Logistic Performance Evaluation of Squeeze Casting Equipments Based on Simulation

摘要

The logistic performance of a squeeze casting equipment like production cycle time and the utilization rate of components, has impacts on the production rhythm, cast quality and it's lifecycle. So it is essential to analyze the logistic performance of squeeze casting equipments during design, buying and using. This paper deals with evaluating the logistic performance of squeeze casting equipments through simulation. Flexsim software was employed to simulate squeeze casting equipments, where the simulation model of a squeeze casting machine was constructed and the utilization rate was investigated by conducting four simulation samples of different cast products. It is indicated that simulation is an easy and effective method to evaluate the utilization rate performance of squeeze casting equipments and it is concluded that the utilization rate of all component cells except squeeze mechanism is very low and decreases with the curing time of casts increase, their value is very close to the ratio of the their processing time to each total cycle time. The simulation results can also help us find the bottleneck and optimize design of the squeeze casting equipment.