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Figure 2 : Sheet-metal bracket .
bracket ( see Figure 2 above ). In addition to the original part uploaded by the customer , there are design variants to eliminate the initially designed expensive weld seam by replacing it with a bend . The original weld becomes a bend , the base is provided with a separating cut . The part now gets its stability from the mount and no longer from the weld seam . The welding process can be eliminated and an entire work step saved , which results in cost savings of over 40 % for the bracket according to Optimate .
“ If a part like this is then produced in larger batch sizes , the cost savings are even more significant ,” added Jonas Steiling .
The platform will then also display the unfolded version of this part . In the 2D unfold , the weld seams are shown in orange , the bends in green and the inner and outer contours in white lines . Material waste is also displayed , as it can play an important role for the cost calculation .
The users in the design or work preparation department select the most suitable one for them from all five suggested variants . The selected optimised variant appears on the screen with an indication of the cost saving , showing exactly where this can be achieved .
“ The final decision should still lie with the designer . We provide the basis for the designer ’ s decision , including a redesign and CAD data set ,” Jonas Steiling emphasised . “ With our tools , the designer has access to extensive expert knowledge on all aspects of sheet-metal processing and we therefore expand the respective decision-making horizon over the long term .”
When the client finally agrees to the part optimisation and redesign , the optimised parts can go into production with process reliability .
interest in integrating an automated feasibility check to ultimately rule out the possibility of faulty parts entering production in the first place ,” outlined Optimate .
In the meantime , Optimate has already been able to connect various webshops in the supplier environment directly to the cloud solution via the API interface . The start-up also has its sights on all marketplaces for sheetmetal parts . Their operators also have the challenge of providing their users with process reliability for the parts they offer .
“ The first marketplaces , not only in Europe but also in Asia , are already using our optimisation tool in the background of
Figure 3 : Sheet-metal part before and after optimisation in the Optimate cloud app . ( Photo source : Optimate ).
their orders ,” confirmed Jonas Steiling , looking to the future of his still young start-up . “ Our integrated feasibility check creates huge added value for webshop operators .”
Although the initial focus is on marketplaces for sheet-metal parts and sheet-metal fabrication , marketplaces for machining are to follow in a second step .
“ For example , a 3D-printing marketplace operator may decide to include and offer sheetmetal technology . For them , our tools make it easier to build up sheet-metal expertise . In addition , with each additional user , webshop and marketplace , more and more data is available to the AI , making our knowledge database for sheet-metal processing increasingly ‘ smarter ’,” concluded Steiling . n
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Connecting webshops and marketplaces
“ Suppliers are also aware of this problem . It is not unusual for a customer to order a part for which a price has already been calculated , even though it cannot be produced at all . Webshop operators , in particular , have great