A knowledge reuse-based computer-aided fixture design framework

Abstract

Purpose – Fixture design is a complicated task requiring both intensive knowledge and experience. This paper aims to present a computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) system framework based on design reuse technology. Design/methodology/approach – Fixture design domain ontology is constructed by analyzing fixture design document corpus. A design reuse engine is proposed to realize fixture design knowledge retrieval and fixture model retrieval based on ontology and find fixture design cases similar to fixture design problem, and then use evolutionary methods to modify the retrieved model to meet the design requirements and then generate a new fixture. Findings – The paper finds that the proposed framework is an efficient tool to improve efficiency of fixture design. Practical implications – Fixture design existing experience and cases can be used efficiently reused and to advance new fixture design processes. Originality/value – This paper presents a CAFD system framework capable of carrying out fixture design through full using of the existing fixture design resource and experienced knowledge.