Lifting table has been designed and developed through the concept of Learning Factory (LF) at the University of Mostar. The idea for lifting table design has come from the local industry needs for a lifting platform that should lift a man and/or load at a certain height. For safety reasons, design is checked under the loading using a method of finite element analysis. The paper predicts and explains methodology for structural analysis used in presented case study. Results of FEM analysis are basis for making ways and guidelines to optimize current design in order to get optimal parameters for weight, stability, capacity, mobility and layout of the lifting table.

This paper presents theoretical approach and complex experimental research which was conducted within the real production conditions of cold roll forming channel sections. The experimental investigation was focused on forming forces measuring on the rolls and the deflections of roll stands due to the forming loads. The comparison and analysis of the obtained experimental results was performed for the majority roll stands. Based on the experimental results mathematical modelling of the forming a force‐roll load was performed by response surface methodology for different values of the input parameters of the process: material properties, sheet thickness, and sheet width. The defined force model and experimental research show insufficient energetic and technological utilization of the existing production line. After the conducted research in the production process a sheet thickness of up to 1.40 mm is used instead of 0.70 mm, and the utilization of the installed energy has increased from 20 % to 75 %. This is confirmed by the measured deformations of the roll stands and the energy consumption of the powered electric motor. Through realized modernization of the cold roll forming production line, 30 % higher productivity is achieved, which is a result of optimal number planning of roll forming stations and approximately the same load of all roll stands, as well as the higher flow rate of the profile sheet.

The fundamental basis for implementation of reengineering is: experimental measurement of forces and torques on the rollers-tools production line for profile sheet metal forming. The paper presents the experiments of measuring forces and torques, modeling and simulation in the aim of redesigning the process of sheet metal forming, selecting of the optimal process of sheet metal forming for each forming module and totally for the production line and increasing productivity on production lines. In the experimental research forces and torques were measured on the rollers of forming modules for profile forming of sheets for different values of the input parameters of the process: material type σm, sheet thickness s and sheet width b. Based on the experimental results mathematical models were defined, which enabled the analysis and implementation of reengineering the production system.

Original scientific paper The fundamental basis for implementation of reengineering is: experimental measurement of forces and torques on the rollers-tools production line for profile sheet metal forming. The paper presents the experiments of measuring forces and torques, modeling and simulation in the aim of redesigning the process of sheet metal forming, selecting of the optimal process of sheet metal forming for each forming module and totally for the production line and increasing productivity on production lines. In the experimental research forces and torques were measured on the rollers of forming modules for profile forming of sheets for different values of the input parameters of the process: material type σm, sheet thickness s and sheet width b. Based on the experimental results mathematical models were defined, which enabled the analysis and implementation of reengineering the production system.

Layered manufacturing is rapidly growing and increasingly pervasive technology in the modern industry. Therefore, progress of this technology allows production not only presentation models for visual impression, but also functional parts. Because of this, it is very important to get a high quality parts without production errors or reduce these errors on the minimum. There are lots of things which effect on the production of the work piece and its general quality of the final surfaces. This paper presents an expert system, which includes fully design analysis of some CAD model in order to improve production quality at layered manufacturing objects. A knowledge base is developed and as such contains mentioned features, specific for adaptive slicing in layered manufacturing process. This expert tool assists designers with higher level of intelligent advice within fabrication process of 3D model. The system provides multiple geometric analyses, and based on that proposing to user an optimal building solution. This approach is an engineer's need to build own knowledge base in making very important decisions in all phases of product development. This knowledge base contains specific functional features, which determine the crucial way of production. The plastic electrical switch is designed and used as case study in order to show how intelligent advisory system improves functional value of a product for better production. The final goal of this paper is to obtain complete expert tool that examines all crucial issues about model geometry which effects to optimal build orientation.

A lot of software solutions for design analysis are based on numerical approaches, but they mainly cannot provide any kind of expert advice during the process. This paper discusses a framework for intelligent decision support for fully design analysis of the CAD model, taking into consideration their functional, aesthetic and ergonomic features. A knowledge base is developed and as such contains mentioned features, specific for adaptive slicing in rapid prototyping process. The CAD model is evaluated by using weighting factors algorithm, which is crucial in determining of the layer thickness in the RPT process. The handle of electrical device is used in the case study to build intelligent decision support system in order to calculate layer thickness.

In general, computer tools for ergonomic CAD do not assist designer with higher level advice when performing ergonomic design. Designer has to possess expert knowledge and experience in many fields of engineering design including ergonomics in order to deliver successful designs. Such multi-levelexperts are rare and usually occupied. Two alternative ways are used to substitute these experts: teams of experts covering different areas of knowledge are established or some intelligent computer programs with expert knowledge are applied. In the second case, expert knowledge has to be collected, organized and encoded into the knowledge base of the system. An intelligent decision support system has been developed in order to overcome this bottleneck. This paper presents a knowledge base, containing ergonomic design knowledge specific for hand tools design. A pneumatic hammer handle design is used as a case study to show how ergonomic design knowledge built in the system is used to improve the ergonomic value of the product.