Computer Aided Design Using a Knowledge Base Approach and its Application to the Design of Jigs and Fixtures

Abstract

The design of jigs and fixtures is generally on the critical path of a new product and thus speed is essential in both their design and subsequent manufacture. They must also be well and economically designed. This paper describes an interactive C ADC AM based jig and fixture design procedure which has been developed using a knowledge base which could subsequently become part of an expert system. The approach used both increases the speed of design and encourages designers to improve standardization to speed manufacture. The procedure starts with the component which is to be machined and ends by producing a general arrangement and detail drawings of a finished jig. The paper describes the elements of the software package, JIGS, which implements the procedure. JIGS is shown to offer designers considerable flexibility in its use.