Development of a feature-based and object-oriented concurrent engineering system

Abstract Concurrent engineering seeks to reduce the length of the design life cycle by allowing multiple engineers to work on a design concurrently using their different design tools. A major stumbling block in achieving this goal is that most design tools use different file formats. Emerging standards such as STEP/PDES/EXPRESS reduce this barrier, but conformance to standards is not enough. One reason design tools have different file formats is because each tool requires a different perspective or view of the design. Engineering databases must provide designers with the ability to define application specific views of design data, and the ability to propagate changes among those related views. In this paper, we examine how an object-oriented database system can support the definition of application views using a class hierarchy and multiple inheritance.

Download Full-text

A Manufacturability Evaluation and Improvement System

3rd International Conference on Design Theory and Methodology ◽

10.1115/detc1991-0051 ◽

1991 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas J. Yannoulakis ◽

Sanjay B. Joshi ◽

Richard A. Wysk

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Concurrent Engineering ◽

Knowledge Bases ◽

Machining Parameters ◽

Life Cycle Design ◽

Machined Parts ◽

Feature Based ◽

Feature Based Design ◽

Manufacturability Evaluation ◽

Quantitative Indicators

Abstract The increasing application of CAE has lead to the evolution of Concurrent Engineering — a philosophy that prescribes simultaneous consideration of the life-cycle design issues of a product. The Concurrent Engineering (CE) systems that have been developed so far have relied on knowledge bases and qualitative evaluations of a part’s manufacturability for feedback to the design engineer. This paper describes a method for developing quantitative indicators of manufacturability. Feature-based design and estimation of machining parameters are used for ascertaining a part’s manufacturing requirements. These requirements are then combined into indices which lead the designer to features that must be redesigned for improved manufacturability. This method is illustrated on a system for rotational machined parts: the Manufacturability Evaluation and Improvement System (MEIS).

Download Full-text

OBJECT-ORIENTED FEATURE-BASED DESIGN

Advances In Manufacturing Technology VIII ◽

10.1201/9781482272604-60 ◽

1994 ◽

pp. 380-385

Keyword(s):

Object Oriented ◽

Feature Based ◽

Feature Based Design

Download Full-text

Dynamic Binding of Features and Solid Modelers

19th Design Automation Conference: Volume 2 — Design Optimization; Geometric Modeling and Tolerance Analysis; Mechanism Synthesis and Analysis; Decomposition and Design Optimization ◽

10.1115/detc1993-0401 ◽

1993 ◽

Author(s):

Jami J. Shah ◽

Viren Pherwani

Keyword(s):

Geometric Modeling ◽

Object Oriented ◽

The Other ◽

Dynamic Binding ◽

Communication Architecture ◽

X Window ◽

Feature Based

Abstract The work described in this paper investigates the feasibility of standardizing communications between geometric modeling core systems and generic feature-based applications. Since geometric modelers differ in the functionality they provide and feature applications vary in the level of geometric operations they can support internally, a multi-layered communication architecture is proposed. The methodology is analogous to the X-Window standard for graphics. At the lowest level is a library of functions named Geo-lib, which are translated into geometric modeler specific commands. If there was to be a future dynamic interfacing standard, such as STEP-SDAI, these specific calls could be replaced by standard calls, analogous to Geo-Protocol. At the next layer is a library, called Geo-widgets, which are written entirely using Geo-lib functions. At the highest level Geo-Tools, functions used commonly by generic applications. Feature applications can choose to use the library at any level, as necessary. This multi-layered geometric toolkit creates a seamless object oriented bond between the feature application and the geometric modeling core, in such a way that either one could be replaced without requiring any changes to the other.

Download Full-text

Architectures of Concurrent Engineering System for Composites

Volume 7: 10th Engineering Information Management Symposium ◽

10.1115/96-detc/eim-1424 ◽

1996 ◽

Author(s):

Jian Zhang ◽

H. Thomas Hahn

Keyword(s):

Concurrent Engineering ◽

Life Cycle Cost ◽

Engineering System ◽

Functional Requirements ◽

System Architectures ◽

Composite Manufacturing ◽

Manufacturing Enterprises ◽

System Requirements ◽

Points Of View ◽

Process Productivity

Abstract The demand for the better quality products with shorter lead-time and lower life-cycle cost forces the manufacturing enterprises all around the world to optimize their production strategies from both enterprise engineering and enterprise operation respectively. This paper addresses the architectural issue of applying the Concurrent Engineering (CE) approach in the composite manufacturing area. It first discussed briefly the characteristics of composite manufacturing process to examine the feasibility and possibility of applying the CE approach to improve its process productivity and product quality. Then the functional requirements for a concurrent engineering system for composites (CESC) were defined from both operational and architectural points of view. Finally, the integrated infrastructure based system architectures for the CESC were presented in accordance with the physical system requirements, and so were the associated and currently conducted R&D focuses for the system.

Download Full-text

A Knowledge-Based System for Machining Operation Planning in Feature Based, Open-Architecture Manufacturing

Volume 1: Design for Manufacturing Conference ◽

10.1115/96-detc/dfm-1286 ◽

1996 ◽

Author(s):

James A. Stori ◽

Paul K. Wright

Keyword(s):

Machine Tool ◽

Tool Path ◽

Integrated Design ◽

Object Oriented ◽

Planning System ◽

Open Architecture ◽

Operation Planning ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Feature Based ◽

Machining Parameter

Abstract Within the Integrated Design And Manufacturing Environment (IMADE), operation planning provides a mapping from geometric design primitives to machining operation sequences for manufacturing processes. Operation planning includes tool selection, machining parameter selection, and tool path generation. An object oriented approach to program structure is adopted, whereby features, operations and tools, inherit behaviors and attributes from the appropriate class-hierarchies for the part, the manufacturing operations, and tooling classes. A detailed example is presented illustrating the operation planning search algorithm. Scripts are generated by the individual machining operations for execution on a machine tool. Tooling information is maintained in an object-oriented database through the FAR libraries for Common LISP. Examples of particular process plans show that the inherent trade-offs between specified precision and machining time can be investigated. An Open Architecture Machine Tool (MOSAIC-PM) has been used to machine the parts created by the feature based design and planning system. The novel contributions of this paper relate to the demonstration of “seamless” links between, a) design, b) planning, and c) actual fabrication by milling.

Download Full-text