Determination of the weld dimensions in press machine manufacturing by the finite element method

Standard (C and H type) presses are produced in variant sizes for different capacities. Steel sheets are formed in desired shape by laser or plasma cutting processes. Some roughnesses may appear on edges during the operation. In order to analysis the situation, come across in real production conditions, by the numeric methods acceptable spaces are left between parts while body is being created by assembling in SolidWorks assembly environment. Thereby the behaviour of weld seam is examined and exerting the loads on weld seams is provided.In this study, for generating the solid parts which compose the C type press body and body assemble automatically and parametrically by SolidWorks, a software has been developed by using VisualBasic and SolidWorks API (Application Programming Interface). Weld seams between steel sheets which compose press body are parametrically designed and located on related regions on body with developed software. By the program is run, the FEM (Finite Element Model) of press body solid model which is automatically composed in desired size by user is acquired by CosmosWorks interface and numerical analyses are performed for static condition. Natural frequencies of the press body are determined both numerically and experimentally. The displacements which consist on body are measured by laser sensors, the strains occur on critical regions, where strain values are high, are measured by strain gauges and the results are compared with the results obtained by CosmosWorks.