Development of Integrated Design System for Structural Design of Machine Tools

Abstract

The design process of machine tools is regarded as a sequential, discrete and inefficient process, as it requires various kinds of design tools and many working hours. This paper describes an integrated design system, embedding a design methodology that can support systematically the structural design and analysis of machine tools. The system is a knowledge-based design system and has three machine-tool-specific functional modules, including: configuration design and analysis, structural element design, and structural analysis support module. A machine configuration appropriate for design requirements is selected using the configuration design and analysis module. The arrangement of ribs for each structural part is then decided in the structural element design module. The structural analysis support module converts the design result into script file which is used to evaluate the designed structure by utilizing FEA software “ANSYS.” The system is applied to the design of a tapping machine, and shows that the machine structure can be designed quickly and conveniently with minimum dependency on the capability of a design engineer.