Expert CAD Systems for Jigs and Fixtures

The design of jigs and fixtures is a highly complex and intuitive process. There are many mathematical and scientific formulae which can be used to calculate cutting forces, deflection of structural members, tolerance analysis of locating datum, etc. However, many of the good design features of jigs and fixtures such as correct proportioning, ease of loading, safety considerations, ingenuity in securing workpieces, etc. come from the experience and skill of the designer. As a result of the demand for both engineering analysis and craftmanship, the automation of fixture design has not been considered possible in the past. Recent developments in artificial intelligence techniques and, in particular, knowledge representation and inference procedures have opened up great opportunities in automating this field. Computer-aided jigs and fixtures research started in mid-1970s and towards the early 1980s, several prominent research institutions began work in this area.