Knowledge Integrated Computer Aided Engineering System for Casting Process and Mold Design

该计划的总体目标是通过提供知识集成的计算机辅助工程和制造工具和方法来支持美国精密铸造行业的现代化，以显著缩短模具和工艺设计的周期时间，并降低成品铸造产品的废品率。这种方法是利用UES在过去三年中开发的知识库集成和并行计算技术，用于(1)将现有的数据库和知识与CAD/CAM/CAE(计算机辅助设计、计算机辅助制造和计算机辅助工程)工具集成，以指导设计者确定关键工艺和设计参数；(2)加快用于优化设计过程的过程建模技术。在供应商行业环境中，拟议的系统将是实用的、具有成本效益的和有利可图的。在第一阶段，将进行可行性研究，以确定执行战略，在第二阶段，将开发一个原型产品，并对该方法进行验证。原型产品将在美国的四到五家主要铸造厂生产和实施。为了实现第三阶段的目标，将成立一个铸造厂联盟。

The overall objective of this program is to support the modernization of the precision casting industries in the United States by providing knowledge integrated Computer Aided Engineering and Manufacturing tools and methodologies for significantly reducing the cycle-time for mold and process design and for reducing the rate of rejection of finished cast products. The approach is to make use of Knowledge-Base Integration and Parallel Computation techniques, which have been developed by UES during the last three years, for (1) integrating existing data bases and knowledge with CAD/CAM/CAE (computer-aided design, computer- aided manufacturing, and computer-aided engineering) tools to guide the designer in determining key process and design parameters; (2) speed up process modeling techniques used for optimizing the design procedure. The proposed system will be practical, cost effective and profitable in the vendor industrial environment. During Phase I a feasibility study will be conducted to identify the implementation strategy and in Phase II a prototype product will be developed and the approach will be validated. The prototype product will be productized and implemented in four or five major foundries in the United States. To achieve the goals of Phase III, a consortium of foundries will be formed.