A MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND MATERIALS DESIGN ADVISOR

Abstract

A computer assisted tool, called the DESIGN ADVISOR, has been developed to help obtain a compatible set of candidate materials and manufacturing processes in a fast and straightforward manner. Information for seventeen manufacturing processes includes animations, written descriptions, still pictures and geometric design rules; information for forty-two materials includes written information and data. The DESIGN ADVISOR determines candidate manufacturing processes based on user-specified levels of one or more of seven manufacturing attributes; namely, surface condition, dimensional accuracy, complexity of shape, size, production run or production rate, and cost. The determination of candidate materials is based on the user-specified levels of one or more of eleven material attributes; namely, yield strength/density, fracture toughness/density, elastic modulus/density, high temperature strength/density, density, magnetic properties, electrical resistivity, thermal distortion, thermal insulation, solvent resistance, and cost. It also determines the suitability of candidate manufacturing processes with the candidate materials, and ranks the suitability of each candidate material within each candidate manufacturing process.