Designer's Thinking Pattern in the Basic Layout Design Procedure of Machine Tools—Validity Evaluation of Thinking Block

Abstract

To establish a future CAD system of artificial intelligence (AI) type, it is important and indispensable to adequately implant the thinking pattern of the mature designer in the computer environment. In this paper, therefore, the information flow within the basic layout design process of machine tools and also the thinking pattern, i.e., thinking way and decision making, of mature designers has been analysed, and the validity of the thinking block so far empirically employed has been investigated from the information processing point of view by using the cluster analysis.