This paper presents a content-search system built on distributed environments using the open product model of STEP, The content-search system searches design data for given product descriptions such as part name and features. Distribute object interfaces has been defined by IDL and distributed product data are searched through CORBA protocols. Web interfaces are also provided for interactive user interfaces. Given a user request, a mediator interacts with distributed search servers and sends collected results back to the user. The mediator has such metadata as location, program name, and other information about product data stored on distributed system. The search servers use SDAI interfaces to search STEP files or databases. The content-search system promotes the reuse of previous design within a company and the outsourcing of part designs.

An increasing attention is paid to STEP-NC, the next generation CNC controller interfacing STEP-compatible data. In this paper, we first propose an Architecture for the STEP-NC (called FBCC: Feature Baled CNC Controller) accepting feature code compatible with STEP-data, and executing NC motion feature by feature while monitoring the execution status. The main thrust of the paper has been to develop an automatic on-line tool path generation and modification scheme for milling operation. The tool path it generated iota each feature by decomposing into a finite number of primitive features. The key function in the new scheme is haw to accommodate unexpected execution results. In our scheme, the too1 path plinker is designed to have a tracing capability iota the tool path execution so that a new path can be generated from the point where the operation is stopped. An illustrative example is included to show the capability of the developed algorithm.

An inflection point on a curve is a point where the curvature vanishes. An inflection point is useful for various geometric operations such as the approximation of curves and intersection points between curves or curve approximations. An inflection point on planar Bezier curves can be easily detected using a hodograph and a derivative of hodograph, since the closed from of hodograph is known. In the case of rational Bezier curves, for the detection of inflection point, it is needed to use the first and the second derivatives have higher degree and are more complex than those of non-rational Bezier curvet. This paper presents three methods to detect inflection points of rational Bezier curves. Since the algorithms avoid explicit derivations of the first and the second derivatives of rational Bezier curve to generate polynomial of relatively lower degree, they turn out to be rather efficient. Presented also in this paper is the theoretical analysis of the performances of the algorithms as well as the experimental result.

Recently, electronic systems including computers have been rapidly shrinking in size while at the same time the complexity and the capability of these systems continue to grow/sup [1]/. Thus, system volumes have decreased as system power has increased, resulting in dramatic increases in system heat density. The high temperature of the computer system is considered as the major reason for low performance and shortening life of the product. It is necessary to solve this problem due to the heat density increased and to develop the design skill of the computer cabinet according to miniaturization. M4500 desk-top computer was selected for analyzing the thermal management inside cabinet. The cabinet volume, the configuration of the heating devices, the size and location of air ventilation, and the fan selection have been investigated as the important parameters to find out an optimal cabinet design. The objectives of this project were to analyze which design parameters would affect cooling performance by thermal strategy, to design an optimal model, and to measure the temperatures of the main parts to confirm the effect of the thermal design. The temperatures of each part of the optimal model were compared with those of the existing model. As a result. the volume of this miniaturized model was about 16% smaller than that of M4500 without any change in operating performance.

In this paper, we propose the framework of an integrated design system as a CAD system of a new concept that can incorporate the design information. Current CAD systems are powerful in representing the shape of a product with solid models but cannot provide the design information that is used or created in designing the product. Therefore an integrated design system is proposed to enable the storage and usage of the design information in addition to the shape manipulation. In order to represent the design information, we define element object that represents design element such as a part, a sub-assembly or an assembly by using object-oriented methodology. The element object carries various design information such as design parameters, documents, catalogues, functions, and behaviors as well as shapes. By using the stored information, the system can provide a designer with some functions to assist design activity such as interrogating necessary information, setting design parameters and goals, and constructing constraints among design elements. A mailing system is also constructed among element objects to assist a collaborative design. In addition, an evolutionary design method using genetic algorithms is realized within the proposed framework.

The punose of this paper is to introduce the comprehensive CAM system (called PosCAM) supporting various function requested from shop floor operators. PosCAM is comported of two subsystems (PosCAM I and PosCAM II) which are designed to make up for the contemporary CAD/CAM systems. PosCAM I is mainly for : a) verifying the part programs written in both custom macros and standard G-codes, b) enhancing machining productivity and quality with built-in cutting conditions and feedrate optimization algorithm. PosCAM II is for : a) efficiently managing the numerous part programs and tool data stored in CNC memory, and b) integratively controlling and monitoring various CNCs from the control center through RS-422 with DNC 2 protocol. The developed systems have been tested via various experiments, and can be Applied for the industrial CNC machine shop as a means for enhancing productivity. The PosCAM system has been implemented and successfully used in the Machine Shop Department of PosCAM since march 1998.

The problem of the computation of derivatives arises in various applications of rational Bezier curves. These applications sometimes require the computation of derivative on numerous points. Therefore, many researches have dealt with the representation for the computation of derivatives with the small computation error. This paper compares the performances of the representations for the derivative of rational Bezier curves in the performances. The performance is measured as computation requirements at the pre-processing stage and at the computation stage based on the theoretical derivation of computational bound as well as the experimental verification. Based on this measurement, this paper discusses which representation is preferable in different situations.

This paper presents a method for determining machining parameters in electrical discharge machining process (EDM) based on discharge area. The parameters are the peak value of currents, the pulse-on time, and the pulse-off time, on which the EDM performance depends chiefly. The optimal machining parameters are closely related on discharge area, which can be calculated from a tool electrode and a discharge height. In the paper the discharge area is obtained from NC code for machining the tool electrode instead of its geometric model. The method consists of following three steps. First a Z-Map model is constructed from the NC code. Secondly, the discharge area is obtained from the Z-Map model and a Z-height. Finally, the machining parameters are calculated from the discharge area. An introduced example shows that the machining parameters are calculated by the using a Z-map model obtained from the machining data for a tool electrode.

The paper proposed a basic architecture of an agent system to support exchange and sharing of design informations by means of ACL(Agent Communication Language) which can represent design informations and knowledges. Based on the architecture of the agent system a ship initial design agent system was implemented in order to show the effectiveness of the agent-based system. The basic architecture of the agent consists of an ACL handlerand CORBA(Common Object Request Broker Architecture) objects for the exchange of ACL messages in the heterogeneous and distributed environment. The ACL handler can process expressions of knowledge and manage communication messages among the agents. The paper mainly focuses on the implementation of the ACL handler. The ACL handler consist of a KQML(Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language) handler that manages KQML messages, a conversation module, and a content handler that handles message contents. The conversation modulo implements conversation policies and checks all messages if they are allowable and meaningful messages based on the conversation policies. The implemented agent-based system was applied to the ship initial design to show the handling procedure of the agent system.

This study proposes a process information model which can integrate various activities during the product development process, the system which can manage the process. Development process information will allow designers and managers to access previous tasks readily and utilize the information in making decisions at hand. While developing products in heterogeneous and distributed environments, concurrent and collaborative designs can be achieved by STEP. The process model in this study divides the task of product development into two fundamental parts, Specific Process(SP) and Normal Process(NP). SP includes the specific information and refer to those defined by prior STEP. NP is routine process excluded from being defined as SP. Due data information can be added to manage development pace and to show delayed tasks. As two or more different processes can be linked to show the entire development flow, Static STEP information can be dynamically interlaced. Remote location operations can be incorporated on the Internet using STEP, and information can be shared. The system has been built upon a process model schema so that task stage, design history, and different development style can be managed and accessed for each component. The system has been proven efficient in information management and exchange by several scenario testings.

In this study, a pseudo ship structure data model for the :.hip cargo hold structure based on STEP is proposed. The proposed data model is based on Application Reference Model of AP218 Ship Structure which is the model that specifies conceptual structures and constraints used to describe the information requirements of an application. And the proposeddata model refers the Ship Common Model framework for the model architecture which is the basis for ongoing ship AP development within the ISO ship-building group and the ship product definition information model of CSDP research project for analyzing the relationship between ship structure model entities. The proposed data model includes Space, Compartment. Ship Structural System, Structural Part and Structural Feature of cargo hold. To generate this data model schema in EXPRESS format, ‘GX-Converter’was used which enables user to edit a model in EXPRESS format and convert schema file in EXPRESS format. Using this model schema, STEP physical file containing design data for ship cargo hold data structure was generated through SDAI programming. The another STEP physical file was also generated containing geometry data of ship cargo hold which was extracted and calculated by SDAI and external surface/surface intersection program. The geometry information of ship cargo hold can be then transferred to commercial CAD system, for example, Pro/Engineer. Examples of the modification of the design information are also Presented.