This paper presents a methodology for determining machining conditions in Electric Discharge Wire-Cut. Unification of two phase neural network approach with an automatic generation of machining parameters is designed. The first phase neural network, which is 1 to M backward-mapping neural net, produces approximate machining conditions. Using approximate conditions, all possible conditions are newly created by the proposed automatic generation procedure. The second phase neural net, which is a M to 1 forward-mapping neural net, determines the best one among the generated candidates. Simulation results with ANN are given to verify that the presenting methodology could apply for determining machining parameters in Electric Discharge Wire-Cut.

Automatic finishing process requires the development of high efficient and precision abrasive machining method for dies and molds. This study describes the evaluation of the finishing characteristics, such as surfrace roughness, topography and material removal depth of the electrolytic mixed abrasive machining methods. Experimental setup is composed of 3 axis machining center, a newly developed finishing attachment with constant pressure, electrode and electrolytic bath. Finally, we achieved a successful result that surface roughness is $0.01\mu$m Ra and material removal depth is $120\mu$m using electrolytic(0.8A. 30V) mixed abrasive (#400 CBN, #320 SiC) machining method.

NC machining of large screw which is usually used as a part in an extruder for injection molding is done on 3-axis turning machine, and it is very time-consuming process. Not only in machining but in preparing part program for a NC machine, it requires very long time because the shape of the screw is not easy to model when using an existing general CAD/CAM software even though it is workstation level software. In addition, tool path generation procedure for NC turning for screw shape is also very tedious one because large amount of data for cutter location point must be produced and there is no specific CAM software for the machining. In this paper. development of a CAM system for screw machining which saves the role of CAD software by use of menu driven data input system for various screw shapes is introduced.

Powder metallurgy processes are able to form Net-Shape products and have been widely used in the production of automobile parts to improve its productivity. However, because of pores in powder products, the toughness of powder products are generally poor. Therefore, forged products are used in parts which suffer severe fatigue loads. In this paper, the choice of powder materials and production processes such as mixing, compaction, sintering, heat treatment to produce automobile spline hub are studied. Three type of materials are selected and processed and its microstructure and properties are investigated by tensile test, compression ring test, and impact test. Materials and processing methods are selected from the results. Finally, experimental spline hubs are manufactured by selected processes from selected powders and proved by torsional durability test.

This paper describes multiple fault diagnosis method in complex system with hierarchical structure. Complex system is divided into subsystem, item and component. For diagnosing this hierarchical complex system, it is necessary to implement special neural network. We introduced Modular Artificial Neural Network(MANN) for this purpose. MANN consists of four level neural network, first level for symptom classification, second level for item fault diagnosis, third level for component symptom classification, forth level for component fault diagnosis. Each network is multi layer perceptron with 7 inputs, 30 hidden node and 7 outputs trained by backpropagation. UNIX IPC(Inter Process Communication) is used for implementing MANN with multitasking and message transfer between processes in SUN workstation. We tested MANN in reactor system.

The contact roll is often used to regulate the winding tension as well as the entrained air in a wound roll by adjusting the contact force to the winding roll. But the contact force generated by other rolls, like assistant nip rolls, in a winding(or roll changing) process may act as disturbance to the control of the winding tension. In this paper, the mechanism of a roll change process is analysed. Ana, the behavior of the contact and the nip rolls are mathematically modeled. A nonlinear PID(NPID) controller is designed to control the winding tension and to reject the effect of disturbance generated by the nip roll on the winding tension variation. Computer simulation study showed that the performance of the suggested NPID controller is improved compared with that of the PID controller in controlling the winding tension and in rejecting the effect of the disturbance.

In this study, it is experimented to find factors effecting surface roughness using the system of experiments. in the mirror surface finishing system. (1) The film feed and oscillation frequency in $40{\mu}m$ abrasive film, grinding speed in $30{\mu}m$, and machining time in $15{\mu}m$15 are the main factors effecting the surface roughness. (2) Applying the optimal finishing condition to $40{\mu}m$, $30{\mu}m$, $15{\mu}m$ abrasive finishing film in sequence, it is possible to obtian about Ra 10 nm surface roughness on SM45C workpiece. (3) Application of the system of experments to the micro abrasive grain film finishing was very effective method in the extraction of main factor and optimal condition.

Dynamic stability in rotation of the head drum of digital VCR is very important due to the nature of high rotation speed and small angular inertia. Therefore special considerations on reducing the unbalance and assuring the stability are required the design and manufacturing process. In this paper, newly developed digital head drum is introduced. And advanced methods in analyzing and reducing the unbalance is suggested. LDV(Laser Doppler Vibrometer) was used as a measurement system verifying our modeling and new method for balancing. Experiments show that the theoretical data estimated by modeling of shaft bending caused by unbalance mass and the measured data are almost identical. The deflection was reduced to 30％ by applying the suggested balancing method.

In this work, we have been concerned with developing an intelligent mold design system for plastic injection molding on the AutoCAD. We have concentrated on building a viable environment, including a mold parts database and a menu-driven user interface. This provides a more interactive and interface for selection of optimal mold-base and mold parts in mold design system. This work presents a method which allows the designer to select the mold parts and mold-base directly within an AutoCAD environment. It can also automatically generate detailed 3D drawings of the mold parts and mold-base. The system shows its potential capability for future enhancement. Since the system is independent of the data, it could easily be extended to other mold-bases and mold parts. In addition, it can be linked to the molding analysis system by creating subtracted 3-D models.

Process information is known to have the continuous distribution in many manufacturing processes. Generalized p-chart has been developed for controlling processes by classifying the information characteristics into several groups. But it is improper to describe continuous processes with the classified process informal ion, which is based on the classical set concept. Fuzzy control chart, has been developed for the control of linguistic data, but it is also based on the dichotomous notion of classical set theory. In this paper, fuzzy sampling method is studied in order to process the uncertain data properly. The method is incorporated with the fuzzy control chart. Statistical characteristics of the fuzzy representative value are utilized to device the fuzzy-statistical control chart. The fuzzy-statistical control chart is compared with the generalized p-chart and both the sensitivity to the process information distribution change pared robustiness against the noise on the process information of the fuzzy-statistical control chart are shown to be superior.

Numerical calculation tools for forging of gear-like components based on kinematically admissible velocity fields for upper bound method applicable to various deformation features of workpiece in forging processes were suggested. Each one of them deals with unidirectional flow of metal on dies, such as external involute spur gear. square spline, internal serrations. A complex calculation tool of gear-like component forging process was built up by combining these kinematically velocity fields. In this paper the workpiece with 110th external and internal teeth is divided into two parts. The deformation of each part is analyzed simultaneously using numerical calculation tool from combined kinematically admissible velocity field. The experimental set-up was installed in a 200 ton hydraulic press. As a result, each kinematically admissible velocity field could be combined with others and the calculated solution are useful to predict the capacity of forging equipment.

Forging of internal involute gears with alloy steel has been analyzed by means of upper bound method. Kinematically admissible velocity fields for forging of internal gear were proposed. It was assumed that the shape of free flow surface during forging operation is a straight line perpendicular to the plane of symmetry. Using the suggested velocity fields, forging loads and relative pressures were calculated by numerical method. Consequently forging die should be successfully designed without fracture or failure during forging operation. Experiments were carried out with the designed die and SCM415 alloy steel as billet material. The calculated loads were compared with experimental one and they are in good agreement with experimental inspections. As a result, the calculated solutions would be useful to predict the loads and the designed die is suitable for forging of internal involute spur gear with alloy steel. The forged gear is measured to be KS 4 class and its class should be improved by subsequent working such as shaving after forging operation.

In this paper, we have constructed an expert system for semiconductor chip encapsulation which combines a knowledge-based system with CAE software. The knowledge-base module includes heuristic and pre analysis knowledge for evaluation and redesign. Evaluation of the initial design and generation of redesign recommendations can be developed from the rules as applied to a given chip package. The CAE programs can be used for simulating the filling and packing stage of encapsulation process. The expert system is a new tool which enables package design or process conditions with high yields and high productivity.

Grinding operation has difficulty in satisfying the qualitative knowledge based on the skilful expert as well as the quantitative data for all user. Design of grinding database based on the frame-based model is more effective method for utilizing the empirical and qualitative knowledge. In this paper. basic strategy to develop the grinding database by taking frame-based model, which is strongly dependent upon experience and intuition, is described. Grinding database based on the frame based model for designing the interaction and inference among the slots is accomplised by the object-oriented paradigm system.

In the end milling process, the information of the surface errors plays an important role in adaptive control systems for precision machining. As the measuring accuracy of the surface errors directly matches the control's, it is an important factor for evaluating the performance of the system. In order to obtain the surface errors, the prediction using the cutting force, torque, motor power etc. is frequently practiced owing to the easiness in measurement. In the implementation of the prediction, the information on the cutting depths make it concrete and precise. Actually the axial depth of cut limits the range of the calculation. In general, it is not easy to know the cutting depths due to irregular shape of workpieces, inaccurate positioning of them on the table of machine tool, and machining error in the previous cutting. In addition to, even if cutting depths are informed, it is difficult to match the individual position of the cutter on the varying shape of the work material. This work suggests an algorithm estimating the cutting depths based on cutting force and makes it precise to predict the surface error. The proposed algorithm can be applied in more extensive cutting situations, such as presence of the tool wear, change of the work material hardness, etc.

This paper describes a research work of developing a computer-aided design of blanking and piercing for irregular-shaped sheet metal products. An approach to the development of compact and practical CAB system is based on the knowledge-based rules. Knowledge for the CAD system is formulated from plasticity theories, experimental results and the empirical knowledge of field experts. The system has been written in AutoLISP on the AutoCAD with a personal computer. Based on knowledge-based rules, the system, STRT-DES, is designed by considering several factors, such as complexities of blank geometry and punch profile, availability of press equipment and standard parts, utilization ratio which minimizes the scrap in a single or a pairwise operation, bridge width, grain orientation and design requirements which maximize the strength of the part when subsequent bending is involved. This system checks a forming feasibility with both internal and external features, a dimension of blanked hole, and a corner and a fillet radius for irregualrly shaped sheet metal products. Therefore this system can carry out a die design for each process which is obtained from results of an automated blank layout drawing with a best utilization ratio for irregular shape of product that was successful in production feasibility check module and those of an automated strip layout drawing and generate part drawings and the assembly drawing of die set in graphic forms.

The purpose of this paper is to construct a computer simulation system which can analyze and design the hydraulic excavator Theoretical analyses are performed on the hydraulic circuit and attachment of excavator with load sensing system. Databases are constructed for control valve opening areas, horsepower control and for load sensing regulator. For hydraulic components modularized programming techniques are applied which is expected to be utilized for software development of fluid power system. Through simulation an information of any point in hydraulic circuit can be obtained.

NC machines with 4 or 5 axes are capable of various tool approach motions, which makes interference-free and high machinablity machining possible. This paper deals with how to integrate these two advantages (interference-free and high machinability machining) in multi-axes NC machining with a ball-end mill. Feasible tool approach region at a point on a surface is first computed, then among which an approach direction is determined so as to minimize the cutting force required. Tool and spindle volumes are considered in computing the feasible tool approach region, and the computing time is improved by trans-forming surface patches into minimal enclosing spheres. A cutting force prediction model is used for estimating the cutting force. The algorithm is developed so as to be applied to 4- or 5-axes NC machining in common.

Prototypes of a design are always needed for the purpose of visualization and evaluation in the aspect of manufacturability functionality, and aesthetic appearance. Since the prototyping process requires a significant amount of cost and time, various rapid prototyping processes are recently being introduced in the process. However, it is usually necessary for a part built up by a rapid prototyping system to be refined by a post-processing process, in which the stair steps on the surfaces, the support structures (if they exist), and the unprocessed material are eliminated. This post-processing is usually done manually and is a time-consuming task. Especially, eliminating the trapped volumes, the volume of the unprocessed material entrapped by the solidified portion, is sometimes impossible in some processes. This study provides a designer with a tool to detect the existence and to calculate the quantity of the trapped volumes at the given build-up direction, so that the proper build-up direction is chosen or the part is built by pieces to avoid the problems caused by the trapped volumes in advance. Since the proposed algorithm can efficiently calculate the amount of the trapped volumes at any build-up direction, it has the potential of such application as optimizing the build-up direction to minimize the trapped volumes.

Lacking for the skilled grinding operator possessed of the experiential knowledges in machine shop, there is the just requirement which includes the establishment of the optimal grinding conditions. Accordingly, we attemt to develope the selection system of optimal grinding conditions such as workpiece velocity, depth of cut and wheel velocity and to add the trouble shooting system by means of the neural network. Those systems are robust to the each machine error and environmental unstable state. In addition. we produce the loaming process that is progressed with additional data modified by skilled operators, and excluding is advanced to similarity of input data.

The purpose of superconducting magnetic bearing flywheel energy storage system(SMB-FESS) is to store unused nighttime electricity as kinetic energy and convert it to electricity during daytime. The SMB-FESS is proposed as an efficient energy storage system because there is no mechanical problems, such as friction and wear The flywheel over SMB is rotated at a high speed, 50,000rpm. The major source of energy loss in the SMB-FESS is vibration of flywheel. Therefore, the vibration characteristics of SMB-FESS should be identified. In this study, the axial/radial stiffness and damping coefficient of SMB are measured by a vibration test. Natural frequencies and natural modes of flywheel and magnet are analyzed by a finite element method. The modal analysis of system is performed using the modal parameters of each component and the measured stiffness/damping coefficient. So, natural at frequencies and mode shapes of the joined system can be obtained. According to critical speed analysis, the system has two rigid conical modes in the low speed range. Nevertheless, the system has not been affected by the critical speed in the main operating range.