Collaborative fixture design and analysis system with robustness for machining parts

Abstract

In this thesis, a distributed collaborative framework is presented for the fixture design and analysis using Web-Service-based service oriented architecture (WSSOA) in order to enables designers across the geographical boundaries to collaborate seamlessly to complete a design. The benefits of using WSSOA for the system are interoperability, platform-independence and language neutrality of web services and service-oriented architecture.

In order to seamlessly integrate various applications in a distributed collaborative platform, ontology models have been developed to represent fixture design processes at the following application domains: 3D parametric feature-based geometric modeling product, manufacturing related setup planning, fixture synthesis, and FEM-based fixture analysis.

Fixture-workpiece models and evaluation criteria are developed for robust fixture design to measure the product quality during domain space exploration. In addition, two optimization methods, a modified genetic algorithm and a modified particle swarm optimization, have been developed for the robust fixture design process. Both developed algorithms can be used to explore the 3D surface space and the clamping force range to search for optimal points and force values for robust fixture design. These developed algorithms are also deployed in the developed system.