Social tagging as a knowledge collecting strategy in the engineering design change process

This article focuses on analysing the feasibility of using social tagging as a tool for knowledge collection and retrieval in the context of the product development process (PDP). This process is a social activity that involves groups of individuals who share a common goal: to design a product . Traditional knowledge-based systems (KBS) are not very well suited to capture the tacit knowledge that is embedded in this process. Social tagging is proposed in this article as the mechanism to externalize the tacit knowledge about the best CAD modelling strategies between the design team members. This knowledge is especially relevant for the management of engineering change orders because this process is closely related to the modelling methodology used to create the three-dimensional (3D) CAD models that have to be adapted to accomplish a specific design modification. In order to analyse the feasibility of this approach, an experimental study was conducted to understand the tagging process in this context and the benefit of using this information in the modification procedure of 3D CAD models. Preliminary experimental results show that tagging represents a feasible approach to support knowledge collection on best CAD modelling practices.Alduchin-Quintero, G.; Contero, M. (2012). Social tagging as a knowledge collecting strategy in the engineering design change process. Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education. 10(2):147-162. doi:10.1386/adch.10.2.147_114716210

An eXtended Manufacturing Integrated System for feature based manufacturing with STEP-NC

International audienceCNC feature-based programming with STEP-NC standard extends the collaborative model of manufacturing data exchange all along the numerical data chain. This paper considers the mutations related to this approach from the manufacturing system level to the industrial enterprise as a whole. The eXtended Manufacturing Integrated System concept is introduced to fill in the gap of the current manufacturing data exchange bottleneck. It is composed of eXtended CAD and eXtended CNC systems to link the CAD model to the real machined part through the Manufacturing Information Pipeline. The contributions associated with these concepts are demonstrated through a validation platform implemented on industrial CNC manufacturing equipments

A survey on personal computer applications in industrial design process

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Industrial Design, Izmir, 1999Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 157-162)Text in English, Abstract: Turkish and Englishxii, 194 leavesIn this thesis, computer aided design systems are studied from the industrial designer's point of view. The study includes industrial design processes, computer aided design systems and the integration aspects.The technical issues are priorly studied, including current hardware and software technologies. The pure technical concepts are tried to be supported with real-world examples and graphics. Several important design software are examined, whether by personal practice or by literature research, depending on the availability of the software.Finally, the thesis include a case study, a 17" LCD computer monitor designed with a set of graphic programs including two-dimensional and three-dimensional packages.Keywords: Computers, industrial design methods, design software, computer aided design

Computer-aided process planning (CAPP) SORICH

The last two decades have witnessed the increasing role of the computer in the process planning function. This has been further enhanced by the advent of the knowledge based expert system, and its impact on Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP). CAPP has emerged as a strategic link between design and manufacture. This thesis discusses the various methods used in the process planning function. Group Technology (GT) plays a pivotal role in establishing CAPP. The utilization of Artificial Intelligence techniques in CAPP is listed. This study also presents an Interactive Software adaptive to product/part configuration variables

Combining a hierarchical task network planner with a constraint satisfaction solver for assembly operations involving routing problems in a multi-robot context

This work addresses the combination of a symbolic hierarchical task network planner and a constraint satisfaction solver for the vehicle routing problem in a multi-robot context for structure assembly operations. Each planner has its own problem domain and search space, and the article describes how both planners interact in a loop sharing information in order to improve the cost of the solutions. The vehicle routing problem solver gives an initial assignment of parts to robots, making the distribution based on the distance among parts and robots, trying also to maximize the parallelism of the future assembly operations evaluating during the process the dependencies among the parts assigned to each robot. Then, the hierarchical task network planner computes a scheduling for the given assignment and estimates the cost in terms of time spent on the structure assembly. This cost value is then given back to the vehicle routing problem solver as feedback to compute a better assignment, closing the loop and repeating again the whole process. This interaction scheme has been tested with different constraint satisfaction solvers for the vehicle routing problem. The article presents simulation results in a scenario with a team of aerial robots assembling a structure, comparing the results obtained with different configurations of the vehicle routing problem solver and showing the suitability of using this approach.Unión Europea ARCAS FP7-ICT-287617Unión Europea H2020-ICT-644271Unión europea H2020-ICT-73166

Feature-based representation for assembly modelling

The need for a product model which can support the modelling requirements of a broad range of applications leads to the application of a feature-based model. An important requirement in feature-based design and manufacture is that a single feature representation should be capable of supporting a number of different applications. The capability of representing products composed of assemblies is seen to be necessary to serve the information needs of those applications. To achieve this aim it is an essential prerequisite to develop a formal structure for the representation of assembly information in a feature-based design system. This research addresses two basic questions related to the lack of a unified definition for features and the problem of representing assemblies in a feature-based representation. The intention is to extend the concept of designing with features by incorporating assembly information in addition to the geometrical and topological details of component parts. This allows models to be assembled using the assembly information within the feature definitions. Features in this research are defined as machined volumes which are represented in a hierarchical taxonomy. The taxonomy includes several types and profiles of features which cover a general range of machined parts. A hierarchical assembly structure is also defined in which features form basic entities in the assembly. Each feature includes information needed to establish assembly relationships among features in the form of mating relationships. An analysis of typical assemblies shows that assembly interfaces occur at the face level of the mating features and between features themselves. Three mating relationships between pairs of features have been defined (against, fits and align) and are represented in the form of expressions that can be used for evaluations. Various sub-types of these major mating relationships can be identified (e.g. tight fit, clearance fit, etc.) and represented through the use of qualifying attributes. Component Relation Graphs, Feature Relation Graphs and Face Mating Graphs have been developed to represent each level of interaction in an assembly, and assembly relationships are combined with knowledge on process planning into a Component Connectivity Graph. These graphs are used as the basis for deriving an integrated data structure which is used for defining classes for each level in the assembly hierarchy. The implementation of a prototype system has been facilitated by use of an object-oriented programming technique which provides a natural method of adding functionality to the geometric reasoning process of features and the complex relationships between the parts that make up the assembly. The feature-based model is embedded in an object-oriented solid modeller kernel, ACIS®. The research demonstrates the possibilities for a single feature representation to support multiple activities within a computer integrated manufacturing environment. Such a representation can form the basis of design improvement techniques and manufacturing planning as well as be a model to support the life cycle of the product

Design for Sustainability through a Life Cycle Assessment Conceptual Framework Integrated within Product Lifecycle Management

The need to include sustainable design principles during product realization poses several challenges in need of research. The demand for greener products has increased while competition has shortened product realization processes. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) provides solutions in accelerating the development process and time to market by managing the information through a full life cycle of a product line. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a way to predict the environmental impacts that should be expected over the complete life cycle of a given product, but LCA methods are not well suited to efficient comparison of product alternatives during early design stages. Customers and other stakeholders demand products that not only comply with regulations and minimize environmental impacts, but also minimize costs and maximize certain performance objectives of a product. Thus, an approach is needed to unify validation of new products compliance with holistic consideration of environmental impacts along with other objectives over a complete life cycle for the selection of the optimal design concept in an efficient manner. This research addresses these matters by proposing the approach of integrating LCA software with a PLM system. A conceptual LCA framework- LCAatPLM (Life Cycle Assessment of assembly tree in PLM) is proposed that allows environmental assessment of assembly tree directly extracted from PLM. Firstly, relevant existing solutions are reviewed and several challenges are identified that prevent integration. By decomposing the structure of both PLM and LCA, a common foundation is identified for the integration. Then, a design methodology is developed to show the use of LCAatPLM within PLM environment. A charcoal grill design case study is detailed to show how evaluations can be made based on achievement of strategic goals, along with verification of compliance and the visibility of LCA and other results. Our findings show that design executions through LCA integrated with PLM reveal environmental criterion at early stages. It can be considered with other design criteria to identify and select optimal alternatives. This research transforms LCA as an evaluation tool used after a design is already completed to one that can guide designs earlier within the PLM environment

Rapid prototyping in early stages of architectural design

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1997.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59).This thesis shows how architects can use Rapid Prototyping and what the advantages and disadvantages are in different manipulations of the tool. Chapter two attempts to chart a road map of the rapid prototyping media. The data were drawn from a number of first hand experiments conducted by the author as well as by colleagues in MIT School of Architecture and Harvard Graduate School of Design, and in actual practice. The whole research lies on the boundary between virtual and real, on physical prototyping from a digital file. Digital prototyping and manual prototyping are mentioned only as references. The research offers examples of manipulations of the media and conclude that rapid prototyping in preliminary stages of design is most appropriate when used in what is defined as Direct CAD (Computer Aided Design) with Direct CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing). Furthermore, it identifies Semi -Direct CAD with Direct CAM as the manipulation most commonly used by architects. This manipulation is useful for presentation models but not very useful in early stages where ideas are less definite. This is the reason why rapid prototyping is generally considered inappropriate for early stages of architectural design. Instead of analyzing Rapid Prototyping technology this work concentrates on the process that involves Rapid Prototyping in new ways in design . It aims to stimulate the designer's imagination when thinking about three -dimensional design, design in motion and design at the interface between people and architecture, for example, chairs and kitchens. In this context Rapid Prototyping becomes merely a vehicle by which the architect explores the design process. Rapid Prototyping is proposed as a media to escape the limitation imposed by flat screen representation in what is defined as true three dimensional digital design. This technology was invented in engineering to increase design and manufacturing process performances.by Alvise Simondetti.M.S

Design and Development of 3-Axis Benchtop CNC Milling Machine for Educational Purpose

The main factor in improving learning skills is providing students with hands-on laboratory experience, and the small-scale machine can accomplish academic programs requiring students to learn machining skills. This paper aims to design and develop a 3-axis CNC milling machine with a PC-based open architecture controller in a vertical position open frame structure. Some technical specifications were randomly selected based on the capabilities of similarly sized machines reviewed in previous work. The designed machine consisted of inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware components capable of machining the sample block with high cutting speed and reasonable precision. The accepted percentage error of circular and straightness test readings is below the set requirements. This machine is not intended for series production and precise machining. It can still effectively replace the high cost of commercial CNC machines and be used in any higher education institution offering technical courses