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Virginia Tech

Automatic modification of part geometries subject to manufacturing constraints using fuzzy logic

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

There is frequently a need for algorithms capable of automatic modification of geometric models in response to manufacturing process constraints. Designers typically initiate product models using ideal, exact geometry; however, several non-traditional manufacturing processes frequently require slight modifications to the ideal model to accommodate various manufacturing process constraints. These modifications can be difficult, complex, and tedious to compute. For instance, metal-ceramic brazing requires adjustments to the part geometry primarily to accommodate thermal expansion and to allow for the insertion of a narrow braze-filler gap. These adjustments depend on the particular geometry, material properties, and processing parameters. Any modification to these product model parameters necessitates extensive recomputation to reestablish a manufacturable part geometry. This thesis demonstrates in part the integration of geometry into the overall product model by having the non-geometric parts of the product model provide feedback to the geometry by means of automatically modifying its shape. The methodology is demonstrated in a prototype model which introduces the concept of auxiliary geometric structures. In particular, the auxiliary geometric structures provide a mapping between the designer's intent and the part geometry described in the solid model. The designer's intent is represented in a rule base for metal-ceramic brazing that is controlled by fuzzy logic. This rule base aids the user in quantifying and generating from the auxiliary geometric structures the geometric modifications needed to conform with a complex set of rules derived from both analytic and empirical work in metal-ceramic brazing

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1996

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bass, Henry Morgan
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Bohn, Jan Helge
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Myklebust, Arvid
  • Mitchiner, Reginald G.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-10072005-094854
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/45086

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bass, Henry Morgan. Automatic modification of part geometries subject to manufacturing constraints using fuzzy logic. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/45086