Abstract
Paper presents an application of numerical modelling to the design of the best manufacturing technology for fasteners. Imbus screw M6x20 was selected as an example. Since simulation of the one case of manufacturing requires very long computing times, application of classical mathematical optimization was not possible. Therefore, an approach known as variant optimization was applied. In this approach trial and error method is combined with the knowledge of the expert. The objective was to improve the shapes of the fibres in the forging and to improve the contact between the head of the screw and the material being joined. Finite element method was used to simulate the whole manufacturing chain. The model was validated and its good accuracy was confirmed. Various variants of the technology were simulated and new technological parameters were proposed, which gave noticeable improvement of the objective function.