Attach Thermocouples Component-level Operation

This operation occurs as part of the layup processes—see.Routing and Feasibility for Composites. It models attaching thermocouples to the part in preparation for the Autoclave Cure Process.

Cycle Time = Labor Dependent Process Time / Number of Operators

Cycle time depends on the following:

• Labor-dependent process time (see formula)

• Number of operators: by default this is specified by the machine property Number of Operators. Users can override the default with the setup option Number of Operators for the current process—see User Inputs for Composites.

Labor Dependent Process Time =

Thermocouple Application Rate * Thermocouples Total Number Required

Thermocouple connect time is the product of the following:

• Thermocouple application rate: this is the time required to attach a single thermocouple to the part. It is specified by the cost model variable thermocoupleApplicationRate (30 seconds in starting point VPEs).

• Thermocouples total num required: this is the total number of thermocouples required for the part. By default it is calculated based on tool surface area (see formula). Users can override the default with the setup option Number of Thermocouples.

Thermocouples Total Num Required =

roundup(Upper Surface Area of Part / Thermocouple Application Density)

Thermocouple total num required depends on the following (by default—see Number of Thermocouples):

• Upper surface area of part: half the part’s Surface Area.

• Thermocouple application density: specified by the cost model variable thermocoupleApplicationDensity (465,000mm2 in starting point VPEs). This is the maximum upper surface area of the part that can be covered by an individual thermocouple.