This paper presents an extended workflow to improve the dynamic behaviour of machine tools that is fully controlled in the virtual reality environment (VR). The workflow utilizes a common platform for the visualization of results of an experimental modal analysis and the following structural dynamic modification to eliminate the weak points of the design. Based on the overlaid visualization of measured mode shapes, the calculated behaviour and the CAD-model of the machine combined with the parameter modifications in the same virtual reality environment, the VR based approach becomes a development tool that helps to immediately understand cause and effect of complex changes. The advantages of the presented approach are shown by investigating parameter modifications of an I-beam demonstrator and a machine tool.

Current land transport is not optimal. Road transport is congested and rail transport is under-utilised and unprofitable. Land transport is based on the burning of fossil fuels and contributes to climate change. Hence the EU’s desire to push for electric propulsion on the road and to make rail the backbone of Europe’s transport system. Developments in transport are solving some problems but creating others. The ComplexTrans project addresses private and public transport of people and freight in and between cities and removes current and upcoming transport problems in a natural way (without restrictions and subsidies), based on the mutual adaptation of electric road and rail vehicles and their deep intermodal and multimodal cooperation and using fast mixed passenger/freight trains. The solution for land transport is not competition but cooperation between road and rail.

This paper deals with the usage of the plastic model (created by additive technology), which can be used for the mould production as an internal model for the cavity. This mould is intended for the steel casting technology. The particular plastic model is created by the conventional 3D printer HP Multi Jet Fusion 4200 from the material PA 12 GB. It is polyamide with 40% of glass filling. This material is suitable for this method because of good mechanical properties. The creating of the steel casting mould has some specification which are deeply described in this paper. The comparing of several dimensions between the CAD model, plastic model and the final casted model from steel is performed here. It is obvious that the differences and tolerances are less than 1%. This approach can be used as a replacement of the wood models which are generally used. The benefits of the 3D printed model are higher accuracy of the model, higher complexity of the model and production time which can be less than 3 days (from the CAD model to the plastic model for the casting mould, but depending on complexity and size of the model).