Abstract
The process time and cost of a weld product depend largely on the decisions to select the weld orientation and relevant fixtures. Such decisions must be made at the early stages of the design process so that necessary design changes can easily be made to achieve an optimal design solution. However, traditional CAD and CAPP systems cannot support weld product design and welding process planning unless detailed design information is available. The present paper describes a "Design for Orientation"method which can be applied in the early stages of weld product design. The method is based on CAPABLE/Welding, which is an aggregate process planning system for weld products. By utilizing a feature-based aggregate product model in a concurrent engineering environment, feasible welding orientations can automatically be generated. Computer algorithms have been developed for evaluating the orientations of a weld feature, generating welding orientation options for a fabrication and processing the equipment constraints. The results can be used in the design process to reduce the number of set-ups, increase the efficiency of welding processes and reduce the cost of fixtures.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 3rd Design for Manufacturing Conference |
Publisher | American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780791880340 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Sept 1998 |
Event | ASME 1998 Design Engineering Technical Conferences, DETC 1998 - Atlanta, United States Duration: 13 Sept 1998 → 16 Sept 1998 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference |
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Volume | 4 |
Conference
Conference | ASME 1998 Design Engineering Technical Conferences, DETC 1998 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Atlanta |
Period | 13/09/1998 → 16/09/1998 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Alternatively, the fabrication is rotated by 90 demgroedeesl; the model stores only the essence of the design around the Y-axis to generate the result shown in Tainbfleo rm7.ation, such as weld directions and configuration in this Compared with the other solutions, this solution is proinbsatbanlyce. The aggregate product model should allow the better because it not only represents the minimum nurmepbreers oefntation of weld configuration concepts at an early stage set-ups, but also results in feature orientations with inh igdheesrign and form the basis for manufacturability analysis process efficiency. Together with other manufactuusriinngg aggregate planning methods. A simplified representation constraints, these results can be used to support furtheorf dtehsei gdnesign should also reduce processing requirements for decision-making. For example, if a factory has no sutihtaeb alessessment of redesign concepts. equipment for welding in overhead orientations, it is possiTbhleis paper describes the analysis of weld orientations for to complete the fabrication within two set-ups by makiinmgp oronveing manufacturability. This analysis can be applied side of weld feature 3 in the horizontal-vertical oriendtuartiinong the early stages of design and its results are intended to shown in Table 6 and the other side of weld feature 3 tiongfleutehnecre design decisions directly. Whilst there is no with the other weld features in the orientations shown ianu Ttoambleatic way to change the product model, the designer is 7. provided with an analysis of manufacture of design alternatives which can be used to improve the manufacturability of the DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS design. In particular, the method will highlight features within The research work presented herein forms part of ana efpforortposed design which would cause manufacturing to improve the integration of design and process pldanifnficinuglties. It is envisaged that the method will be extended to activities in weld fabrication design. In particular, the apnraolyvsidise some suggestions to improve manufacturability by the of orientation using aggregate process planning will mbordinifgication of feature characteristics (e.g. weld or joint type). together weld design, process planning, fixture design aAnltdhough early design is the main application domain of factory routing. The strategy of the methods uthned emr ethods, it is also possible to use this program to analyze development is to allow the analysis of design optionsd etosi gbne information abstracted from detailed product models for performed at an earlier stage by developing product smupodpeolrsting redesign activities. Future development of this work which can represent indeterminate product data. Twhiilsl foiscus on the following areas: achieved by using aggregate product and process models.R Tehfienement of the orientation selection algorithm: This aggregate product model is an abstraction of the full pwriolld purcotduce multi-criteria optimization strategies to allow the balancing of the number of set-ups, the number of fixtuMreasr oapnodulos, P.G., 1995, “A novel process planning the fixture complexity. This will include the developmenat rocfh aitnecture for product based manufacture”, Proceedings of aggregate level fixture modeling methodology and metthhoed sIM toechE, Part B—Journal of Engineering Manufacture, assess the benefits of alternative processing strategiesV osul. c2h0 9a,s No.4, p267-276 tack-and-weld or on-fixture welding. Weldability assessment and automated design: PaTnhdeey, S. et al., 1996, “Computer aided process planning—an analysis of weld orientations provides a starting poeinxtp etrot system approach”, in Lucas, W (ed.) Proceedings of the weldability analysis since the suitability of the design6 tfohr Ianternational Conference on Computer Technology in range of process alternatives may be assessed. The anWaleylsdisin ogf, paper 41 orientation could be extended by the development of feedback methods to influence weld and joint type selection. Park, J.C. et al., 1995, “Optimization of tool workpiece orientation in designing die-face automobile outer panels”, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Proceedings of the IMechE, Part B—Journal of Engineering The authors wish to acknowledge the support oMf atnhuefacture, Vol.209, No.1, p9-18 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK Grant GR/L14596. Special thanks go Stuoh, S.H. and Kang, J.K., 1995, “Process planning for multi-Caterpillar Peterlee Ltd. and Caterpillar Stockton Ltd., UaKx ifso rNC Machining of Free Surfaces”, International Journal of their support to this project during the past two years. Production Research, Vol.33, No.10, p2723-2738
Funding Information:
The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK Grant GR/L14596. Special thanks go to Caterpillar Peterlee Ltd. and Caterpillar Stockton Ltd., UK for their support to this project during the past two years.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 1998 by ASME.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
- Computer Science Applications
- Modelling and Simulation