CAFixD: A Case-Based Reasoning Fixture Design Method. Framework and Indexing Mechanisms

Abstract

Fixtures accurately locate and secure a part during machining operations. Various computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) methods have been developed to reduce design costs associated with fixturing. One approach uses a case-based reasoning (CBR) method where relevant design experience is retrieved from a design library and adapted to provide a new design solution. Indexing design cases is a critical issue in CBR, and CBR systems can suffer from an inability to distinguish between cases if indexing is inadequate. This paper presents CAFixD, a CAFD methodology that adopts a rigorous approach to defining indexing attributes based upon axiomatic design functional requirement decomposition. A design requirement is decomposed in terms of functional requirements, physical solutions are retrieved and adapted for each individual requirement, and the design is then reconstituted to form a complete fixture design. This paper presents the CAFixD framework and operation, and discusses in detail the indexing mechanisms used.