Dramatic evolution of Model-Based Development to improve bearing design efficiency and reliability
～Improved efficiency and reliability with design core system and evaluation test machine using magnetic bearings～

JTEKT Corporation is working to improve development efficiency in the design of rolling bearings through Model-Based Development (MBD^*1).
JTEKT has now dramatically evolved MBD, making the bearing design process more efficient through the use of digital technology and improving the reliability of evaluation analysis through the use of new test equipment.
*1　MBD（Model-Based Development）: A highly efficient development method that significantly shortens development time and improves product quality by creating a model of the product to be developed and using simulation technology based on that model.

JTEKT has set the JTEKT Group 2030 Vision and aims to become "a solution provider that creates the future of mobility society through manufacturing and manufacturing equipment." The JTEKT Group is utilizing a technology platform that brings together competencies, which are elemental technologies and knowledge related to products and manufacturing equipment, in one place, and is in the process of opening a solution co-creation center that combines these competencies to propose solutions to problems within the company and in society. 

With the new MBD, by introducing a design core system that takes advantage of JTEKT's competencies, it will be possible to significantly shorten the design process and minimize variations in consideration among designers. In addition, a newly developed evaluation test machine that uses magnetic bearings, competency of our group company, will enable evaluations to be performed under higher speed rotation than ever before, improving the reliability of evaluation analysis.
JTEKT will use this MBD and propose solutions such as early commercialization and high functionality of products.

Shortening the design process with a design core system

In the conventional bearing design process, the designers themselves had to repeatedly perform a wide range of technical calculations with manual operation, which led to issues such as time lost in transferring and saving data, and inconsistencies in the evaluation by each designer. Therefore, we fundamentally reviewed the entire design process and developed a design core system that can seamlessly complete the entire process from initial evaluation to drawing. The introduction of this system reduced the design evaluation time to one-quarter of the previous time, enabling excellent evaluation regardless of the designer's experience.

Improved reliability of evaluation analysis by newly developed evaluation test machine using magnetic bearings

As the electrification of automobiles and industrial machinery accelerates in the future, it is expected that the demand for bearings with higher speeds, efficiency, and reliability will increase. In order to design bearings that meet these needs, we have developed the bearing evaluation test machine that uses magnetic bearings developed and manufactured by our group company, JTEKT MAGNETIC BEARING CORPORATION. This makes it possible to evaluate performance under ultra-high speed rotation and rapid acceleration/deceleration rotation conditions.
Magnetic bearings support the rotating shaft completely non-contact with electromagnetic force, and have features such as zero friction, no need for lubricant, and no maintenance. The newly developed evaluation test machine uses a magnetic bearing in the motor unit that drives the main shaft, and can evaluate ultra-high speed rotation performance up to 45,000 min^-1 (dmn^*2 value 2.7 million), which is the high speed rotation requirement specification of eAxle, the electric drive system of battery electric vehicles (BEV). In addition, it can evaluate rapid acceleration/deceleration rotation performance up to 15,000 min^-1/s, which far exceeds market needs. Furthermore, it can provide both radial and axial loads, and is compatible with oil lubrication and grease lubrication.
By using the newly developed test machine, it is now possible to grasp the limit performance of bearings up to ultra-high speed ranges that could not be evaluated with conventional high-speed test machines, and it will be possible to develop bearings that do not break or seize even under high speed rotation to meet the demands of miniaturization and high output of eAxles. JTEKT has dramatically improved reliability by closely examining the results of digital simulations and reflecting the gap with real phenomena in the analysis process.
*2 dmn : A value that indicates the rotational performance of a rolling bearing.
Pitch circle diameter of the rolling element (mm) x rotational speed (min^-1)

Structure and features of evaluation test machine using magnetic bearings

Evaluation capability of evaluation test machine using magnetic bearings

Future outlook

We will continue to work to shorten the bearing design period through highly efficient and reliable MBD using our groundbreaking design core system and evaluation test machines, and to solve our customers' problems with the minimum lead time. Furthermore, by utilizing this MBD, we will also contribute to the realization of a zero-emission, clean, carbon-neutral society.
Going forward, JTEKT will continue to provide optimal solutions using the group's competencies to the problems faced by our customers and other stakeholders.