Abstract: A computer-implemented method for analysing a result of a simulation of a manufacturing or deformation process, comprises retrieving the result of the simulation, comprising at least the geometry of the part (2) and stress tensors (23) in the part (2) caused by the forming process; for one or more starting points (32) in a critical region (22), determining a cause line (3) by following the stress or a corresponding force in the direction in which it is maximal; for each cause line (3), determining at least one line section (31) of the cause line (3), and a cause trajectory (5) representing values of a stress or a force directed along the cause line (3); and performing at least one of presenting information representing the line section (31) and the cause trajectory (5) along the line section (31) to a user; and automatically adapting, parameters of the forming process.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and device are directed to a geometric analysis of a result of a manufacturing process or of a simulation of a manufacturing process in which a part (14) is formed from a planar sheet of material by means of a tool (1). The result comprises result model, being a computer based representation of the part after the (real or simulated) manufacturing process. The method comprises the computer-implemented steps of retrieving the result model (2); retrieving a reference model (3), the reference model being a mesh based model derived from a CAD model representing a target shape of the part or a tool shape; determining an improved result model (33) by transforming the mesh of the reference model (3) to match the shape of the result model (2); performing a geometric analysis on the basis of the improved result model (33).

Abstract: A method for designing a formed sheet-metal part using a computing system is described. The method typically includes performing a numerical simulation of the forming process and computing a local property variable associated with points of the part. Problem zones of the sheet-metal part are identified based on the numerical simulation, and a visual representation of the sheet-metal part, in which problem zones are identified, is displayed. Information about a problem zone, such as status of the problem zone and the problem zone's unique identifier, are visually displayed.

Abstract: In a method for the numerical simulation of sheet-metal-forming processes, forming simulation parameters are visually displayed by: maintaining active values of the simulation-program-control parameters and standard values of the parameters that can be, used as a reference; determining a status of each parameter as being “noncompliant” if and only if the active value of the parameter is not equal to the standard value of the parameter; grouping parameters into display groups, and determining the status of a display group as being “noncompliant” if and only if the status of at least one of the parameters or other display groups assigned to the display group is “noncompliant”; displaying GUI elements showing the active values of the parameters, and GUI elements associated with a display group; and displaying, for each of the GUI elements, a visual indication of the status of the corresponding parameter or display group.

Abstract: In a method for the numerical simulation of sheet-metal-forming processes, forming simulation parameters are visually displayed by: maintaining active values of the simulation-program-control parameters and standard values of the parameters that can be, used as a reference; determining a status of each parameter as being “noncompliant” if and only if the active value of the parameter is not equal to the standard value of the parameter; grouping parameters into display groups, and determining the status of a display group as being “noncompliant” if and only if the status of at least one of the parameters or other display groups assigned to the display group is “noncompliant”; displaying GUI elements showing the active values of the parameters, and GUI elements associated with a display group; and displaying, for each of the GUI elements, a visual indication of the status of the corresponding parameter or display group.

Abstract: In a method for designing a formed sheet-metal part performed by a processor of a computing system, by means of: a numerical model of a geometry of the part, a numerical simulation of a forming process, and local property variables associated with points of the part and computed from results of the numerical simulation, a method for managing problem zones of the formed sheet-metal part comprises the steps of: determining problem zones of the sheet-metal part based on the results of the numerical simulation; determining a visual representation of the sheet-metal part, and displaying this visual representation on a display operatively coupled to the processor; indicating the location of the problem zones on the sheet-metal part; and displaying on the display device information associated with the at least one problem zone whose location is indicated.