Engineering design--Data processing

This thesis presents a methodology of Comparative Analysis of different Design for Assembly (DFA) Methods. Three DFA methods, Boothroyd's Design for Assembly, Design for Assembly Guidelines and Value Analysis are compared. A "Select DFA Software," is developed using Turbo C++, which would enable a product designer to make a comparative analysis of different DFA methods from which the designer can chose from. In using the Software the designer is not required to know in detail the different DFA methods. Responses to, easy to understand factors that affect the selection of a DFA method enables the designer to use the Software meaningfully. Two case studies are conducted for application of the DFA Software and the three different DFA methods.

The present trend in manufacturing technology indicates strong tendencies to integrate computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) to attain the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system. Computer aided process planning (CAPP) system serves as the key linkage that interfaces CAD and CAM. In this research, a CAPP system, namely, RD-CAPP was developed using the variant process planning approach. This system is used to generate process plans automatically. The RD-CAPP system developed during this research uses group technology (GT) concepts and a relational data model. The application of the relational database management system and GT provides various advantages such as ease of information management, ease of modification and updating of information stored, ease of interlinking of various databases, etc. The effectiveness of the system described has been verified through the use of industrial data. The results of the study along with the development of various modules and the computer programs are discussed in this thesis.

This thesis outlines the design philosophy and implementation aspects of a new interactive CAD tool implemented in BASIC language on an IBM PC/AT computer for single input single output (SISO) digital control systems. The direct Digital Control design method presented is classical in nature. The program main features are: (1) The use of Modified z-transform to model the effects of transport delay due to control computation time. (2) The use of windows on a split screen to allow the designer observation of the closed-loop step response while systematically shaping a root locus or synthesizing closed-loop pole/zero patterns. (3) Display of system response in between sampling instants.