Advanced Materials Research Vols. 44-46

Abstract: Function modeling and evolution is a key stage in conceptual product design. To enable the efficient functional evolution, the functional evolution process needs to be modeled and managed in a systematic way. Current PDM systems can effectively manage the ‘final’ product data and information, but can not deal with documentation about the function design and related evolution process. Therefore, a functional evolution process modeling management mechanism has been proposed and a related computer aided system has been developed. Firstly, in an attempt to achieve a shared understanding of the functional evolution activities, a set of consistent and coherent definitions of the functional evolution activities are deliberated and presented. Four basic pairs of function evolution directions have been presented to describe what each specific function evolution design activity entails, and the function structuring is circumscribed with defined causal function relations and structural function relations. Then, a function evolution process model is introduced, aiming to give a support for obtaining an appropriate representation of information about (1) function version which can reflect the phases of function evolution process, and (2) function evolution activities which compose the whole function evolution process. A framework for functional evolution process management has been established, which can not only capture evolution of function objects, but also record the designer’s functional design intent systematically.

Abstract: The paper presents an innovative process of designing elastic braces to protect injured joints. Based on the included box of 3D scanned data from the injured joint, a smallish tentative elastic brace is designed. The strain energy is derived from the strain energy density function, which is the function of the dimension of the brace, elastic material’s parameters and the motion of the joint. The stiffness is then confirmed by the derivative of the strain energy. Compared to the stiffness prescribed by the physician, the modification of these parameters is done until it meets the requirement. For effective calculation, mesh simplification and parameterization techniques are applied, which have been widely investigated in computer graphics field. The proposed approach to strain energy and stiffness calculation makes it available to design a custom-made elastic brace for injured joints. The simulation results prove it work quite well for designing medical assistive devices. The research is useful for developing medical devices and intelligent robots.

Abstract: This paper puts forward a method for a location system for colliery worker based on wireless mesh network combined with zigbee technology which supports IEEE 802.15.4 wireless communication standard, with low power dissipation. Data receipt and transmission by wireless communication is realized by RF chip MC13192 produced by Freescale company. Data procession and analysis is achieved by S3C2410A chip manufactured by Sumsung which belongs to ARM9 16/32 RISC processor.

Abstract: An effective process was developed using electroremoval as a precision removal-process for indium tin oxide (ITO) thin-film nanostructures from the displays’ color filter surface of thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs). The low yield of ITO thin-film deposition is an important factor in semiconductor production. By establishing a recycling process using the ultra-precise removal of thin-film nanostructures, the semiconductor optoelectronic industry can effectively recycle defective products, minimizing both production costs and pollution. For the removal-process, high rotational speed of the electrode (negative-pole) elevates the discharge mobility and results in improved removal. High flow velocity of the electrolyte provides larger discharge mobility and greater removal ability. An adequate gap-width between the negative-electrode and the ITO surface, or a higher working temperature, results in a higher removal rate for ITO thin-films. Also, adequate feed rate of the color filter combined with enough electrical power produces a fast removal rate. Pulsed direct current can improve the effect of dregs discharge and is advantageous to associate with the fast feed rate of the workpiece (displays’ color filter), but it raises the current rating. Electrochemical removal requires only a short period of time to remove the ITO thin-film easily and cleanly.

Abstract: A new tool product consists of an effective electrode and a nonconductive roller utilizing rolling-leveling assistance in ultrasonic electrochemical finishing, as a continuous surface finishing process following turning is investigated. Through a simple equipment attachment, ultrasonic electrochemical finishing and rolling-leveling can follow to execute the finishing process on the same machine. The submitted processes may be used for various turning operations. Among the factors affecting rolling-leveling combined with the ultrasonic electrochemical finishing, the performance of the design tool product is primarily discussed. In the experiment, the electrode is used with a continuous and a pulsed direct current. The experimental parameters are frequency and power level of ultrasonics, die material, electrical current rating, feed rate of tool electrode and roller, rotational speed of the workpiece, pulsed period, and tool geometry. A higher workpiece rotational speed produces a better finishing result. The design change of the tool from a semicircle to a wedge-form with small end radius brings about a reduction of the electrolytic dregs and heat more rapidly, and performs the best finishing result. The finishing effect of pulsed direct current is slightly better than using continuous direct current. The average effect of the ultrasonics is better than the pulsed current, while the machining time does not need to be prolonged by the off-time. An effective and low-cost finish process through the tool product design utilizing the rolling-leveling assistance in the ultrasonic electrochemical finishing after the turning process make the surface of the workpiece smooth and bright in a shorter period of time.

Abstract: Robust optimization design essentially has multiple objectives. The compromise Decision Support Problem (DSP) is a multi-objective mathematical programming formulation that is used to model engineering decisions involving multiple tradeoffs. In this paper, the compromise DSP is introduced to robust optimization design, and mathematic model of a compromise DSP for robust optimization design is presented. In this framework, the tradeoff between the mean and deviation of performance is made by solving the bi-objective robust design problem. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, a case study involving the design of the compensative pulley block of luffing mechanism is considered.

Abstract: Configuration design lies in the later stage of the conceptual design. It affects the downstream of design process and decides product structure. Therefore, it is necessary to pursue an approach to support such design stage activities. Port, as the location of intended interaction, plays an important role in the configuration design, which abstractly represents the intended exchange of signals, energy or material in a convenient way. Ontology is an unambiguous and flexible semantic specification corresponding entities, and it can effectively describe the function of port. In this paper, we firstly give port concept and port functional description, and their semantic synthesis is used to describe port ontology. Second, we build an ontology repository which contains the assorted primitive concepts and primitive knowledge to map the component connections and interactions. Meanwhile we provide a model of port-based multi-views which contains functional view, behavior view and configuration view, and gives the attributes and taxonomy of ports. Next, a port-based ontology language (PBOL) is described to represent the process of port ontology refinement, and a port-based FBS modeling framework is presented to describe system configuration. Finally, a revised tape case is given to show the application of the port-based ontology.

Abstract: In the appearance design of a product, the designer should combine his/her creative thinking with the industrial design approaches and skills to carry out the creative design from the aspects of product’s shape, color and texture, etc. However, from the viewpoint of the brand, a company or a product should have its own unique style of appearance. How to balance the creativity of designer and the original style is often a contradiction in product design. Based on this consideration, this paper presented a concept of Inheriting Degree (ID) in product appearance design. The visual characteristics of the product appearance were analyzed first and the hierarchical system for ID in product appearance design was established. The idiographic indexes of ID were given for a product’s appearance in shapes, colors and textures, respectively. By introducing set theory, the mathematical models were established and calculation formulae for each kind of ID were proposed. The results of this paper would provide a theoretical foundation for designer to generate design concepts in brand products. It also would provide a guideline for the development of computer aided design and evaluation system for the appearance design of brand products.

Abstract: Ball lock punches with non-circular sections, as a cutting tool in carbide dies, are widely used in car manufacturing industries. In this paper a simple method to produce non-circular cutting punches is presented. From this point of view, first of all, all the methods are analyzed and among them jig grinding as the best one is introduced. In continuation, the attachments of this method like grinding tool selection, mechanical attachments to CNC grinding machine is analyzed. Finally, the simple Visual Software to create motion codes is programmed.

Abstract: A function-oriented designing and generating technology for the point-contact tooth surfaces of spiral bevel and hypoid gears is introduced. The tooth surface parameters are determined directly with the designing variables of the instantaneous transmission function, the locus of tooth contact points and the tooth contact ellipse dimension to design the point-contact tooth surfaces with the expected performances. The formulae for designing are provided. The designed tooth surfaces are generated with the free-form bevel gear machine, and the basic equations and formulae for the four-axis generating of the tooth surfaces are presented. The generating motions are expressed as the functions of the work gear rotary angle, which is taken as a motion parameter. The methods to determine the motion functions and the other machine setting parameters are explained through an example.