Coding and clustering of design and manufacturing features for concurrent design

A feature modeling system using two types of features, design features and manufacturing features, is introduced for modeling these two product life-cycle aspects. Design features, represented as mechanical components and mechanisms, are used for modeling design candidates to satisfy design functions. A design feature coding system is developed based on the analysis of design functions. A fuzzy pattern clustering algorithm is employed to organize the large design feature library into hierarchical feature groups. Required design features are identified using graph-based search. A manufacturing feature is a geometric element to be produced. A manufacturing feature coding system is developed based on the analysis of product geometry and production operations. A group-technology-like approach is introduced to organize components into groups according to their manufacturing feature codes using a fuzzy clustering algorithm. Production operations are optimized by a special optimization module. The two coding systems have been implemented in a feature-based, integrated concurrent design system for generating design candidates and planning production processes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.