Modelling of production chains as a tool for intelligent manufacturing in metal forming

The objective of the paper is demonstration of the role of multi scale modelling in the system, which optimizes the whole production chain. Product exploitation and properties are the key parameters for formulation of the objective function in the optimization problem. Such parameters as fatigue resistance, wear resistance or thermal resistance are crucial for extending the life cycle of products, therefore, theoretical prediction of those parameters is inevitable for the optimization of the manufacturing system. Thus, the main focus in the paper is on description of the idea of multi scale modelling and on presentation of the multi scale model developed by the Authors. This model combines finite element (FE) solution of the macro scale problem with the cellular automata (CA) model of the micro scale phenomena. Simulation of the production chain is the second part of the paper. The chain under consideration is composed of stock heating, cold forging, machining and simulation of exploitation conditions. The correlation between the process parameters and the exploitation properties of the product is demonstrated. Finally, the optimization problem which would be the base of intelligent manufacturing, is formulated