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Fujitsu Launches New Simulator for Visually Creating Product Assembly Configurations
Supporting efficient manufacturing for customers through easy use of 3D data
Fujitsu Limited
Fujitsu today announced the launch of a new version of its digital production preparation tool, FUJITSU Manufacturing Industry Solution VPS (Virtual Product and Process Simulator), developed by Digital Process Ltd., which supports product assembly process studies with 3D models. The new version, which adds functionality for creating product assembly configurations visually, will commence global availability(*1) to the manufacturing industry, starting today.
This new version now offers "configuration blocks," which by displaying component parts as shape images when incorporating product design CAD configurations into VPS assembly configurations, and expressing in a chart the relationships between the units, enables visual editing of assembly sequences. In addition, Fujitsu has strengthened its functionality such that changes in CAD data are immediately reflected in the VPS, with the aim of improving work quality and efficiency.
These changes have made it even easier to use 3D data in production preparation tasks, contributing to the shortening of development times and improvements in product quality.
VPS is a software package that covers the entire process of production preparation, using 3D model data of products created in CAD tools for product reviews, process reviews when assembling products, production line layout reviews, and creating documents used in manufacturing, in order to support the smooth start-up of mass production.
In order to turn 3D model data created in CAD programs into assembly process information, it is first necessary to change it from a CAD configuration into a configuration that has taken assembly configuration or assembly sequence into account. There has been a demand for a means to greatly reduce the amount of time and man-hours necessary for the editing tasks needed to create this assembly configuration for large numbers of components, as well as to reuse old product configurations. By offering this new VPS version, and strengthening its configuration creation functionality and performance, Fujitsu is supporting greater work efficiency for its manufacturing customers.
Key Product Features
1. Stepped up support for assembly configuration creation and design changes cuts editing time
1. Added configuration block functionality greatly improves the efficiency of creating assembly configurations for large-scale products (VPS Digital Mockup and VPS Manufacturing)
When assembling large scale products, such as industrial machinery or copiers, which are made up of many units, each unit is assembled on separate lines, and then they are all combined on the final assembly line. When editing this sort of configuration in VPS from a CAD configuration, in previous VPS versions, users had to select the component for which they wished to change the configuration from the production flow, which listed all the components in order, or from the 3D view, which displayed the product as a whole, then execute the command to move it to another unit. This made it cumbersome to get a handle on which unit a component was currently part of, and which unit it should be moved to, as well as to execute the commands.
Now, Fujitsu has added the configuration block function, which displays shape images for each component, and displays the relationship between units as a chart. Users can easily edit the configuration as well as the assembly sequence visually, by dragging and dropping components to move them in the configuration block.
Figure 1. Confirmation of selected part with manufacturing flow and 3D view (current)
Figure 2. Confirmation of assembly with assembly block chart and incorporating configuration (new function)
2. Improved display performance and greatly reduced time to reflect design changes in VPS (VPS Digital Mockup and VPS Manufacturing)
Fujitsu has strengthened the software's ability to respond to design changes in a short period when, after editing has been done in VPS, the CAD data it is based on changes, without having to reflect design changes by hand. Now this function takes 1/100th of the processing time it did previously, further increasing work efficiency. In addition, display speeds for actions such as rotating, expanding, or shrinking the 3D model display has been greatly improved, providing a stress-free editing environment.
3. Realizing even greater accuracy in production line work flow path considerations (VPS GP4)
VPS GP4, which provides 3D trials of production line layouts and process studies, can automatically calculate the paths workers take in accordance with the layout, and simulate that movement. Now it has the capability to confirm if a worker is ascending or descending, for example, such as on a ladder, and can also detect collisions between workers, enabling more accurate work movement reviews.
Figure 3: Simulation of workers colliding
2. Strengthened viewing functionality (VPS Assembly Process Viewer)
Process flow diagrams (Assembly block diagrams) used in VPS Manufacturing and VPS Assembly Animation, which handle assembly trials, can now be viewed not only on iOS devices, but also on Android devices.
Figure 4: Process flow diagram display on an Android device.
Pricing and Availability for Major Products in the VPS Series
| Product Name | Retail Price (Tax excl.) (*5) | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| VPS Assembly Process Viewer (*2) | Free | Sequential rollout beginning June 30 |
| VPS Standard V15L18 (*3) | JPY 4 million | |
| VPS Digital Mockup V15L18 | JPY 2.5 million | |
| VPS Manufacturing V15L18 | JPY 2.5 million (*4) | |
| VPS Assembly Animation V15L18 | JPY 0.98 million | |
| VPS GP4 V11L15 | JPY 4.4 million |
Notes
*1. All product names and their features contained in this press release are specific to those available in Japan. Names of products outside of Japan may vary.
*2. Available on the App Store and Google Play 
*3. Product set including VPS Digital Mockup and VPS Manufacturing
*4. A VPS Digital Mockup license is necessary to use VPS Manufacturing
*5. The prices given in the table for all products except VPS Assembly Process Viewer and VPS Assembly Animation are for network licenses (Network licenses can be used on client devices on the same network up to the number of licenses purchased at the same time. There is no limit on the number of installations).
Sales Target
Sales of 5 billion yen by the end of fiscal 2018 (Fujitsu's fiscal year ends March 31).
Related Sites
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 156,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.
All company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.
Date: 17 June, 2016
City: Tokyo
Company:
Fujitsu Limited
