Engineering knowledge formalization and proposition for informatics development towards a CAD-integrated DfX system for product design. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Favi, Claudio; Campi, Federico; Germani, Michele; Mandolini, Marco
• Is Part Of: Advanced engineering informatics. Volume 51(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: DfX -- CAD -- Design guidelines -- Design rules -- Feature recognition -- Engineering knowledge -- Ontology; 2D Two dimensional -- 3D Three dimensional -- BOM Bill of Materials -- CAD Computer Aided Design -- CAPP Computer-aided process planning -- DB Database -- DfA Design for Assembly -- DfD Design for Disassembly -- DfM Design for Manufacturing -- DfX Design for X -- DfW Design for Welding -- GUI Graphic User interface -- KB Knowledge Based -- KPI Key Performance Indicator -- N.A. Not Applicable -- OWL Ontology Web Language -- PCB Printed Circuit Board -- PDP Product Development Process -- PMI Product and Manufacturing Information -- QFD Quality Function Deployment; Computer-aided engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 620.00285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aei.2022.101537
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-0346

Abstract

Abstract: Target design methodologies (DfX) were developed to cope with specific engineering design issues such as cost-effectiveness, manufacturability, assemblability, maintainability, among others. However, DfX methodologies are undergoing the lack of real integration with 3D CAD systems. Their principles are currently applied downstream of the 3D modelling by following the well-known rules available from the literature and engineers' know-how (tacit internal knowledge). This paper provides a method to formalize complex DfX engineering knowledge into explicit knowledge that can be reused for Advanced Engineering Informatics to aid designers and engineers in developing mechanical products. This research work wants to define a general method (ontology) able to couple DfX design guidelines (engineering knowledge) with geometrical product features of a product 3D model (engineering parametric data). A common layer for all DfX methods (horizontal) and dedicated layers for each DfX method (vertical) allow creating the suitable ontology for the systematic collection of the DfX rules considering each target. Moreover, the proposed framework is the first step for developing (future work) a software tool to assist engineers and designers during product development (3D CAD modelling). A design for assembly (DfA) case study shows how to collect assembly rules in the given framework. It demonstrates the applicability of the CAD-integrated DfX system in the mechanical design of a jig-crane. Several benefits are recognized: (i) systematic collection of DfA rules for informatics development, (ii) identification of assembly issues in the product development process, and (iii) reduction of effort and time during the design review.