate such problems related to combinations of the same material at the design stage.
[0079] The rule check unit 133 uses this material determination information to perform the process in step S50. Note that the processes in steps S10 to S40 are the same as in the first embodiment, so a detailed explanation is omitted.
[0080] In step S50, the rule check unit 133 identifies the type of material of the adjacent parts recognized in step S40 and checks the combination of parts materials by determining whether the combination of materials is prone to corrosion (or whether the combination of parts materials is appropriate) based on a comparison with the material determination information shown in Figure 8. In this case, the rule check unit 133 does not compare the material determination information with the threshold value of the determination rule because the material determination information does not represent a theoretical value.
[0081] Then, if the rule check unit 133 finds a combination of materials that are prone to corrosion, it displays screen information 200 of a CAD model with those parts highlighted via the display information generation unit 120 on the user device as a check result (step S60).
[0082] Furthermore, if a vacuum environment is specified, the rule check unit 133 performs the same processing using material determination information generated based on the performance of products used in a vacuum.
[0083] Such a design support system 1000 can help evaluate the suitability of material selection in harsh environments different from those in the atmosphere, such as use near the coast or in a vacuum, during the design phase.
[0084] Furthermore, in the region 223 for specifying the environment shown in Figure 3, if outdoor or indoor is specified, the same processing as in the first embodiment should be performed using material determination information in which the corresponding theoretical values are registered. In this case, the same material determination information may be used whether no environmental items are specified (first embodiment) or whether an indoor environment is specified.
[0085] <Third Embodiment> The design support system 1000 of the third embodiment evaluates, at the design stage, the possibility of future corrosion (electrolytic corrosion) as well as the possibility of strength degradation, in addition to the possibility of future corrosion (electrolytic corrosion) when joining materials (for example, sheet metal parts, etc.) by spot welding.
[0086] In welding, when metals with significantly different electrical potentials are joined by spot welding, the metal with the lower potential tends to ionize more easily, leading to corrosion. Furthermore, because the melting points and thermal conductivity of materials differ, one material may penetrate too deeply while the other does not, potentially resulting in reduced strength after welding.
[0087] However, if the thickness of the sheet metal parts to be welded is below a predetermined threshold, spot welding is possible even between different materials such as iron and aluminum.
[0088] The design support system 1000 of this embodiment evaluates durability in addition to corrosion resistance by checking judgment rules regarding the combination of component materials, taking into account the characteristics of such welding. In the following, we will mainly describe processes that differ from the first and second embodiments described above, and will omit explanations of common content as appropriate.
[0089] In step S10 of the design support process, the input receiving unit 110 reads the CAD model to be checked.
[0090] Figure 9 shows an example of a loaded CAD model. As shown in the figure, the CAD model consists of an iron sheet metal part 401 with a thickness of H1 (mm) and an aluminum sheet metal part 402 with a thickness of H2 (mm), joined by spot welding. The welding points 410 are defined, for example, by annotations 403 in the CAD model.
[0091] Next, in step S20, the judgment rule definition unit 131 defines judgment rules regarding the combination of component materials in welding. Specifically, the judgment rule definition unit 131 defines judgment rules regarding material combinations (i.e., judgment rules regarding material combinations to prevent a decrease in strength) by user selection, such as "joining dissimilar materials with different melting points by spot welding" and "making the plate thickness of the sheet metal parts to be welded ** mm or less," and stores them in the judgment rule DB 142, associating the classification "welding" with the rule type "material combination."
[0092] Next, in step S30, the input receiving unit 110 receives an execution instruction from the user regarding the checking of the judgment rule.
[0093] Figure 10 shows an example of screen information for receiving execution instructions. As shown in the figure, the user device displays screen information 200 having an area 210 for displaying the CAD model loaded in step S10 and an instruction reception area 220. In the area 221 for specifying the classification and the area 222 for specifying the rule type, "welding" and "material combination" are specified, respectively. When welding is specified as the classification, an area 225 for specifying the target parts to be checked is displayed in the instruction reception area 220. In this area 225, either all parts or a specified part selected by the user can be designated as the parts to be checked.
[0094] Next, in step S40, the CAD feature recognition unit 132 recognizes the features of the CAD model using functions associated with each judgment rule. Specifically, based on the functions associated with judgment rules such as "the thickness of the sheet metal part to be welded should be ** mm or less", features related to the spot welding position and the thickness of the sheet metal part are acquired.
[0095] Next, in step S50, the rule check unit 133 checks the judgment rules regarding the combination of component materials. Specifically, the rule check unit 133 checks the judgment rules by comparing the types of component materials and their melting points (melting points may be obtained from an external file) obtained from the CAD model, the plate thickness characteristics obtained in step S40, and the threshold value of the judgment rule (for welding of dissimilar materials with different melting points, the plate thickness of the sheet metal part: ** mm or less).
[0096] Then, in step S60, the rule check unit 133, if the plate thickness feature quantity of a spot-welded dissimilar material part does not meet the threshold requirement (i.e., the plate thickness of the spot-welded sheet metal part is thicker than the threshold), displays the result via the display information generation unit 120 that the spot welding does not conform to the judgment rule.
[0097] Figure 11 shows an example of screen information displaying the check results. As shown in the figure, in the area 210 that displays the aforementioned CAD model, areas 410 that do not conform to the judgment rules (in the example shown, the spot welds) are highlighted as a check result. Note that instead of highlighting the spot welds, the entire sheet metal part that does not meet the plate thickness requirement relative to the threshold could be highlighted, for example. In that case, the reason why it does not conform to the judgment rules (plate thickness is greater than the threshold) or a suggestion for a suitable sheet metal part (presentation of know-how) could also be displayed.
[0098] Such design support systems enable the checking of judgment rules that take into account the inherent properties or physical characteristics of materials, thereby supporting the design process by allowing the durability of the product being designed to be evaluated at the design stage. In particular, the design support system can evaluate the suitability of combinations of component materials at the design stage, even for welding, which can lead to a decrease in strength when joining sheet metal parts with different melting points and thermal conductivity.
[0099] <Hardware Configuration of Design Support System 1000> Figure 12 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the design support system 1000. As shown in the figure, the design support system 1000 includes an input device 510, a display device 520, a processing device 530, a main memory 540, an auxiliary memory 550, a communication device 560, and a bus 570 that electrically interconnects these.
[0100] The input device 510 is, for example, an input device such as a touch panel, keyboard, or mouse. The display device 520 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic display.
[0101] The processing unit 530 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The main memory 540 is a memory device (memory resource) such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory). The design support system 1000 has at least one processor and memory resources.
[0102] The auxiliary storage device 550 is a non-volatile storage device such as a so-called hard disk drive, SSD (Solid State Drive), or flash memory, which is capable of storing digital information.
[0103] The communication device 560 is either a wired communication device 560 that performs wired communication via a network cable, or a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication via an antenna.
[0104] The above describes an example of the hardware configuration of the design support system 1000.
[0105] The input receiving unit 110, display information generation unit 120, and processing unit 130 of such a design support system 1000 are realized by a program that causes the processing unit 530 to perform processing. This program is stored in the main memory 540 or auxiliary memory 550, and when the program is executed, it is loaded into the main memory 540 and executed by the processing unit 530.
[0106] Furthermore, the storage unit 140 is implemented by a main memory 540, an auxiliary memory 550, or a combination thereof. The communication unit 150 is implemented by a communication device 560.
[0107] Furthermore, some or all of the above-mentioned configurations, functions, processing units, and processing means of the design support system 1000 may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Alternatively, the above-mentioned configurations and functions may be implemented in software by having a processor interpret and execute programs that realize each function. Information such as programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in a storage device such as memory, a hard disk, or an SSD, or in a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD.
[0108] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, but includes various modifications within the scope of the same technical idea. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations. Also, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, or replace parts of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.
[0109] Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown above are those deemed necessary for the explanation, and do not necessarily represent all control lines and information lines present in the actual product. In reality, it is safe to assume that almost all components are interconnected.
[0110] 1000...Design support system, 100...Computer, 110...Input reception unit, 120...Display information generation unit, 130...Processing unit, 131...Judgment rule definition unit, 132...CAD feature recognition unit, 133...Rule check unit, 140...Storage unit, 141...Design guidelines, 142...Judgment rule DB, 143...CAD model DB, 144...Feature recognition function DB, 145...Material judgment information DB, 150...Communication unit, 510...Input device, 520...Display device, 530...Processing device, 540...Main memory, 550...Auxiliary memory, 560...Communication device, 570...Bus, N...Network
Claims
1. A design support system comprising: a determination rule definition unit that defines determination rules regarding combinations of component materials; a model feature recognition unit that acquires feature quantities from model information of a design target using a predetermined function associated with the determination rule and recognizes adjacent components that are subject to checking the determination rule based on the feature quantities; and a rule check unit that determines whether the combination of materials of the adjacent components is suitable for the determination rule using the materials of the adjacent components and first material determination information in which predetermined theoretical values regarding the combination of materials are registered, wherein the determination rule includes a threshold value for the electrochemical potential of the combination of materials, the first material determination information has a theoretical value for the electrochemical potential of each combination of materials registered, and the rule check unit determines whether the combination of materials of the adjacent components conforms to the determination rule by comparing the theoretical value for the electrochemical potential corresponding to the combination of materials of the adjacent components with the threshold value of the determination rule.
2. A design support system according to claim 1, further comprising an input receiving unit that receives a specification of an environment in which a product corresponding to the model information of the design target will be used, wherein the rule checking unit determines whether a combination of materials for adjacent parts is appropriate using the first material determination information, which has registered theoretical values corresponding to the specified environment.
3. A design support system according to claim 1, further comprising an input receiving unit that receives a specification of an environment in which a product corresponding to the model information of the design target will be used, wherein the rule checking unit, when determining the suitability of a combination of materials of adjacent parts when the product will be used in a predetermined harsh environment, uses second material determination information, which is information regarding the suitability of a combination of materials based on actual usage in the harsh environment, to determine the suitability of a combination of materials of adjacent parts.
4. A design support system according to claim 3, characterized in that the harsh environment includes the vicinity of a coastline or a vacuum.
5. A design support system according to claim 1, wherein the determination rule definition unit selects rules relating to the model information from a design guideline that includes rules to be considered during design and presents them to the user, and defines the rules selected by the user as the determination rules.
6. A design support system according to claim 1, wherein the determination rule includes a threshold value for the thickness of a sheet metal part, the model feature recognition unit obtains the thickness of adjacent parts as a feature from the model information of the design target using a predetermined function associated with the determination rule, and the rule check unit determines whether the combination of materials in the adjacent part conforms to the determination rule by comparing the thickness of the adjacent part with the threshold value of the determination rule.
7. A design support system according to claim 1, further comprising a display information generation unit for generating screen information, wherein the display information generation unit generates screen information that highlights components determined not to conform to the judgment rule, and displays it on a predetermined device.
8. A design support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the model information is a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) model.
9. A design support method performed by a design support system, wherein the design support system comprises: a judgment rule definition step of defining a judgment rule relating to a combination of component materials; a model feature recognition step of acquiring feature quantities from model information of a design target using a predetermined function associated with the judgment rule and recognizing adjacent components that are subject to checking the judgment rule based on the feature quantities; and a rule check step of determining whether a combination of materials of adjacent components is suitable for the judgment rule using the materials of the adjacent components and first material judgment information in which predetermined theoretical values relating to combinations of materials are registered, wherein the judgment rule includes a threshold value for the electrochemical potential of the combination of materials, the first material judgment information has a theoretical value for the electrochemical potential of each combination of materials registered, and in the rule check step, it is determined whether a combination of materials in adjacent components conforms to the judgment rule based on a comparison between the theoretical value for the electrochemical potential corresponding to the combination of materials of adjacent components and the threshold value of the judgment rule.
10. A program that causes a computer to function as a design support system, wherein the computer functions as: a determination rule definition unit that defines determination rules regarding combinations of component materials; a model feature recognition unit that acquires feature quantities from model information of a design target using a predetermined function associated with the determination rule and recognizes adjacent components that are subject to checking by the determination rule based on the feature quantities; and a rule check unit that determines whether the combination of materials of the adjacent components is suitable for the determination rule, using the materials of the adjacent components and first material determination information in which predetermined theoretical values regarding combinations of materials are registered; the determination rule includes a threshold value for the electrochemical potential of the combination of materials; the first material determination information has a theoretical value for the electrochemical potential of each combination of materials registered; and the program causes the rule check unit to determine whether the combination of materials in the adjacent components conforms to the determination rule based on a comparison of the theoretical value for the electrochemical potential corresponding to the combination of materials of the adjacent components and the threshold value of the determination rule.