Application of mass customization and knowledge-based design techniques for the development of aeronautical shape-tools

摘要

Developing shape-tools for the manufacturing and assembling of aeronautical pieces is an extensively knowledge based process. There is a great number of similar tools with short series of final pieces. In this work, we analyze the shape-tool manufacturing process in order to assemble a knowledge base that lets us to reduce the efforts and costs of the process. We have started analyzing the cutting and folding shape-tools. The shape-tool design process has been modeled as a STE (Specification →Translation →Evaluation) system. Both the description of the process and the designed shape-tools have been modeled using an extension of the CommonKADS methodology. Our first objective was modeling the design knowledge, taking advantage of the reduction of costs (30%) detected when most trained designers model the shape-tools. Next step will be the development of a customized design framework, which automates partially the design process.