Brano Group is a family-owned group of 2500 people.
A key player in the automotive industry, Brano’s name is associated with the design and manufacturing of complex kinematic mechanisms.
SAFETY AND RELIABILITY FIRST FOR BRANO’S CUSTOMERS
One example of Brano’s applications is a backrest seat latch. This mechanism disengages the seat safety lock to allow the user to easily and reliably fold the car seats.
The user must be able to operate the mechanism readily by moving a lever or pulling a strap, yet accidental unlocking must be prevented. This system must also be reversible, allowing the user to relock the backrest seat at any time.
The challenge with these mechanisms is that they require a great level of accuracy to work properly and be durable. These functions are made possible by torsion springs and smart system geometry that ensure the mechanism’s cams endure minimum friction while prohibiting unexpected release of the safety lock.
Owing to a high level of failure severity, Brano’s customers expect robust variation analysis at the RFQ stage that proves the effective performance of the proposed design. Later in the project, more detailed tolerance studies must confirm the preliminary studies with a deeper level of detail.
A HIGH-LEVEL TECHNICAL CHALLENGE
Using Excel spreadsheets to prove that a design is robust at professional level is very difficult.
In variational studies, physical aspects such as friction forces, torques, and their respective tolerances must be taken into account and statistically mastered. Indeed, a specific design may work when analyzed using the nominal and tolerance worst case dimensions and later with a prototype. However, without a statistical variational approach combining GD&T with physical impacts, manufacturing dispersions are highly likely to lead to a much higher level of PPM than expected—potentially, a very costly problem.
IS 3D TOLERANCING SOFTWARE THE SOLUTION?
Brano’s Team tried a 3D tolerance analysis software integrated with CAD. Although different from the software mentioned in the Danfoss Case Study, the conclusion was the same: The software wasn’t user friendly and required significant time that only a tolerancing specialist could afford.
So, when a peer in the automotive industry recommended Enventive Concept, the team decided to give it a try.
Thanks to its powerful features combined with a user-friendly experience, after a single training, any product engineer or designer could use Enventive Concept.
The team is very friendly, helpful and quick at answering any question.”
GOING BEYOND TRADITIONAL TOLERANCE ANALYSIS
Brano’s team goal was to go beyond the traditional tolerance analysis that’s usually done after CAD models are completed. They needed professional help, right from the RFQ stage. Today, they use Enventive Concept’s unique functional modeling approach to:
- Combine dimensional, geometric and physical parameter analysis
- Automatically calculate variational force equilibrium and plot variational charts
- Spot critical dispersions throughout the system’s motion range
The benefits? An unprecedented level of insight.
Brano’s team already knew all the parameters contributing to dispersions, but until now, no team member was able to establish the direct correlation between all of them.
With Enventive Concept, the R&D team knows exactly the percentage of contribution of all parameters, regardless of their type: forces, dimensions, perpendicularities, floating pins in hole… This level of insight makes it easy to optimize any mechanical design.
quantify them and optimize them.”
On top of gaining new understanding, the use of Enventive Concept makes Brano’s design process far more robust and reliable. The trust that Brano’s customers place in the team’s ability to anticipate and reduce the risks for unexpected non-quality is crucial; an approach that fosters long-term success of their partnership.
SETTING LONG-TERM GOALS
With Enventive Concept’s significant added value proven, Brano is working on spreading the software’s usage to development of other products, such as double hinges, pedal systems and more.
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