Perfect match

Several developments have converged to provide SMEs with affordable sophisticated factory software as digital simulation has become more cost-effective and rigorous. Microsoft has recently announced a significant robotics initiative and also a link to the AGEIA PhysX physics accelerator. It has modules for Rigid Body Physics, which makes collisions look realistic and for fluid and cloth simulation and particle effects for explosions and smoke. Engineering consultant AMTRI has developed interfaces between industrial simulation software and the PhysX SDK. Visualization of complex systems has been based on finite Element methods or graphic video game approximations. Aerospace composite lay-up and spraying can be simulated by the inclusion of physics within a low-cost simulation tool and material mapping from micro through meso to macro scale. The PhysX Flag demo is the first step to produce a 3D simulation of an automated carbon fiber lay-up system. Vericut is also only independent simulation system that contains a full kinematic model of the machine tool and control system.