Topology-based spot weld optimization with inter-distance constraints

A system for reducing spot welds in a parameterized workpiece model comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• generate a new design space (DS) comprising a plurality of spot weld locations from the parameterized workpiece model having an original spot weld DS;
• wherein the new DS is optimized to have a fewer number of spot weld locations than the original DS;
• identify a plurality of offending spot weld locations of the remaining spot weld locations in the new DS and a plurality of conforming spot weld locations of the remaining spot weld locations, and removing the plurality of offending spot weld locations, wherein each of the plurality of the offending spot weld locations in the new DS are less than a predetermined minimum inter-distance from at least one of the remaining spot weld locations;
• select a plurality of extension candidates within a predetermined radius of each of the offending spot weld locations;
• create a grouping of the extension candidates within the predetermined inter-distance from any one of the spot weld locations in the new DS, the grouping based on a candidate density factor;
• generate a plurality of extended DSs each comprising a grouping of extension candidates that are within the predetermined inter-distance from the any one of the spot weld locations in the new DS, and removing all but one optimized extension candidate from each grouping;
• and
• output, to an operatively connected output processor, an inter-distance constrained parameterized workpiece model with an optimized extension candidate in each of the plurality of extended DSs.

A computer program product for reducing spot welds in a parameterized workpiece model, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• generating, via a processor, a new design space (DS) comprising a plurality of spot weld locations from the parameterized workpiece model having an original spot weld DS;
• wherein the new DS is optimized to have a fewer number of spot weld locations than the original DS;
• identifying, via the processor, a plurality of offending spot weld locations of the remaining spot weld locations in the new DS and a plurality of conforming spot weld locations of the remaining spot weld locations, and removing the plurality of offending spot weld locations, wherein each of the plurality of the offending spot weld locations in the new DS are less than a predetermined minimum inter-distance from at least one of the remaining spot weld locations;
• selecting, via the processor, a plurality of extension candidates within a predetermined radius of each of the offending spot weld locations;
• creating, via the processor, a grouping of the extension candidates within the predetermined inter-distance from any one of the spot weld locations in the new DS, the grouping based on a candidate density factor;
• generating, via the processor;
• a plurality of extended DSs each comprising a grouping of extension candidates that are within the predetermined inter-distance from the any one of the spot weld locations in the new DS, and removing all but one optimized extension candidate from each grouping;
• and
• outputting, via the processor, to an operatively connected output processor;
• an inter-distance constrained parameterized workpiece model with an optimized extension candidate in each of the plurality of extended DSs.