Design tool

About: Design tool is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3864 publications have been published within this topic receiving 46401 citations.

Optimal tolerance design of assembly for minimum quality loss and manufacturing cost using metaheuristic algorithms

Abstract: Tolerance allocation is a design tool for reducing overall cost of manufacturing while meeting target levels for quality. An important consideration in product design is the assignment of design and manufacturing tolerances to individual component dimensions so that the product can be produced economically and functions properly. The allocation of tolerances among the components of a mechanical assembly can significantly affect the resulting manufacturing costs. In this work, the tolerance allocation problem is formulated as a non-linear integer model by considering both the manufacturing cost of each component by alternate processes and the quality loss of assemblies so as to minimise the manufacturing cost. Metaheuristics techniques such as genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimisation are used to solve the model and obtain the global optimal solution for tolerance design. An example for illustrating the optimisation model and the solution procedure is provided. Results are compared with conventional technique and the performances are analysed.

Product end-of-life strategy categorization design tool

Abstract: Prediction of end-of-life strategies early in design leads to improved eco-efficient product and processes. This paper describes the development of an internet-based tool, End-of-Life Design Advisor (ELDA), that guides product developers to specify appropriate end-of-life strategies. The study began with surveys of end-of-life strategies currently used in the electronics industry that identified key product characteristics that influence end-of-life strategies. The survey led to a scheme for identifying suitable product end-of-life strategies early in the design cycle of a broad range of products. The end-of-life strategy categorization in ELDA is a result of statistical analysis applied to 12 characteristics across 20 products. The tool aids product designers, recycling technology developers, and policy makers.

Electronic product design system

Abstract: A product design system has a workstation (1), a central web site (32) and vendor databases (42, 44, 46, 48). The workstation includes access to one or more design tools (22, 24, 26, 28) that are used by a user, such as a product designer, to formulate a design. The vendor databases (42, 44, 46, 48) have one or more vendor data files (40a...n) that have vendor-supplied data associated with a different material, process, component, or the like that is offered by the vendor. The vendor data files (40a...n) have a standardized database structure that is suitable to one or more design tools (22, 24, 26, 28) stored at the workstation (1). Each vendor database (42, 44, 46, 48) and vendor data file (40a...n) is associated with a URL that is searchable. A user at the workstation accesses the central web site (32) and conducts a search of desired vendor-supplied data. Results are presented to the user, who may then reformat or edit the search or download the located vendor-supplied data into a vendor-supplied database at the workstation. The vendor-supplied data can then be imported from the vendor-supplied database into any of the design tools. The design tool creates a design file that is stored at the workstation and can be transported to any different design tool through a Neutral Dynamic Hub, which first converts the design file to a neutral format and then to a format suitable to the destination design tool.

ASTROS: A multidisciplinary automated structural design tool

Abstract: ASTROS (Automated Structural Optimization System) is a finite-element-based multidisciplinary structural optimization procedure developed under Air Force sponsorship to perform automated preliminary structural design. The design task is the determination of the structural sizes that provide an optimal structure while satisfying numerous constraints from many disciplines. In addition to its automated design features, ASTROS provides a general transient and frequency response capability, as well as a special feature to perform a transient analysis of a vehicle subjected to a nuclear blast. The motivation for the development of a single multidisciplinary design tool is that such a tool can provide improved structural designs in less time than is currently needed. The role of such a tool is even more apparent as modern materials come into widespread use. Balancing conflicting requirements for the structure's strength and stiffness while exploiting the benefits of material anisotropy is perhaps an impossible task without assistance from an automated design tool. Finally, the use of a single tool can bring the design task into better focus among design team members, thereby improving their insight into the overall task.

Circuit design methods and tools

Abstract: A circuit design tool which includes (1) separating structural and functional aspects of components, so as to specify the desired functional behaviour of the component, leaving the actual gate-level design of the component to the design tool; (2) translating a model of the desired logical behaviour of a circuit into a regularized set of functional components to achieve that desired behaviour; (3) verifying structural equivalence between pairs of components; (4) a method for bit-reversing the signal flow in a component; (5) a method for performing arithmetic operations backwards from a natural order; (6) an architecture for a multiplier which is faster and more compact than known multipliers; and (7) a method of translating a logic equation into a netlist of connected logic gates.