A knowledge-based design advisory system for collaborative design for micromanufacturing

Dai, X. and Qin, Yi and Ma, L. and Juster, N. (2009) A knowledge-based design advisory system for collaborative design for micromanufacturing. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology. ISSN 0268-3768

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Abstract

The manufacture of micro-products differs from that of conventional products in many ways, not only in the sizes, but also in issues concerning the effects of material properties, tools and manufacturing equipment. There was a need for a new design methodology and associated design tools to aid designers in assessing the design of their micro-products by considering new micro-manufacturing capabilities and constraints. A knowledge-based Design Advisory System (DAS) was, therefore, developed in MASMICRO in which the knowledge-based system with dedicated assessment modules and knowledge representatives based on the ontology was created to implement the distributed design and manufacturing assessment for micro-manufacturing. The modules address the assessment on geometrical features relating to manufacturability, manufacturing processes, selection of materials, tools and machines, as well as manufacturing cost. The Microsoft C# programming language, ASP.NET web technology, Prolog and Microsoft Access database were used to develop the DAS. The test on the DAS prototype system found to provide an increase of design efficiency due to more efficiently using design and manufacturing knowledge and affording a web-based collaborative design environment.

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