The research problem is oriented to shortening the development time of products for the automotive and engineering industry and to improving their output properties, such as weight reduction by implementation of advanced design methods (DfAMs). The intention of the study is to achieve positive properties in components and to shorten the development phase when applying DfAM methods, specifically the use of topological optimization (TO). In development of the design methodology using TO, the procedure and results were addressed and consulted with a specific manufacturer in the industry who provided the necessary materials for the research. The methodology was formed based on the partial results and their analysis for selecting the right solutions, such as the analysis of traditional procedures, strength checks, meshes, boundary conditions, etc. The procedure and design were focused and limited to additive manufacturing, specifically SLM. The results agreed with the research aim, and a significant reduction in times was achieved over traditional design methods. There was also a reduction in masses. The research concludes with an evaluation of the results together with those of the manufacturer, and a statement of the benefits, particularly for the scientific discipline and practice. It was concluded that, by implementing the given design methods, it is possible to significantly reduce the financial costs with proper application, simplify the operation of design software and create the possibility of use in training workplaces. With further research and extension of the applicability of the given methodology, substantial positive factors for development can be assumed. However, it should not be forgotten that the use of DfAM methods is greatly influenced by advances in additive manufacturing.

The aim of the presented article is to analyse the influence of the composition of synthesis gases with mass lower heating values in the range from 12 to 20 MJ/kg on the performance, economic, and internal parameters of an atmospheric two-cylinder spark-ignition combustion engine suitable for a micro-generation unit. The analysed performance parameter was the torque. The economic parameters analysed were the hourly fuel consumption and the engine’s effective efficiency. The analysed internal parameters of the engine were the indicated mean effective pressure, the pressure profiles in the cylinder, the course of the maximum pressure in the cylinder, and the course of the burning-out of the fuel in the cylinder. The analysed synthesis gases were produced by thermo-chemical processes from waste containing combustible components (methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide) as well as inert gases (carbon dioxide and nitrogen). Higher hydrocarbons, which may be present in a synthesis gas, were not considered in this contribution because of their easy liquefaction at higher pressures in pressure bottles. A total of ten gases were analysed, all of which fall into the category of high-energy synthesis gases. The measured data from the operation of the combustion engine running on the examined gases were compared with the reference fuel methane. The measured results show a decrease in the performance parameters and an increase in the hourly fuel consumption for all operating loads. Specifically, at the engine speed of 1500 rpm, the drop in performance parameters was in the range from 9% to 24%. The performance parameters were directly proportional to the lower volumetric heating value of the stoichiometric mixture of gases with air. The rising fuel consumption proportionally matched the increase in the mass proportion of fuel in the stoichiometric mixture with air. The effective efficiency of the engine varied from 27.4% to 31.3% for different gas compositions, compared to 31.6% for methane. The conclusive results indicate that the proportion of hydrogen, methane and inert gases in the stoichiometric mixture of synthesis gases with air has the greatest influence on the course of fuel burning-out. The article points to the potential of energy recovery from waste by transforming waste into high-energy synthesis gases and their use in cogeneration.

The solved research problem is oriented to the implementation of advanced methods of component design and their sophisticated use in the ever-advancing additive manufacturing. Based on the stated objectives, the research was divided into several parts. Initially, the methods and principles of design in additive manufacturing were evaluated and investigated, from which the intent was subsequently defined and the DfAM method in the component design and development process was determined. The given design method, namely topology optimization (TO), was applied to multiple development and production cycles of additive manufacturing parts to validate the research conclusions. In this paper, the procedure for a specific part or component assembly is shown. By evaluating the developed design procedure using the TO method included in the design process, the conclusions are positive in terms of both time savings and properties of the designed part such as strength and weight parameters. The given findings need to be further developed by implementing on specific product lines for increasing the efficiency of the developed design methodology.

This paper describes a method of CAD structural design of modular mobile working machines, especially telescopic excavators. It is mainly focused on the creation of CAD model tree structure and the application of parametric and generative engineering methodology in process of modeling modular construction machines.

The work deals with the determination of the power curve for driving the swinging of the hydraulic crane of the harvester and the subsequent replacement of the hydraulic motor with an electric motor for the possibility of recuperating braking energy. For this purpose, the hydraulic circuit of the crane slewing gear was measured with flowmeters during its rotation between the angles –105° to +105°, –90° to +90° and –36° to +22°. The power was calculated from the measured values. The maximum power needed to swing the harvester crane was 9720 W. With this power, the torque reached 187.98 Nm. The average value of the power needed to swing the hydraulic crane was only 2472 W at a torque of 47.81 Nm. From these values, a synchronous electric motor with permanent magnets with a nominal speed of 2000 rpm (rotation per minute) and a power of 3246 W emerged as suitable for replacing the hydraulic motor. The use of an electric motor would, however, require a planetary gearbox with fast input speeds that would then be reduced to slow output speeds. The research results demonstrated the possibility of using an electric motor to swing the hydraulic crane during the work cycle of the harvester for the use of energy recovery from crane braking and thus the possibility of reducing fuel consumption and emissions.