Papers by Author: X. Li

Abstract: To enhance the ability and reliability of product variant design, an object-oriented framework was constructed using an extensible module/product class for setting up a modular design model. A module/product in a class was identified as an object by encapsulating the involved information as properties and the transforming or interaction activities as operations. This extensible object was gradually optimized through communications with other objects and integrations of design knowledge in five domains. These include Customer, Functional, Physical, Process and Engineering, which is a new domain introduced in this paper. The programmatic framework was implemented and successfully demonstrated using some typical machine tool products.

Abstract: To effectively determine the key parameters of a model for complex mechanical products like hydraulic forging press (HFP), design cases were analyzed, user requirements (URs) quantified, and important mechanical structural variables (SVs) addressed to identify the underlying relationships between URs and SVs. By including experts’ experiences, empirical models were mathematically built and verified basing on the linear regression theory, and then applied to estimate practical variable values. The programmatic framework presented for the preliminary design of a product was implemented and successfully demonstrated on the preliminary design of an HFP company.