Design by manufacturing simulation

Abstract

An alternative approach to conventional geometric based computer aided design
systems is presented. Within this new approach manufacturing modes are used as the primary input to the design process. By directly actuating a simulation of machine tools and displaying the response of the material to this machine action, manufacturing constraints are captured at the design stage. Both manufacturing and design data can be generated concurrently, leading to a reduction in prototyping development lead times.
Geometric and physical models of the manufacturing process are combined through the development of an interaction rule base to form a manufacturing simulation of the bending and forming process. These interaction rules interpret interactions of the geometric models and automatically generates constraints information required by the finite element engine, which performs the physical modelling task, and allows it to be fully embedded.
Design trials are presented in which designers successfully used the design by
manufacturing simulation approach to design metallic fastenings significantly faster than the traditional computer aided design approach.

Date of Award	Oct 1994
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Portsmouth
Supervisor	David Harrison (Supervisor), John Billingsley (Supervisor) & David Sanders (Supervisor)