Our Integrated Testing & Analysis Approach
Today there are four primary testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) methods used to validate a new or updated product design. Each is proven, effective, and technically sound; and each has its advantages:
- FEA Combined with Field Testing Validation
- FEA Combined with Durability Rig Validation
- FEA Combined with Proving Ground Validation
- FEA Combined with Rotating Machinery System Validation
This is not to suggest that these are the only approaches; or that they are mutually exclusive. Many organizations often employ two or more of these approaches. Regardless of the approach, any legitimate product validation approach should contain elements of each.
While 6D’s focus is primarily with design validation, we also assist in the upstream design stages to help customers define the duty cycle, loads, operating conditions, and so on. 6D often partners with clients during the process to leverage resources and provide training.
Enhanced and Next Gen Designs
6D brings decades of equipment/product field testing, troubleshooting, simulation, and practical mechanical and structural engineering experience to every project. We’ve seen how products, equipment and structures react under all types of conditions in every environment and situation imaginable. Simply put, we bring a unique perspective to product development based on decades of practical hands-on experience.
Our services range from competitive benchmarking and simulation through physical testing and product validation. No matter if you are designing next generation products or upgrading existing products, 6D will help you structurally improve new mechanical product/equipment/structure designs.
6D employs Analysis/Simulation to help guide a variety of validation processes. Prior to physical testing, simulation models are used to help with test planning and to determine locations for data collection sensors. This ensures data integrity and optimum results.
Every Step of the Way
We will perform a pre-validation design review to ensure that systems comply with good design practices. Next, we will benchmark your current process to ensure your approach and tools are state-of-the-art and help integrate your validation process into your standard operating procedure.
Six D can provide supplemental Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and/or Testing services and help your team learn how to do them more effectively. We’ll even mentor and assist your team through the complete validation process from developing an overall process to final field testing.
New Product Introduction
Today’s accelerated new product development cycles put a strain on design and simulation. We provide the information that allows you to make informed decisions and proceed with confidence that your new design will meet expected, and often unanticipated, real-world operating conditions.
Services:
- Benchmark earlier designs or competitive products to create customer usage profile and load data for new product development.
- Provide early upstream simulation to validate or identify fundamental design issues.
- Explore more design alternatives to increase innovation.
- Simulate dynamic interaction of new equipment with existing equipment.
- Create a test or simulation validation plan.
- Validation test and support design improvements.
- Provide physical prototype testing and validation.
Product Design Enhancements
Equipment, structures, and products are continually evolving; and even incremental design modifications can dramatically affect balance, noise, vibration, and lead to catastrophic failure. For example, your modified equipment may have different mass, and/or different forcing functions; how will this impact support structures and surrounding equipment? 6D can help you understand in advance how design changes can impact system performance.
Services:
- Conduct testing and simulation on the original system to understand existing system dynamics. We can create a simulation model and correlate to test data of existing system.
- Help you use the correlated simulation model to evaluate how upgraded equipment will perform on the existing support structure.
- Use simulation to identify needed changes to the support system.
- Provide a final validation of the installed new or revised system or product.
Contact us here to learn more.