An integrated computer-aided modular fixture design system for machining semi-circular parts

Productivity is one of the most important factors in manufacturing processes because of the high level of market competition. In this regard, modular fixtures (MFs) play an important role in practically improving productivity in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) due to this technology using highly productive computer numerical control (CNC) machines. MFs consist of devices called jigs and fixtures for accurately holding the workpiece during different machining operations. The design process is complex, and traditional methods of MF design were not sufficiently productive. Computer-aided design (CAD) software has rapidly improved as a result of the development of computer technology, and has provided huge opportunities for modular fixture designers to use its 3D modelling capabilities to develop more automated systems. Computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) systems have become automated by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This study will investigate the further improvement of automated CAFD systems by using AI tools. In this research, an integrated CAFD is developed by considering four main requirements: · a 3D model of the workpiece, · an expert system, · assembly automation of MFs, · an efficient feature library. The 3D model is an important factor that can provide the appropriate specification of the workpiece; SolidWorks is used the CAD environment for undertaking the 3D modelling in this study. The expert system is applied as a tool to make right decisions about the CAFD planning process, including locating and clamping methods and their related element selection. This helps achieve a feasible fixture design layout. SolidWorks API and Visual Basic programming language are employed for the automating and simulation of the assembly process of MFs. A feature library of modular fixture elements is constructed as a means to simplify the fixture design process

Numerical Awareness in Control

Algorithm development, sensitivity and accuracy issues, large-scale computations, and high-performance numerical softwar

Pembangunan Modul Pengajaran Kendiri (MPK) keusahawanan dalam topik isu keusahawanan bagi pelajar diploma di politeknik

Terdapat pelbagai kaedah pembelajaran yang telah diperkenalkan termasuklah kaedah pembelajaran yang menggunakan pendekatan pembelajaran bermodul secara kendiri. Kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengkaji kesesuaian Modul Pengajaran Kendiri Keusahawanan dalam topik Isu Keusahawanan yang telah dihasilkan bagi pelajar yang mengikuti pengajian Diploma di Jabatan Perdagangan Politeknik. Antara aspek yang dikaji ialah untuk menilai sama ada rekabentuk modul yang dihasilkan dapat memenuhi ciri-ciri modul yang baik, MPK yang dihasilkan dapat membantu mencapai objektif pembelajaran, MPK ini bersifat mesra pengguna dan MPK yang dihasilkan membantu pensyarah menyampaikan pengajarannya dengan lebih berkesan. Kajian ini dilakukan ke atas 110 orang pelajar semester en am yang mengikuti pengajian diploma dan 4 orang pensyarah yang mengajar subjek Keusahawanan di Jabatan Perdagangan Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Selangor. Kaedah analisa data yang digunakan dalam kajian ini ialah skor min dan peratus. Hasil daripada kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa rekabentuk modul yang dihasilkan memenuhi ciri-ciri modul yang baik, MPK ini membantu untuk mencapai objektif pembelajaran, MPK ini bersifat mesra pengguna dan MPK yang dihasilkan dapat membantu pensyarah menyampaikan pengajarannya dengan lebih berkesan. Ini bermakna secara keseluruhannya, hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa modul yang dihasilkan oleh pengkaji adalah sesuai digunakan oleh pelajar-pelajar semester enam yang mengikuti pengajian diploma di Jabatan Perdagangan peringkat politeknik. Seterusnya, beberapa pandangan telah dikemukakan bagi meningkatkan rnutu dan kualiti MPK yang dihasilkan. Semoga kajian ini dapat memberi manfaat kepada mereka yang terlibat dalam bidang pendidikan

Kinematic analysis of quick-return mechanism in three various approaches

Članak se bavi kinematičkom analizom Whitwordovog mehanizma koja je izvedena u tri različite metode. Suvremene metode su računalno potpomognute s posebnim softverom za analizu obrade, koji može simulirati ne samo gibanje mehanizma, već može odrediti i položaj, brzinu, ubrzanje, sile, momente te druge parametre u svakom trenutku vremena, ali je potrebna provjera i razumijevanje zakona mehanike. Cilj je kinematičke analize istražiti gibanje pojedinih komponenti mehanizma (ili njegovih važnih točaka) u ovisnosti o gibanju pobuđivača. Ovdje su opisani osnovni principi triju pristupa te prednosti i nedostaci prezentiranih rješenja. Dobiveni se rezultati mogu usporediti, ako su rabljeni isti ulazni parametri.The article deals with kinematic analysis of quick-return mechanism that is executed by three various methods. The modern methods are computer aided with the special software for analysis processing, which can simulate not only the motion of the mechanism, but can define the position, velocity, acceleration, forces, moments and other parameters at every moment of time, but verification and mechanics laws understanding are necessary. The goal of the kinematic analysis is to investigate the motion of individual components of mechanism (or its important points) in dependence on the motion of drivers. The article describes the basic principles of three approaches, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of presented solutions. The obtained results can be compared, if the same input parameters are used

CAD/CAM, CNC TECHNOLOGY APPLIED IN THE FIELD OF ENGINEERING, SECURITY TECHNOLOGY AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER TRAINING I.

In the last decades the spectacular results of each developmental stages of computer-aided design, were considered as great magic of computer use. Professionals were shocked by the impressive building of engineer works and their more and more realistic appearance. It was hard to believe and for many people it still is that this technology becomes indispensable in everyday engineering work. By now, in front-rank product development, it is impossible to do a competitive designer work without applying the most up-to- date design technology. This all leads to the fact that an engineer student of our days, in his design practice, is definitely going to work with the momentarily most up-to-date technology, which will be out-of-date in a couple of years. | A számítógépek alkalmazásának nagy varázslatai közé számított az elmúlt évtizedekben a számítógépen végzett tervezés egy-egy fejlıdési szakaszának látványos eredménye. Szakembereket is meghökkentett a mérnöki alkotások látványos építése és mind valósághőbb megjelenítése. Nehezen hitték, sıt sokan ma is nehezen hiszik azt, hogy a mérnöki munka mindennapjaiban is nélkülözhetetlenné válik ez a technika. Mára az élvonalbeli termékfejlesztésben a mindenkori legjobb tervezési technika igénybevétele nélkül képtelenség versenyképes tervezımunkát végezni. Ennek következtében napjaink mérnökhallgatója tervezıi gyakorlatában minden bizonnyal a ma legkorszerőbbnek számító, de néhány év alatt elavuló módszert leváltó technikával fog dolgozni. Keywords/kulcsszavak: computer aided design, CAD1/CAM2, CNC3 ~ számítógépes tervezés, CAD/CAM, CN

Sciduction: Combining Induction, Deduction, and Structure for Verification and Synthesis

Even with impressive advances in automated formal methods, certain problems in system verification and synthesis remain challenging. Examples include the verification of quantitative properties of software involving constraints on timing and energy consumption, and the automatic synthesis of systems from specifications. The major challenges include environment modeling, incompleteness in specifications, and the complexity of underlying decision problems. This position paper proposes sciduction, an approach to tackle these challenges by integrating inductive inference, deductive reasoning, and structure hypotheses. Deductive reasoning, which leads from general rules or concepts to conclusions about specific problem instances, includes techniques such as logical inference and constraint solving. Inductive inference, which generalizes from specific instances to yield a concept, includes algorithmic learning from examples. Structure hypotheses are used to define the class of artifacts, such as invariants or program fragments, generated during verification or synthesis. Sciduction constrains inductive and deductive reasoning using structure hypotheses, and actively combines inductive and deductive reasoning: for instance, deductive techniques generate examples for learning, and inductive reasoning is used to guide the deductive engines. We illustrate this approach with three applications: (i) timing analysis of software; (ii) synthesis of loop-free programs, and (iii) controller synthesis for hybrid systems. Some future applications are also discussed

Computer-Aided System for Wind Turbine Data Analysis

Context: The current work on wind turbine failure detection focuses on researching suitable signal processing algorithms and developing efficient diagnosis algorithms. The laboratory research would involve large and complex data, and it can be a daunting task. Aims: To develop a Computer-Aided system for assisting experts to conduct an efficient laboratory research on wind turbine data analysis. System is expected to provide data visualization, data manipulation, massive data processing and wind turbine failure detection. Method: 50G off-line SCADA data and 4 confident diagnosis algorithms were used in this project. Apart from the instructions from supervisor, this project also gained help from two experts from Engineering Department. Java and Microsoft SQL database were used to develop the system. Results: Data visualization provided 6 different charting solutions and together with robust user interactions. 4 failure diagnosis solutions and data manipulations were provided in the system. In addition, dedicated database server and Matlab API with Java RMI were used to resolve the massive data processing problem. Conclusions: Almost all of the deliverables were completed. Friendly GUI and useful functionalities make user feel more comfortable. The final product does enable experts to conduct an efficient laboratory research. The end of this project also gave some potential extensions of the system

Research and Education in Computational Science and Engineering

Over the past two decades the field of computational science and engineering (CSE) has penetrated both basic and applied research in academia, industry, and laboratories to advance discovery, optimize systems, support decision-makers, and educate the scientific and engineering workforce. Informed by centuries of theory and experiment, CSE performs computational experiments to answer questions that neither theory nor experiment alone is equipped to answer. CSE provides scientists and engineers of all persuasions with algorithmic inventions and software systems that transcend disciplines and scales. Carried on a wave of digital technology, CSE brings the power of parallelism to bear on troves of data. Mathematics-based advanced computing has become a prevalent means of discovery and innovation in essentially all areas of science, engineering, technology, and society; and the CSE community is at the core of this transformation. However, a combination of disruptive developments---including the architectural complexity of extreme-scale computing, the data revolution that engulfs the planet, and the specialization required to follow the applications to new frontiers---is redefining the scope and reach of the CSE endeavor. This report describes the rapid expansion of CSE and the challenges to sustaining its bold advances. The report also presents strategies and directions for CSE research and education for the next decade.Comment: Major revision, to appear in SIAM Revie