• August 12, 2022
  • Machine Tools
  • Cutting Tools
  • Software
  • Metrology
  • Accessories
  • Mechatronics
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • REGISTER
  • SIGN IN
www.cnctimes.com logo
  • News
  • CT+
  • Webinar
  • Knowledge Center
    • INDUSTRY UPDATES
    • INTERVIEWS
    • VIDEOS
    • TECHNICAL ARTICLES
    • CASE STUDIES
    • PRODUCT SHOWCASE
    • BLOGS
    • SUCCESS STORIES
    • NEWSLETTERS
  • Start Your Subscription
  • Register
  • Sign in

Information

Please login to give the feedback.

Subscription Plans

Subscription Type
Duration
Months
News
Articles
Blogs
Case Studies
Videos
Product Updates
Webinar
Amount
CT
Lifetime
Lifetime
Full Access
Limited Access
Full Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
No Discount
INR 0.00
CT+
6 Months
6 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
5% Discount
INR 599.00
CT+
Annual
12 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
10% Discount
INR 999.00

Subscription Plans

Subscription Type
Duration
Months
News
Articles
Blogs
Case Studies
Videos
Product Updates
Webinar
Amount
CT
Lifetime
Lifetime
Full Access
Limited Access
Full Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
No Discount
INR 0.00
CT+
6 Months
6 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
5% Discount
INR 599.00
CT+
Annual
12 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
10% Discount
INR 999.00
Successfully registered. Please check your email to activate account.

Registration
  • Sign In



Sorry Captcha Unsuccessful!!

Sign In


OR
If your not registered user first Register
  1. Home
  2. Case Studies
  3. Astroscale develops without prototypes using Siemens PLM Software solutions

Astroscale develops without prototypes using Siemens PLM Software solutions

09 November, 2016
  • Tweet
  • share via email
Your comment has been posted.
We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message.
Some technical error. Please try again.

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-11-09 14:48:00

Commercial space development has advanced in recent years both domestically and overseas, and interest in the effective use of outer space is growing. With the growing interest, the danger of space “trash” or space debris is gaining attention. There already is much debris in the Earth’s atmosphere: more than 20,000 objects with a size of 10 centimeters or more, and more than 100 million objects that are 1 millimeter or smaller.
These unmanaged objects represent a significant risk, not only for manned missions but also for devices such as artificial satellites.

Astroscale was founded in Singapore in 2013 with the goal of removing space debris to reduce the risk of space development. Subsequently, Astroscale Japan Inc. was established in Tokyo in February, 2015, as a research and development site. With a staff of 10 engineers, the company is taking advantage the latest technologies to conduct efficient technology development, including using Femap™ with NX™ Nastran® software from product lifecycle management (PLM) specialist Siemens PLM Software.

Astroscale’s Representative Director Miki Ito explains, “The company was established in February 2015, but the actual development started in April. The purpose of our first satellite, called IDEA OSG 1, is to gather debris data, and the launch is scheduled for the second half of 2016. We need software with superior structural analysis capabilities in order to develop at a speed to reach practical use within two years.”

The starting point for the new satellite was research conducted at various universities, with the basic technology elements having already been established. But there are many hurdles to overcome in order to combine those technologies for practical use and send them to outer space as a satellite. In addition, it is no easy matter to get everything ready for launch within the short time period specified in the project plan. Physical prototypes and tests are challenging for both time and cost reasons, so Astroscale’s major weapon is computeraided engineering (CAE) using Femap.

From the initial development, the design itself was done in 3D computer-aided design (CAD). “The CAE was previously outsourced,” says Yuta Araki, an Astroscale engineer. “However, because the costs kept increasing and we considered this a key technology for development, we decided to set up an in-house analysis environment. We installed Femap with NX Nastran in June of 2015. Femap and Nastran are tools with a long track record in the aerospace industry, and we were aware of their high reliability. We decided to implement the software without hesitation, because it suited our purpose.”

Based on his extensive experience with analysis software, Araki appreciates just how easy it is to use Femap. “The 3D CAD that we use is also equipped with analysis tools, but they can only analyze extremely simple objects, so it did not support our requirements,” Araki says. “The use of Femap satisfies complex analysis needs, and more importantly, I feel that its ease of use is amazing. I have used various types of structural analysis software tools in the past, but Femap is especially easy to use and extremely helpful.”

Superior mesh creation contributes to faster development
Before operating in the harsh environment of space, an artificial satellite is first subjected to massive acceleration and vibration during the rocket’s launch. CAE is essential for evaluating performance under launch conditions. To prevent the satellite from resonating with the vibrations during launch, engineers must increase the natural frequency of each component, in addition to reducing the weight and equipping it with the required strength. Astroscale’s challenge is to create the optimal design in an extremely limited time frame while complying with regulations and balancing conflicts between strength, weight, and natural frequency.

“Directly analyzing a 3D CAD solid model requires significant calculation resources,” Araki says. “For the current satellite analysis model, the large sections are modeled with shell elements, while solid elements are only used for sections that require complex shapes. The analysis model includes approximately 100,000 node points, but at this scale even the typical engineering workstation can produce results at extremely high speeds.”

“The mesh creation feature of Femap is easy to use, and its operation is straightforward and intuitive,” Araki explains. “You can create high-quality meshes with the automatic mesh creation tools and easily adjust them manually. It’s also easy to create surface elements from the imported CAD data, and if needed you can use the Femap geometry editing feature to avoid the unnecessary work of editing the original CAD data.”

Flexible interface facilitates collaborative development
Astroscale’s satellite projects are collaborations with ongoing research conducted at multiple companies and more than ten universities. The various components used in the satellite are being outsourced, with Astroscale handling the system design, satellite assembly and additional testing.

An important element in this collaboration is the ability to work directly with the design data that is outsourced to external organizations. Femap not only supports the geometry data of intermediate formats such as the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) and Standard for Exchange of Product Data (STEP), but also supports the primary CAD formats as well. Regardless of the format of the imported CAD file, Astroscale can edit the model as needed with no changes in usability, enabling the company to seamlessly analyze the data even if it is created externally. This capability is very important to Astroscale. For example, an eigenvalue problem must certainly be analyzed for the entire system, but individual components must also be considered. Femap makes it possible to analyze the satellite as a system.

Structural analysis and simulation are crucial to Astroscale, and the company plans to pursue analysis technology in the future. “Mastering structural analysis may further condense the development process,” says Araki. Astroscale is attempting to use data from testing to update the analysis model, and trusts that the accumulation of this technology will yield additional efficiencies in the future. “We must create three actual models with different roles by the launch of the artificial satellite,” says Ito.

“There is the structural model, the engineering model and, finally, the flight model. However, it may be possible to trim the structural model as we investigate the structural analysis. If we can trim the structural model, then there is a chance to reduce the two-and- a-half year development period by six months. This would have an extremely large impact on reducing the cost.”

  • Follow @CNCTimes

Captcha is required.
Sorry Captcha Unsuccessful!!

Latest Case Studies

  • 31 March, 2022

    3D Printing for electric vehicles

  • 29 March, 2022

    British Cycling races ahead with Renishaw additive manufacturing

  • 24 March, 2022

    SolidCAM: Meets the Need for Automation

  • 24 March, 2022

    iMachining: for your speed needs

  • 23 March, 2022

    TOOLTRONIC makes milling-turning centre an all-rounder

  • 21 March, 2022

    Inspection of forged components for shape and dimensional accuracy

  • 10 March, 2022

    eMobility: Measuring technology from ZEISS provides the key for series production

  • 09 March, 2022

    Sanco adapts to CADMOULD for optimizing Injection Molding Process

  • 03 August, 2020

    Automated production line for FFP3 filters up and running after just eleven days with the help of SCHUNK

  • 07 January, 2020

    In-house metrology increases machine tool uptime by 20%

  • 16 December, 2019

    Lifting Devices Provider Cyrus Designs 20% Faster with ZW3D

  • 16 December, 2019

    Khodiyar Industries Chose ZW3D to Speed up Packaging Machine Production

  • 16 December, 2019

    In-house metrology increases machine tool uptime by 20%

  • 19 August, 2019

    Automated workpiece set-up boosts forestry equipment manufacture

  • 30 July, 2019

    Laser interferometer error-proofs linear scale calibration

  • 08 July, 2019

    Improving speed and reducing cost with Renishaw additive manufacturing

  • 04 June, 2019

    Venturing into metal additive manufacturing

  • 13 May, 2019

    Renishaw Equatorâ„¢ gauge enables production growth at major aerospace manufacturer

  • 08 April, 2019

    50% faster turbine blade inspection

  • 08 April, 2019

    FARO® QuantumS ScanArm: Executing the Work of Two Measurement Devices

  • 04 April, 2019

    Laser interferometry assures spherical lens quality

Previous Next

Related Case Studies

  • 14 February, 2019

    Zoom Technologies Chooses CADbro, a powerful 3D CAD Viewer, to Accelerate Customized Mold Production

    Category: Software
  • 23 March, 2018

    Teamcenter and NX help Avcon Controls streamline processes and optimize use of resources

    Category: Software
  • 06 March, 2018

    Harita Seating Standardizes on Altair Suite of HyperWorksâ„¢ for all CAE ApplicationsHyperWorks

    Category: Software
  • 26 December, 2017

    Swiss coffee machine manufacturer optimizes development and production with Solid Edge

    Category: Software
  • 22 December, 2017

    Addressing Design Development Challenges through Simulation Driven Platform

    Category: Software
  • 11 January, 2017

    Alphacam guides 5-Axis future for Cambridge Precision

    Category: Software
  • 30 December, 2016

    Manufacturing with a Progressive Edge

    Category: Software
  • 28 December, 2016

    Responding quickly to ship structural analysis needs with easy-to-use Femap

    Category: Software

Showroom

  • 29 March, 2019

    Tool Presetter India

    Category: Software

TESTIMONIALS VIEW MORE

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2019-11-19 17:57:22We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your service to us.You have provided us best marketing platform through CNCTime...

Mr.Adil Atar, Ass.Mng.Technical Sales & Service: Precision Machinekraft

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-10-21 09:00:00Dedication and determination is key to success and CNC Times team is evident to it - FARO Business Technologies (I) Pvt Ltd

Ms. Amrita Gokhale , FARO Business Technologies

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-08-25 00:00:00Seminar was really very good, please let us know about future seminars. we would like to attend the seminar on "Machining of the mate...

Roshan Deshmukh, Design Engineer - Ashvini Magnets Private Limited

FOLLOW US

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

    Machine Tools

    • CNC Lathe
    • Boring Machines
    • Drilling Machines
    • Spark Erosion
    • Wire Cut
    • Vertical Machining Centers - VMC
    • Horizontal Machining Centers - HMC
    • Grinding Machines
    • Gear Cutting Machines
    • Additive Manufacturing - RP
    • Multi-Axis Machines
    • Multi-Tasking Machines
    • Welding Machines
    • Presses
    • Laser Cutting
    • Others
    • IIoT

    Metrology

    • CMM
    • VMM ( Vision Measuring Machines )
    • PCMM ( Portable CMM )
    • Measuring Instruments
    • Probing Technology
    • 3D Scanners
    • Roundness Measurement
    • Surface Roughness Measurement
    • Contour Measuring Machines
    • Others

    Accessories

    • Workholding
    • Toolholders
    • Spindles
    • Coolants
    • Others

    Software

    • CAD
    • CAM
    • CAE
    • ERP
    • Inspection Software
    • Reverse Engineering Software
    • MES
    • Others

    Mechatronics

    • Robotics
    • Automation
    • CNC Controllers
    • Others

    Cutting Tools

    • Turning Tools
    • Milling Tools
    • Grinding Wheels
    • Drilling
    • Others

INDUSTRY VERTICALS

  • General
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Healthcare
  • Healthcare Engineering
  • FMCG
  • Consumer Durable
  • Defence
  • Electronics
  • Oil & Gas
  • Heritage
  • Heavy Engineering
  • Die & Mold
  • Plastic
  • Footwear
  • Jobshop

PROFILE

  • About us
  • Contact us

Terms of use

  • Privacy Policy
  • Payment Policy
  • Refund Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Follow us on:

Download CNCTimes App:

Play Store
2022 © www.cnctimes.com  | Payment Policy   |   Terms and Conditions
Developed & Maintained by Deven Infotech