A knowledge-based environment for modelling and computer-aided process planning of rapid manufacturing processes

This paper introduces a knowledge-based environment dedicated to the choice of rapid manufacturing processes. Rapid manufacturing processes are not limited to layer-manufacturing machines, but they also integrate CAD, reverse engineering, indirect methods for metallic and plastic part manufacturing etc... Due to short delays, people have no time to test and compare different solutions of rapid manufacturing. Tests are also money consuming and it is very difficult for someone to know all about industrial technologies and to be able to evaluate a multi-criteria choice at a time. The aim of the presented knowledge-based environment is to propose, from the client requirement, different alternatives of rapid manufacturing processes, which can be ordered and optimised when considering a combination of different specification criteria (cost, quality, delay, aspect, material, etc... At present a first version of the conceptual model has been implemented on Kadviser platform and validation tests are ongoing based on industrial case studies.