Analysis of Tool Geometry for the Stamping Process of Large-Size Car Body Components Using a 3D Optical Measurement System

The paper presents a method for checking the geometry of stamped car body parts using a 3D optical measurement system. The analysis focuses on the first forming operation due to the deformation and material flow associated with stall thresholds. An essential element of the analysis is determining the actual gap occurring between the forming surfaces based on the die and punch geometry used in the first stamping operation. The geometry of car body elements at individual production stages was analyzed using an optical laser scanner. The control carried out in this way allowed one to correctly position the tools (punch and die), thus introducing the correction of technological parameters, having a fundamental influence on the specific features of the final product. This type of approach has not been used before to calibrate the technological line and setting of shaping tools. The influence of the manufactured product geometry in intermediate operations on the final geometry features was not investigated.

Perfecting the Hardening Process with 3D Technology

Perfecting the induction process relies on fine-tuning every small detail. For the tool, this means the complex development process for the inductors using design software, high-precision production, and the correct positioning of the tool in the machine’s connection system. Applying different new and highly advanced 3D technologies such as FEM & CFD analysis and 3D printing of inductors will lead to a drastic increase of efficiency and the highest reproducibility for the entire process. When this happens, computer-aided accuracies of the inductors are compared with real manufactured inductors using 3D optical measurement methods and will reveal the advantages of this new process technology. The precision and process repeatability of this technology is showcased by various experimental test series’ that take the daily operational challenges for induction hardening as a benchmark.

Establishment of a New Biomechanical Measurement Method for Surface Deformation of Bone by Force Application via Dental Implants—A Pilot Study

Purpose: To date, the qualitative and quantitative recording of biomechanical processes in dental implants represents one of the greatest challenges in modern dentistry. Modern, dynamic, 3D optical measurement techniques allow highly constant and highly accurate measurement of biomechanical processes and can be superior to conventional methods. This work serves to establish a new measurement method. Materials and Methods: A comparative analysis was undertaken for two different measurement systems, two conventional strain gauges versus the 3D optical two-camera measurement system ARAMIS (GOM GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany), as they detected surface changes on an artificial bone block under masticatory force application. Two implants (Straumann Standard Implants Regular Neck, Straumann GmbH, Freiburg, Germany) were placed in the bone block, and three different three-unit bridges were fabricated. Increasing masticatory forces, from 0 to 200 N, were applied to the bone block via each of these bridges and the inserted implants. Fifteen repetitions of the test were performed using a universal testing machine. The computer unit of the ARAMIS system was used to simultaneously integrate the surface changes recorded by the strain gauges and the ARAMIS system. The areas on the bone block examined by the dynamic 3D optical measurement method corresponded exactly to the locations and extent of the strain gauges. A statistical comparative analysis was carried out separately for the strain gauges and the corresponding optical measuring surface at the defined force magnitudes. The equivalence test and the intraclass correlation served as statistical means. Results: In the case of the intraclass correlation, a clear concordance of both measurement methods could be shown for all examined cases. For the equivalence test, no significance could be shown in individual cases. Conclusion: The accuracy of the modern, dynamic, 3D optical measurement method is comparable to that of conventional strain gauges. On this basis, versatile new research approaches in the field of biomechanics of dental implants can be pursued by establishing this method.