PECASE: Automated Design of Multi-Piece Molds -- A Step towards Manufacturing of Geometrically Complex Heterogeneous Objects

这项总统早期职业科学家和工程师奖(PECASE)资助了一项综合研究和教育项目，该项目涉及用于制造几何复杂的异类物体的多件模具的自动化设计领域。它的目标是开发基本的算法，使计算机辅助设计和制造(CAD/CAM)系统的开发成为可能，以自动设计多件模具。研究工作将集中在：(1)描述多件件模具所带来的新的设计空间；(2)开发将模具分解为可制造部件的几何推理算法；以及(3)开发将装配特征融入模具部件以便于模具装配的几何推理算法。教育工作将集中于：(1)在CAD/CAM课程中引入严格的算法基础；(2)使学生熟悉CAD/CAM系统开发中的挑战；以及(3)为学生提供为设计和制造多件模具而开发原型CAD/CAM系统的机会。将启动推广项目，让高中生接触CAD/CAM领域，并让他们有机会做出更有见地的职业选择；并让行业了解新的CAD/CAM和异类物体制造技术。如果成功，该项目将产生以下影响。首先，它将导致可制造性分析和可制造性驱动的空间划分领域中新的几何推理算法的发展。除了模具设计，这些算法在其他几个CAD/CAM应用程序中也很有用。其次，它将为制造几何复杂的异质物体提供一种商业上可行的方法。经济地制造几何复杂的异质物体的能力将极大地扩展设计空间，并将允许在许多不同领域开发新产品。最后，将几何推理原理整合到机械工程课程中将有助于培养新一代工程师，他们将在传统的机械工程课程之外接触几何算法。此次曝光有望帮助工程师为参与下一代CAD/CAM系统的开发做好准备。

This Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) grant supports an integrated research and education project in the area of automated design of multi-piece molds for manufacturing geometrically complex heterogeneous objects. Its goal is to develop underlying algorithms that will enable development of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems for automatically designing multi-piece molds. The research effort will focus on: (1) characterization of the new design space enabled by multi-piece molds; (2) development of geometric reasoning algorithms for decomposing molds into manufacturable components; and (3) development of geometric reasoning algorithms for incorporating assembly features into mold components for facilitating mold assembly. The education effort will focus on: (1) introduction of rigorous algorithmic foundations into CAD/CAM courses; (2) familiarizing students with the challenges in the CAD/CAM system development; and (3) providing students an opportunity to develop prototype CAD/CAM systems for design and manufacturing of multi-piece molds. Outreach projects will be initiated to expose high school students to the CAD/CAM field and give them an opportunity to make a more informed career choice; and, allow industry to learn about new CAD/CAM and heterogeneous object manufacturing technologies. If successful this project will have the following impacts. First, it will lead to the development of new geometric reasoning algorithms in manufacturability analysis and manufacturability-driven spatial partitioning areas. In addition to mold design, these algorithms will be useful in several other CAD/CAM applications. Second, it will provide a commercially viable method for making geometrically complex heterogeneous objects. The ability to manufacture geometrically complex heterogeneous objects economically will significantly expand the design space and will allow development of new products in many different areas. Finally, integration of geometric reasoning principles into the mechanical engineering curriculum will help in creating a new generation of engineers who will have exposure to geometric algorithms in addition to traditional mechanical engineering curriculum. This exposure is expected to help in preparing engineers for participating in the development of the next generation CAD/CAM systems.